Update:
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Packers HC Mike McCarthy wants to bring free agent DL B.J. Raji back season.
However, Pelissero mentions that Raji’s value on the open market looks to be “as unclear as anybody’s right now.”
Raji, 27, reportedly turned down a contract extension that would have paid him $8 million annually last year. He hasn’t record a single sack since 2011, although that could have something to do with the Packers approach towards their defensive linemen. Even so, it’s not a very marketable stat for a guy who will be looking for a long-term contract in the coming months.
The Packers would probably be wise to allow him to test the market and see what kind of interest he finds before approaching him regarding an extension. Green Bay makes it a point to lock up their own guys, but there are a number of key players to address including CB Sam Shields and extension candidates WRs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, so we’ll have to see if there’s room for Raji too.
We have him listed as the No. 50 player in our Top 50 Free Agents list.
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According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Packers will allow impending free agents DL B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett to walk during free agency this year.
Rapoport previous reportedly that the Packers are expected to look for smaller defensive linemen in the mold of last year’s first-round pick Datone Jones this offseason, but HC Mike McCarthy refuted that idea on Friday.
“I’ve never been part of conversation that you want your defensive linemen smaller,” McCarthy said. “That’s not accurate.”
Pickett, 34, was one of the only free agent acquisitions from Packers GM Ted Thompson during his tenure in Green Bay. He previously mentioned that the team hasn’t talked with him about the possibility of re-signing, so it seems likely that the Packers will move on and try to get younger upfront on defense.
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Get younger and more athletic everywhere. Need more proven rushers up front (draft or FAs)–not slow space eaters. Will we play some base 4-3 or even 5-2 fronts? Hope so. It would be nice to have half a dozen guys with at least some pass rush ability and rotate them to keep them fresh.
McCarthy is talking about using Nick Perry as an “elephant” defensive end next year, so I’m sure their defensive fronts will be a lot closer to 4-3 or 5-2, than the 3-4 they are known for. In fact, the Packers actually play more nickel than anything else, which is basically a 4-3 front anyways.