Letroy Guion's Arrest Strengthens B.J. Raji's Case for New Contract with Packers

After B.J. Raji was placed on injured reserve with a torn biceps suffered in a preseason game last August, it seemed possible the former defensive mainstay would never start another game for the Green Bay Packers.

Fresh off of signing a one-year, $4 million "prove-it deal," Raji set to work last offseason relearning the nose tackle position after a two-year stint at defensive end. However, he never saw the field.

Now, his case for a new deal just got a lot stronger.

On February 3, free-agent defensive tackle Letroy Guion was arrested in Florida for felony possession of marijuana and felony possession of a firearm, as ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy reported. 

Per the police report and via Demovksy, Guion was in possession of 357 grams of marijuana and more than $190,000 in cash.

In late December, Demovsky reported that Guion's agent, Seth Katz, and the Packers were in initial talks for what Guion had hoped would be a long-term deal to remain in Green Bay. Guion started 18 games at nose tackle for the Packers in 2014, including the playoffs, and was a boon to a defense severely lacking in big bodies this season. 

After spending six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Guion had the best season of his career in Green Bay, with 32 combined tackles, 22 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. 

"I'm just glad he filled a real need for us," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said at the end of December, per Demovsky. "One of the things about this game is you can run out of big guys that can make plays in there pretty quick. It becomes tough sledding if you don't have those guys." 

Now, the Packers are in dire shape in that area. It's unclear how long the legal process will last for Guion, and while Green Bay has been magnanimous toward players with drug charges in the past (Johnny Jolly and Colt Lyerla come to mind), it's unlikely Guion's legal troubles will resolve themselves in a way that makes re-signing him an option.

The Packers do have undrafted free agent Mike Pennel, the only other player currently on the roster who has the size (6'4", 332 lbs) to play the nose. He played 181 snaps at defensive end in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, but he didn't show enough promise to become the anchor of the line. 

That's why the Packers could turn to Raji. 

Raji was much more successful at the nose tackle position throughout his career in Green Bay. But Ryan Pickett was a better nose tackle than defensive end, so Raji made the move outside.

Whether it was because he lost motivation when his job description didn't include as much license to shoot gaps or he was just not a natural block-eater, Raji's play declined to the point where he didn't receive any offers last free-agency period that enticed him to leave Green Bay.

Season	Position	Games	Comb Tackles	Tot Tackles	Sacks	Passes Def.
2014	NT	IR	IR	IR	IR	IR
2013	DE	16	17	12	0	0
2012	DE	14	26	16	0	2
2011	NT	16	22	14	3	2
2010	NT	16	39	29	6.5	3
2009	NT	14	25	19	1	1

Back at his natural position last summer, however, Raji had a strong start to the preseason and was looking forward to a promising season. 

"B.J. Raji, he was in the best shape and having the best camp of his career," McCarthy said after the injury was confirmed, via The Associated Press' Todd McMahon. 

If Raji lacked free-agency interest last March, when he was coming off a 16-game season, it's reasonable to conclude that he won't get an enticing outside offer next month coming off a six- to nine-month rehab process. But the Packers, who are getting desperate for big bodies up front after Guion's arrest, could offer him another one-year deal to re-acclimate him to the nose position prior to evaluating a longer-term future with the team. 

Late in 2014, Raji said that his rehab process was "right on schedule," per Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and that he expected to be medically cleared by training camp if not sooner.