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?