One potential cap casualty that isn’t mentioned nearly as much as the others for the Green Bay Packers are, is right tackle Bryan Bulaga.
Although the savings isn’t nearly as substantial as releasing Randall Cobb or Jordy Nelson would provide, releasing Bulaga would save the Packers around $4 million in cap space. What’s more is, unlike these other guys with big, cuttable contracts — with the possible exception of Clay Matthews — is Bulaga is regularly injured.
Bulaga tore an ACL in November. It’s the second time he’s had the injury, although not in the same knee. What has Bulaga heard on the contract front?
Nothing, apparently.
#Packers RT Bryan Bulaga says on @WildeAndTausch that his agents were in Indianapolis and didn't hear anything about being cut or taking a pay cut. "No news is good news, to me. I'm getting ready to help the Green Bay #Packers win football games next year."
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) March 8, 2018
Of course there’s a big but there. Bulaga will be rehabbing the injury until at least training camp begins.
Packers T Bryan Bulaga on @ESPNMilwaukee tells @WildeAndTausch his rehab is "going to take me all the way up to training camp."
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 8, 2018
Considering his position, injury history, body type, timing of the injury, etc., we find that timetable awfully ambitious. We wouldn’t doubt Bulaga will be a strong candidate for the physically unable to perform list to open camp.
Then who knows where that takes him. The Packers have been extremely cautious with injuries before…
The point being, with his injury history and possible inability to contribute early on in the season, is Bulaga worth keeping around?
The Packers plugged in Jason Spriggs, Justin McCray and Kyle Murphy at the right tackle position in 2017. I think everyone would like to see a better option than that, but at this point is Bulaga it?
McCray surprised me as a good utility lineman, but we need a starter first, then think of backups. Can McCray be a regular?
Good insight Joseph.
This is a problem position not many are talking about. Joe nailed it about players whose rehab brings them right to training camp. As we have seen often in the past, that often leads to the pup list, much longer rehab, possibly more surgery.
In general, across the board, the Packers need to get rid of players either unavailable, or not good enough to get on the field, and use those roster spots for useful players that have some usable skill.
I don’t think any of us know’s for sure what we have in the other 3 as far being the starter. I have more hope with Kyle Murphy than the other two. With that said, Spriggs started to look like his feet finally got out of quicksand and started getting the speed of the NFL. He still will get beat with speed and/or caught off balance. I have to see more from him, but you’d like to think a 2nd round pick who they traded up for, could play effectively coming into his 3rd season. McCray, whose natural position is guard if my memory still works, should be on the Practice squad at best. Sometimes he just looks like he doesn’t have a clue. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get cut.
When the fuck isn’t Bulaga injured? His rookie season?
Is it a contract year for Bulaga? Probably this one.