Our assumption is that the Green Bay Packers will not re-sign guard T.J. Lang simply because they can’t afford him.
His previous deal paid him $5.2 million annually. It now looks like Lang is in line for a substantial raise.
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly signed guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to a massive extension.
Sources: #Chiefs and star G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif are finalizing a 5-year, $41.25M extension. Huge payday for the Canadian doctor-to-be.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2017
That’s more than $8 million per season in new money. Duvernay-Tardif has a grand total of zero Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections. He was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the 27th best guard in the NFL in 2016.
Not the 27th best offensive lineman. The 27th best GUARD.
Lang was eighth on that list.
Conventional thinking says a team will pay Lang more than Duvernay-Tardif because he’s a better player.
And here’s a number.
If Duvernay-Tardif is worth $8 million a year, then Zeitler, Warford and Lang are getting $10-12 a year each. Osemele got $11.7 last year.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) February 27, 2017
The Packers already have more than $18 million per season invested in their tackles. It’s a safe bet they aren’t looking to increase that number to $28 million for three offensive linemen.