[tps_title]T.J. Lang[/tps_title]
Total contract: 5 years, $22.56 million
Average salary: $4.5 million
2013 cap number: $3.1 million
2012 stats: 15 starts, 11 sacks allowed, 4 penalties
T.J. Lang signed a contract extension prior to the 2012 season, getting $20.8 million in new money and a $5.5 million signing bonus. The Packers obviously thought he was their left guard of the present and the future. After signing his deal, Lang gave up a team-high 11 sacks in 2012 and was one of the weaker — if not the weakest — links on an offensive line that surrendered the second-most sacks in the NFL. The problem with Lang’s deal is that his salary cap number increases each season. It’s greater than $5 million from 2014-16. If Lang’s play doesn’t improve dramatically, he’s hardly worth that money, but he’s also hard to release. If the Packers were to release him after the 2013 season, Lang would account for $3.3 million in dead money. Like several players on this list, Lang is somewhat protected by his signing bonus. Fortunately, Lang is still young and should get better.