Will Free-Agency Interest Price B.J. Raji out of Green Bay?

Almost exactly one year ago, the Green Bay Packers signed B.J. Raji to a one-year, prove-it deal worth $4 million and prepared to return him to his preferred starting nose tackle position in the 2014 season. 

That, of course, never happened.

Raji tore his bicep during the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders in August and missed the entire season. What could have been an opportunity to prove that his disappointing 2012 and 2013 seasons were the result of his move to defensive end and not a decline in his play was instead another setback for Raji's career. 

Season	Position	Games	Comb Tackles	Tot Tackles
2013	DE	16	17	12
2012	DE	14	26	16
2011	NT	16	22	14
2010	NT	16	39	29
2009	NT	14	25	19

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

Raji has since been undergoing a six- to nine-month rehab process and expects to be ready for training camp.

Given his lack of free-agency interest last season—remember that Green Bay initially offered him a deal worth $8 million during the season that he rejected, before he returned to the table and agreed to take the $4 million—and the injury, it seemed likely the Packers would be able to re-sign Raji at a reasonable cost this offseason. 

There's also Letroy Guion to consider. 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. 

Guion started 18 games at nose tackle for Green Bay in 2014 as Raji rehabbed, and though he could be facing a suspension from the league as a result of his recent legal troubles (though he will face no jail time), having him as an option means the Packers don't need to pay Raji more than they want to. 

Before free agency began, there even seemed to be a possibility the Packers could re-sign Raji and Guion both for less than they paid Raji last offseason. Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette thinks impending league punishment for Guion could allow the Packers to re-sign him for the seven-year veteran minimum of $870,000.

Despite coming off his injury, however, it seems Raji is receiving more free-agency interest this year than he did last year. Could it take him off the table as an option for Green Bay?

On March 10, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that Raji's preference is to return to the Packers, but he's weighing offers. 

Helping Raji's case is the fact that his rehab has gone swimmingly. His trainer, Joe Carini, told Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Raji's post-surgery strength is "phenomenal."

"He’s actually better now than he’s ever been," said Carini, via Dunne. "He has to have a monster year. He knows it. And he’s just looking forward to the opportunity.”

As for Raji, he may not be giving the Packers a so-called "hometown discount" like Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga did.

"Do I want to be back in Green Bay?" Raji responded when asked, via Dunne. "Green Bay is a great place. But this is also a business. And I’m going to let my agent take care of that part of it."

It's not that Raji's price would ever reach a level the Packers, with $21 million in cap space currently, couldn't afford. But Ted Thompson never pays more for a player than the value he's already set for him.

However, it was clear throughout the season that Raji was still committed to his (former?) team. "He typically sat in on 2-3 meetings per week with the defensive line, serving as an extra voice through film review, game-planning, tough love," Dunne wrote. 

If the price is right, the Packers could see what Raji can still do back at the nose tackle position for the first time since 2011. But the price has to be right for both sides, and it looks like Raji's value may be higher than expected heading into free agency. 

Behind free agents Raji and Guion, the Packers also have 2014 third-round pick Khyri Thornton, who spent the season on injured reserve. Thornton's size, though (304 pounds), could limit his efficiency in the role.

Undrafted free agent Mike Pennel does have 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. 

On the free-agent market, Vince Wilfork remains a tantalizing option for the Packers to consider, but they'll likely try to get lower-cost deals done with Guion and/or Raji first. Wilfork's current offers are in the range of $5 million a year, per Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 

Surprisingly, Terrance Knighton signed with Washington for exactly what Raji did last year with Green Bay—one-year, $4 million, per Ian Rapoport. Rapoport noted it was a "tough market," so perhaps Raji will sign for less than he did last year after all.