Packers Stick to Proven Blueprint, Re-Sign OT Bryan Bulaga

Before the floodgates even opened, the Green Bay Packers positioned themselves among the biggest winners of free agency.

All general manager Ted Thompson and vice president of player finance Russ Ball needed to do was stick to the team's tried-and-true method of roster building. 

Only a few days after retaining receiver Randall Cobb with a multiyear contract, the Packers agreed to a deal that will keep right tackle Bryan Bulaga in Green Bay long term—effectively checking off the team's two biggest priorities ahead of free agency. 

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Bulaga will sign a five-year deal worth just under $7 million per season, putting the pact somewhere in the $33-34 million range. Guaranteed money was not immediately known.

New deals for Cobb and Bulaga complete the circle of Thompson's roster philosophy. Start by drafting good players. Next, develop those young players into core assets. Finally, secure the assets with long-term deals. The Packers have spent over $70 million over the last few days, but the money has gone to known commodities critical to Green Bay winning games—not unknown castoffs from other clubs with red flags galore. 

Some teams create cap space to fix roster holes opened by poor drafting. The Packers manage the cap to ensure deals for players such as Cobb and Bulaga can be completed. One method is obviously preferable to the other. 

By retaining Bulaga, the Packers will return all five starters on the offensive line from an offense that led the NFL in scoring a season ago. In fact, the Packers now have every major player on offense under contract through the 2016 season. 

Aaron Rodgers rejoices. 

	Position	Contract Expires
Aaron Rodgers	QB	2020
Eddie Lacy	RB	2017
Jordy Nelson	WR	2019
Randall Cobb	WR	2019
Davante Adams	WR	2018
Richard Rodgers	TE	2018
David Bakhtiari	OT	2017
Josh Sitton	OG	2017
Corey Linsley	C	2017
T.J. Lang	OG	2017
Bryan Bulaga	OT	2020

There was a time, however, when it appeared as if Rodgers could be losing two major assets from his offense. 

Like Cobb, Bulaga was set to enter free agency as the best player at his position. Both were expected to cash in on a market flush with cap space. But Thompson and the Packers had no interest in allowing either young star to get away.

Cobb agreed to a deal during the first day of the league's legal tampering window. He signed a four-year deal worth $40 million, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. While more money was available on the open market, Cobb took a slightly less lucrative deal in Green Bay. 

Bulaga appears to have done the same. While nearly $35 million over five years is far from chump change, it's conceivable a richer offer was coming Bulaga's way once free agency opened. 

Thompson has a few factors on his side in negotiating deals with his own players. 

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For starters, the Packers are verifiable winners. Since Mike McCarthy's first year as head coach in 2006, only the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots have more regular-season wins than Green Bay. The Packers were a few bad breaks away from playing for another Super Bowl last season. 

Organizational stability is also in place. The head coach (McCarthy), general manager (Thompson) and quarterback (Rodgers) are all under contract long term. Seismic change in the near future isn't likely in Green Bay. 

Finally, and maybe most importantly, the Packers have Rodgers under center. The two-time NFL MVP gives Green Bay a chance to play for a Super Bowl every season. 

Clearly, there was immense value for both Cobb and Bulaga in playing for a winner possessing stability and a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Thompson used those leveraging tactics to keep two players he drafted high and his coaches developed over several seasons. 

The beat goes on in Green Bay. 

When a team drafts quality players such as Cobb and Bulaga and then develops those players into top assets at their respective positions, free agency becomes easy. Retain your own, and forget about other teams' castoffs. 

The Packers have mastered the formula. Cobb and Bulaga are just the latest examples of how Thompson and Ball have roster building and free agency figured out. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2