Green Bay Packers Free-Agency Tracker: Updated Signings, Rumors and Grades
Free agency officially begins Tuesday, March 10 at 4 p.m. ET with the start of the new league year. The Green Bay Packers may not be as busy on Day 1, as Ted Thompson's past free-agency signings have tended to come later in the week.
But with 14 players of their own to re-sign, the Packers should make some moves early and could even bring in some outside players as the period goes on.
Over the weekend, the Packers locked down two free agents important to their future. Randall Cobb signed a four-year, $40 million deal on Saturday that will keep him in Green Bay, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.
The Packers haven't yet released the exact breakdown of Cobb's contract, but it's an A+ move for both sides. Green Bay retains one of its draft-and-develop stars exactly as its system is designed to do, and Cobb gets another shot at a Super Bowl next season playing with one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Bill Huber of Packer Report was also the first to report that the Packers re-signed backup quarterback Scott Tolzien on Sunday to a one-year deal worth up to $1.35 million.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said at the combine in February that Tolzien was an "ascending player," via ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy.
With those two positions addressed, attention now turns to whether the Packers will re-sign right tackle Bryan Bulaga, cornerbacks Davon House and Tramon Williams or nose tackles B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion, as well as any outside players.
Click through for free-agency news and rumors, which will be updated as they happen over the next several days.
Report: CB Tramon Williams Could Still Re-Sign with Green Bay
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Update:
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns.
"Former Packers CB Tramon Williams has reached a three-year agreement with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2015"
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport shared that the deal is worth $21 million, but no news yet on the guaranteed money.
"The #Browns are signing CB Tramon Williams to a 3-year worth $21M, source said. It’s his 32nd birthday
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2015"
It's not over 'til it's over.
Though veteran cornerback Tramon Williams rejected the Packers' initial offer of $8 million over two years, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay is still in play for Williams according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy.
"Following up on @MikeTriplett's report on Tramon Williams. #Packers remain in play for @HighRizer38, per source. http://t.co/7kfNO6uPJS
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 12, 2015"
Williams visited the New Orleans Saints Tuesday night, but left without a deal, per ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the Saints reached a deal with another cornerback—former Patriot Brandon Browner—which could push Williams back to the negotiating table with Green Bay.
Check back for news on Williams as it develops.
Report: Packers Among Teams in Running for Darrelle Revis
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Update: Darrelle Revis signed with the Jets...for much, much more than Ted Thompson ever would have paid.
"For Darrelle Revis and the #Jets, it’s 5 years, $70M, source says. He gets $48M in the first three years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2015"
In news that came as a surprise to anyone who has closely followed Ted Thompson's free-agency strategy over the years, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported Tuesday afternoon that the Packers were among five teams in the running for cornerback Darrelle Revis.
"Four teams in running for Revis besides the #Patriots: #Jets, #Packers, #Steelers and mystery team.
— Jason Cole (@JasonPhilCole) March 10, 2015"
The other teams, per Cole, are the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and a "mystery team."
Cornerback is shaping up to be a big need this offseason; Davon House signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars Tuesday, as Ian Rapoport reported, and Tramon Williams rejected Green Bay's initial offer of a two-year deal worth $8 million, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
If the Packers had been unable to re-sign top free agents Randall Cobb and/or Bryan Bulaga and had some cash to spend, and if they lose Williams, a play for Revis, while surprising, would have been more feasible.
But it's hard to imagine the Packers throwing close to what remains of their 2015 cap room at Revis when they still have multiple free agents of their own they could re-sign, including inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore, nose tackle B.J. Raji, nose tackle Letroy Guion and fullback John Kuhn.
Packers Re-Sign RT Bryan Bulaga
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Update:
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport confirmed that the deal is for five years and averages just under $7 million per year.
"For #Packers OT Bryan Bulaga, it’s a 5-year deal worth an average of just under $7M per year, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015"
ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirmed that Bryan Bulaga will re-sign with Green Bay early Tuesday afternoon.
"Packers taking care of their own again - OT Bryan Bulaga staying in Green Bay, per sources
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 10, 2015"
Grade: A+. Bulaga graded out as the fourth-best right tackle in the league in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, and was the ninth-best overall tackle in the league in pass-blocking. By investing in Bulaga, the Packers continue to invest in Aaron Rodgers. And, they didn't go above that $7 million number.
