You think the Packers were lucky? So, you think they just said see ya without knowing what they had in the pipe shoot? I am going to be one of those silly people who thinks the Packers are more well-thought with there decisions and I think they knew there wouldn't be a massive drop off.

I do think re-signing T.J. Lang would be a good thing. The line as individuals is not great, but together, and healthy, they form a helluva five-some.

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My gut is telling me TJ will probably be gone. I think they saw enough in Spriggs this year to want to get him on the field. And you want to bring in the young guy when you have him surrounded by veterans which we have. That would give Spriggs a few years to build his experience before Bulaga's contact expires.

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A player that has been all over the place in the first and second round of mock drafts is Forrest Lamp. I am wondering if we let Lang go would we consider selecting Lamp with our first pick and push Bulaga inside? I would hate to lose a quality RT to G, but would it make some sense as it would allow Spriggs to play and allow another top quality player to develop.

Or you could plug Lamp in at Guard from day 1 and have Bulaga and Spriggs battle for the starting RT spot.

Wow....when I said "lucky", I didn't mean the Packers were stupid, or didn't know what they were doing. I meant "lucky" in the way that it worked out for them and it didn't end up destroying their o- line, and thus, their season.
I KNOW that they know a hell of a lot more then I know as far as football personnel moves.

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Lang is probably my favorite OL guy. Least for personality etc ... Goes in and does his work.

I hope we keep him.

Bad news, Today Lang said he's going to test the water.
Good news, he said he's giving Ted last look.

Overall I think this bodes well for your wish Dulak; but it means GB is not super enthralled about Spriggs starting and/or the depth behind him.

If they didn't have confidence in Spriggs, they would probably already be talking with TJ. This would be a sign that they do have that faith in him that they are willing to risk losing Lang.

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Spriggs is in no way an option to replace TJ at guard. The best options the Packers have outside of not signing TJ is bringing Tretter back.
Kyle Murphy? Maybe.

I would like TJ back because I believe he is the veteran leader of this offensive line and that is needed. He has battled through numerous injuries to stay on the field which is rare to see today. However, his price tag will be high. Some of the guards getting extended are no where near TJ's abilities and are getting around $8.5/year right now.

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I think GB offered a good deal, 3 years at about 5M per maybe with a SB of 3-4M and some bonus for playing time. The only contending team with cap space and need is NE and Bill don’t sign no 30 YO guards. So some loser stupid team [EG Browns] might over pay enough for TJ to leave; but I doubt it. I think Lang will be back.

Here’s the basis of my reasoning:

Tardif just got 8.4M per; but he's 26 and ascending; no comparison to Lang.

Lang is a physical mess. He rebroke his foot in Atl game and just announced he had successful hip surgery [a scope] in addition to the bad shoulders and knees all 30 YO OLmen have. That’s kinda scary; who announces they just had a successful scope unless the problem was substantial or it was more than a scope. It was supposedly to correct a genetic problem. If GB don’t like his medicals they may have offered less than 5M per.

There are very few Guards over 29 in the league! It is expected that Lang probably will not play to end of a 3 year deal he signs now. Of the top 32 Gs being paid right now all are under 29 except: 2 are 30YO; 3 are 31YO; 1 is 32 YO; 1 is 33 YO. Of the next 96 guards, 3 are 31 YO, rest under 29. This is a young man's position, this is a favorite spot for GMs to save cap space by inserting a 1st contract player.

Here’s the guys who are about Lang’s age or older and got new contracts. All other 30 YO guys who signed contracts prior to 2016 are already expired or terminated! Yanda is a HOF type player; he is no comparison to Lang and he only only got 7.9M per. Sitton was a stupid overpay and he’ll be cut/forced paycut if Long and Grasu are considered healthy.

Name, year and age when contract signed, contract terms
Yanda 2016 31 4yr/31.9M/9MSB
Sitton 2016 30 3yr/21M/2M SB
Icognito 2016 32 3yr/15.7M/3.4SB
Beadles 2016 29 3yr/9.75M/1.75SB
Foster 2016 30 3yr/9.6M/2.7SB
Slauson 2016 30 2yr/3M/.6SB
Babre 2015 30 3yr/4.35K/.6SB
Urbik 2016 30 2yr/2.5M/.25SB

In 2016 Chester (33) signed a 1 yr deal with Atl. For 2.35M; and in 2015 he (32) got a 1 yr 2.8M deal.

In 2016 Mathis (35) signed a 1 yr 4M deal with AZ played 2 or 3 games; in 2015 he (34) signed a 1 yr 2.5M deal; At 31 YO he was signed by the Philly dream team to a 5 yr 25.5M deal [2017 Equivalent to 5 yr/ 35.7M or 7.14M per] and he didn’t finish last 2 years of his deal.

In 2016 Jahri Evans (32) signed a 1 yr 1M deal

In 2015 John Jerry (29) signed a 2 yr/3.3M/.8SB

Levitre signed a big deal at 27 and at 29 had his deal cut. There’s talk of the same happening to 29 YO Iupati.