Grading the Green Bay Packers' Free-Agency Moves so Far

The Green Bay Packers have had, as usual, a quiet free-agency period. But that doesn't mean that general manager Ted Thompson and vice president of player finance Russ Ball have been sitting on their hands and twiddling their thumbs. 

Even before free agency began, Thompson and Ball had the major splash of re-signing wide receiver Randall Cobb to a four-year, $40 million deal, as ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

The Packers also re-signed backup quarterback Scott Tolzien before he was allowed to become a free agent on a one-year deal worth up to $1.35 million, as Bill Huber of Packer Report was the first to report, 

Once free agency opened on March 10, Green Bay got busy re-signing some of their own key players, such as right tackle Bryan Bulaga. 

As of March 17, the Packers are the only team in the league that has not signed a player away from another team, per Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.

But free agency is a gamble, and the Packers choose to re-sign their own players who have proven themselves able to produce in Green Bay's system. 

In fact, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com graded every team's free agency thus far, and only one team got an "A." Want to guess which one?

It's the only one that hasn't signed an outside player. 

I've given the Packers' individual free-agency signings grades, as well. Unsurprisingly, they all come out on top. 

Extending Tender to S Sean Richardson

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On the opening day of free agency, the Packers extended the right-of-first-refusal tender to safety Sean Richardson, the terms of which were one year at $1.542 million, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

The shrewd move by the Packers served to reward and invest in a young player with a high ceiling who overcame a difficult injury and bounced back.   

Richardson injured his neck in Week 12 of the 2012 season and required cervical spinal fusion surgery in January 2013. He was activated off the PUP list on November 23, 2013. 

Richardson played 135 snaps in 2014 as the fourth safety on the Packers' depth chart, per Pro Football Focus, and missed just one tackle all season. 

The safety is well-suited to play the run near the line of scrimmage and can rotate in to complement the strengths of the inside linebackers and the corners in certain defensive sub-packages. He's also a major special teams contributor.

This was a great move by the Packers as they build out depth for the future.

Grade: A-

Extending Tender to OL Don Barclay

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On the opening day of free agency, ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy reported that the Packers gave offensive lineman Don Barclay the low restricted-free-agent tender worth $1.542 million. 

Barclay missed the 2014 season with a torn ACL, so his return in 2015 means that the offensive line—which, in 2014, was the best offensive line configuration of the Mike McCarthy era—will be even deeper than it was last season. 

As the Packers were also able to re-sign right tackle Bryan Bulaga, their line is now intact, including Barclay. 

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 started 14 games that season and four games in 2012.

Barclay can back up up both guard spots, as well, giving the Packers confidence heading into 2015 even should a starting member of the line become injured. 

Grade: A-

Extending Tender to S Chris Banjo

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Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on March 10 that the Packers gave safety Chris Banjo his exclusive-rights tender. 

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, and played in 16, registering 19 combined tackles and two passes defended. 

Banjo has been an important special teams contributor and is also a source of depth behind Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde and Sean Richardson at the safety position. 

Grade: B+

Re-Signing OT Bryan Bulaga

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In a move many feared wouldn't happen, the Packers were able to re-sign veteran offensive lineman and starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga late in the afternoon on the opening day of free agency, as ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirmed.  

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport had the first word that the deal is for five years and averages just under $7 million per year. Mortensen has since confirmed the specifics of the deal—five years, $33.75 million.

It was a major coup for general manager Ted Thompson and vice president of player finance Russ Ball.

Andrew Brandt said on March 11 on the ESPN "Football Today" podcast that the Buffalo Bills offered Bulaga more money, but that he remained in Green Bay because of the winning culture Thompson's draft-and-develop strategy creates.  

"What it came down to for me was comfort level with the organization, with the Packers, with the coaches, the teammates and just how much I enjoy playing for Green Bay and for the guys that I play with," Bulaga said on a media conference call after the deal was announced, via Paul Imig of FOX Sports Wisconsin. 

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 protect Aaron Rodgers and give him the offensive line he needs to win games. 

Grade: A+