Packers Reportedly Talking Contract With B.J. Raji
ESPN reports the Packers and B.J. Raji's representation have met here in Indianapolis while attending the NFL Combine.
By PackerAaron
Raji’s agent, Brian Murphy, said he met with Packers chief contract negotiator Russ Ball on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine and said there’s mutual interest, although no deal is imminent.
Raji would become a free agent next month if a new deal isn’t reached.
“B.J. likes everyone in Green Bay, and everyone there likes him,” Murphy said Thursday. “Usually when that happens, you have a chance to get something done.”
Demovsky indicates the Packers would most likely be open to giving Raji a similar deal to the one they gave Letroy Guion earlier this month. If Demo is writing that, there's a good chance he's spoken to someone in the know (most likely Ball) who has indicated as much.
Raji had a very good year for the Packers in 2015. While he may never be the dominant player fans were expecting when the Packers took him 9th overall back in 2009, he was a big part of a defensive line that helped the Packers defense turn in a surprisingly good year.
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Comments (23)
D Ernesto
February 25, 2016 at 01:46 pm
Gee I'm shocked. Of course they want him back on the cheap and of course he wants to stay because no other team in football gives a shit about this guy. They see his lack of contribution and inability to pass rush, and tackle and hopes he stays a packer.
PackerAaron
February 25, 2016 at 02:28 pm
Gee I'm shocked. A truly ignorant comment in the comment section.
February 26, 2016 at 12:25 am
If he wants more than Guion, let him go, draft Rankins in the 1st rd, and be happy with the 3rd or 4th rd comp pick next year (will finally be able to trade comp picks next year, I believe). With the cap space we have, we should - sign Trevathan or Freeman at ILB (5-6mil/yr), let Starks go and sign Forte to a 2yr deal(3-4mil/yr), & bring in a cheaper TE to be a fill gap, possibly Cameron(2-3mil/yr), who had a big year in Cleveland, under our new TE coach. Focus on DEF early in the draft and target a cpl of O-linemen in the middle rds to prepare for 2017.
WKUPackFan
February 26, 2016 at 08:49 am
Rankins will be gone long before GB's pick.
All for Cameron. No on a 30+ year old running back and overpriced ILBs.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 26, 2016 at 08:57 am
Slit, I doubt Raji would garner a 3rd rd. comp, probably not a 4th either. Maybe a 5th. If GB signs Trevathan and Forte, we won't be looking at any comp picks the next year.
WinUSA
March 02, 2016 at 10:21 am
Gee...I wonder who the ONE dislike came from...duh!!!!!!!!!!
Evan
February 25, 2016 at 01:48 pm
If he gets the same deal Guion does, I'd be cool with that.
croatpackfan
February 25, 2016 at 02:41 pm
I'd be cool if he comes with little more, but not much!
jeremyjjbrown
February 25, 2016 at 04:19 pm
Yeah, the reality is his high draft status will continue to earn him extra money. Just the way it is...
Bearmeat
February 25, 2016 at 03:07 pm
Having Raji back would be great IF there isn't much guaranteed money. He doesn't have the motor to be a great player, but he does have the size and strength to be a very good player even without a high motor.
A 3 year deal with a mid level salary and little guaranteed money solves the need to take a NT in the draft. That lets TT concentrate in 5 Tech, ILB and/or TE much more quickly. That said, unless Raji gets little to no interest on the market, I don't think he'll take that type of deal.
... And I still hope TT pursues Bennett after the Bears cut him.
chrisdavis
February 25, 2016 at 05:09 pm
Well Said! We have other needs to work on.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 26, 2016 at 09:12 am
Bearmeat, I agree on Raji, but I can't disagree more with the rest of this line of reasoning. I don't want TT concentrating on TEs and ILBs more quickly since they likely would be reaches. This draft is deep along the DL and edge rushers - that is where we ought to be focusing attention early, and even double dip along the front 7 within the first 3 rounds.
Thegreatreynoldo
February 25, 2016 at 09:09 pm
This is Raji´s agent ginning up interest in Raji, for the most part. Raji probably thinks he deserves more than Guion; how much more and whether GB agrees are the issues. My own guess is that Raji is looking for 3 yrs and $15 to $17 million. The guarantee is likely to be the sticking point. A Guion like guarantee (about $1.2 million effectively guaranteed with most of it counting in year 1 and the prorated Signing Bonus of only $166K per year counting against years 2 and 3) would be fine with me. Re-signing Raji does not make the GB defense better than it was last year.
WKUPackFan
February 27, 2016 at 06:02 am
Bingo! We have a winner. That's excellent third level thinking tgr!
hybridauth_Facebook_100004084225446
February 26, 2016 at 01:15 am
At a good friendly deal 12 million 3 year in that range .
RCPackerFan
February 26, 2016 at 07:23 am
I hope Raji does return. I really like the 1-2 punch that he and Guion provide at NT.
L
March 08, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Me too. Hopefully, his agent and the Packers can work something out at around the contract that Guion just got.
cuervo
February 26, 2016 at 08:23 am
I'd bring Raji back on vet minimum deal and that's about it. I doubt he'd get much more than that from anyone else. He's unspectacular at best, and gets pushed around at his worst. Time to move on folks...you can get guys like Raji anytime and anywhere.
egbertsouse
February 26, 2016 at 08:45 am
I hope they don't panic and overpay for RAji. Contrary to what is being said here, he's just not that good. He has one good game and then disappears for5 or 6.
Icebowler
February 26, 2016 at 05:03 pm
I think Pennel's suspension forced the Packers to have to resign Raji. Sad but true.
al bundy
February 26, 2016 at 05:12 pm
Seems every time I saw Raji some offensive linemen were shoving his face in the ground. Cant count on hand how many times a running back ran right by him and he lay on the ground looking up. What a bum
AgrippaLII
February 26, 2016 at 11:51 pm
If BJ will sign for what Guion got I'm surprised TT hasn't inked him already !
Samson
February 27, 2016 at 04:49 pm
May as well resign him. --- TT's answer will be another 5th or 6th round draft pick. ---- It's incredible (and sad) that BJ's best year was his rookie season. --- Maybe he'll get better when he & Phat Eddie quit visiting all the fast food buildings in GB. --- It's true.