According to Rapoport, the Packers are "closing in" on a deal with right tackle Bryan Bulaga as of late Tuesday morning.
The signing is a "high priority" for them, per Rapoport.
"The #Packers are expected to keep OT Bryan Bulaga, source says. They are closing in on a deal. High priority for them.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015"
Ted Thompson has assuredly been setting aside cap space for this signing, after letting Davon House walk in free agency. By my calcuations, the Packers had about $26,330,981 in cap space after re-signing Randall Cobb and Scott Tolzien over the weekend.
Reserving about $4 million to $6 million to sign 2015 rookies, that would give the Packers plenty of room to work with Bulaga, who was looking to earn top right-tackle money at about $7 million per year according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
More information to come when this report is confirmed. Will the Packers indeed pay Bulaga an average of $7 million per year?
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Packers Tender S Chris Banjo
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Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazzette reported Tuesday that the Packers gave safety Chris Banjo his exclusive-rights tender.
"Also, the #Packers have given safety Chris Banjo his exclusive-rights tender.
— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) March 10, 2015"
Banjo spent most of the 2014 season on the practice squad, but was signed back to the active roster in December and played in three games.
Banjo started one game in 2013, in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He's been a big special teams contributor and will now provide depth behind Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde and Sean Richardson
Grade: B+
Packers Tender OL Don Barclay
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ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy reported Tuesday afternoon that the Packers have given offensive lineman Don Barclay the low restricted free agent tender, worth $1.542 million.
"The #Packers have given OL Don Barclay the low RFA tender, worth $1.542 million, per his agent Joe Linta.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 10, 2015"
With the news that the Packers are close to reaching a deal with right tackle Bryan Bulaga, this move ensures that the 2014 Packers offensive line, the best of the Mike McCarthy era, remains intact.
Pro Football Focus gave the 2014 Packers offensive line a pass blocking efficiency grade of 85.1, the second-highest in the league.
Barclay has proven to be a versatile backup, stepping in for Bulaga in 2013 at right tackle after Bulaga tore his ACL at the Packers Family Night scrimmage. He can backup up both guard spots, as well.
Barclay missed the 2014 season with a torn ACL, so his return in 2015 means that the offensive line only has more depth behind it than it did last season.
Grade: A-
Packers Tender S Sean Richardson
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Early on Tuesday, the Packers placed a right of first refusal tender on safety Sean Richardson, the terms of which were one year at $1.542 million per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"According to an NFL source, #Packers have tendered S Sean Richardson at ROFR; one-year, $1.542 million. Big commitment to him.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) March 10, 2015"
The Packers will be able to match any offer that Richardson might receive in free agency.
It was a great move by Green Bay, rewarding a young player with a high ceiling who overcame a huge injury to produce for the team.
Richardson injured his neck in Week 12 of the 2012 season and required cervical spinal fusion surgery in January 2013. He was finally activated off the PUP list on November 23, 2013. He played more than M.D. Jennings toward the end of the 2013 season, which made it obvious that the latter was expendable.
Richardson played 135 snaps in 2014 as the fourth safety on the depth chart, per Pro Football Focus, and missed just one tackle all season.
Richardson's size makes his especially well suited to playing the run, and he's also a major special teams contributor. This was a great move by a team preparing for the future and rewarding young talent.
Grade: A-
CB Davon House Signs with Jaguars
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The Green Bay Packers just got a lot thinner at the cornerback position.
NFL.com National Insider Ian Rapoport broke the news Tuesday morning that Davon House is set to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars for $6.25 million per year.
"#Jaguars set to add another big-time FA: Ascending former #Packers CB Davon House is set join them at $6.25M per year
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015"
House said back in January that he wanted to remain with the Packers, but that he also wanted to be a starter—and to be paid like one.
"Dream would be to stay here, if they want me," House said, via Fox Sports Wisconsin's Paul Imig. "I know I can start in this league. It's what I want to do is start."
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported first that House's number was $5 million or more per year.
He got it, but not from the Packers.
House missed the last three games of the 2014 season with a shoulder injury to his right scapula against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14. He also injured his shoulder in the 2012 preseason.
House started 14 games with the Packers, and played in 40 regular-season games out of 64 possible games over four seasons. He has never started a postseason game, though he has played in three of them.
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