Packers Free Agency Preview

With the Green Bay Packers extending left tackle David Bakhtiari’s contract, who, if anybody, will be the next in line?

Here’s a look at the team’s key players who will be unrestricted free agents at season’s end.

C Corey Linsley

As was the case with the 29-year-old Bakhtiari, the 29-year-old Linsley is delivering a peak season while in his final year under contract. The question is whether there’s enough money to go around given a salary cap that’s expected to fall from $198 million this year to $175 million next year.

“I’m nothing but happy for Dave, and that’s the God’s honest truth,” Linsley said. “I’ve been taking this year one week at a time from the beginning. I didn’t enter the season thinking, ‘I can’t wait for my deal to get done.’ I’m thinking, worst-case scenario, I’m out and I’ve got to play well for myself and this team, not necessarily for a new contract.

“It is what it is, and that’s just been my mentality from day one. I’m not surprised Dave got paid. It’s obvious it was coming. It was just a matter of how much for him and whether he was going to break the bank or not. But that’s been my mentality from day one, just perform at my best and everything will fall into place. I’ve go do that.”

Linsley’s done his part. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed one sack (a missed stunt vs. Jacksonville) and one additional pressure. According to Sports Info Solutions, he’s got a career-best blown-block rate of 1.4% on running plays and hasn’t allowed a stuff (a tackle at or behind the line vs. the run). He has not been penalized.

So, not only has Linsley blocked opposing defenders but he’s blocked out the potential distractions of contract uncertainty.

“I know it sounds just weird or like a cheesy answer but it is what it is,” Linsley said of his future. “I feel like this season itself is just so crazy. And it’s week to week. I really don’t have time to just sit back and wonder and twiddle my thumbs and all that stuff.

“I’m just playing week in and week out for my teammates and for myself and for my family. It is what it is and the chips are going to fall however they fall. There’s nothing I can do about that besides playing at a high level and, if I don’t, regroup and get that back the following week.”

RB Aaron Jones

Jones had a breakout third season last year with 1,084 rushing yards, 49 receptions for 474 additional yards, and a league-leading 19 total touchdowns.

Jones, however, seemingly has lost his mojo. In the first four games, he rushed for 374 yards, averaged 5.75 yards per carry and scored six total touchdowns. In his last four games, Jones rushed for 160 yards, averaged 3.33 yards per carry and scored one touchdown. Added together, he’s got 534 yards — a pace of 992 — and a 4.7-yard average in his eight games.

Numbers aside, Jones clearly is one of the Packers’ top performers and someone opposing defensive coordinators have to worry about. How much will he be paid? Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey (four years, $63.1 million), New Orleans’s Alvin Kamara (five years, $75 million), Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook (four years, $63 million), Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (four years, $50 million) and Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon (four years, $48 million) were drafted with Jones in 2017. Their contract extensions place them among the seven highest-paid backs in terms of average per season.

“I just continue to do what I’m doing on the field and just wait my turn. I know eventually it’ll come. Just continue to do my part,” Jones said. “You always have that thought in the back of your head, ‘This can be life-changing. I can take care of my family forever.’ Those little things creep into your head but, eventually, time will run its course and everything works the way that it’s supposed to. God’s got me, so I just leave it in his hands.”

RB Jamaal Williams

Williams was drafted in the fourth round in 2017 — one round before Jones. He’s rushed for 336 yards (4.1 average) and one touchdown and added 27 receptions for 212 yards and another touchdown in his 10 games. With Jones sidelined with an injured calf, he had games of 114 and 102 scrimmage yards against Houston and Minnesota, respectively.

He faces a fascinating free agency. He’s proven to be a quality all-around running back. He runs hard, is a fantastic receiver and brings an infectious personality to the team. On the other hand, he lacks Jones’ electric, game-breaking running style and plays like a power back even though he lacks that sort of build.

If the Packers can’t afford Jones, will they view Williams as a co-starter alongside rookie A.J. Dillon? Is Williams nothing more than a solid second option?

CB Kevin King

After two injury-plagued seasons, Kevin King finally stayed healthy and put his superb skill-set to work last year. In 2017 and 2018, King started 11 games, played about one-third of the snaps, and had one interception and 11 passes defensed. In 2019, King started 14 games, played 77 percent of the snaps, and had five interceptions and 15 passes defensed.

If he could stay healthy again in 2020, King would put himself in line for a big payday. Instead, he missed five consecutive games with an injured quad. He returned against Indianapolis. In his five games, he’s played 44 percent of the snaps. While he’s delivered strong coverage, he hasn’t put his hands on the football.

King figures to be in line for an incentive-laden contract. Because of how this season has gone, will he be a bargain re-signing for the Packers, or will they wash their hands of the man they infamously drafted instead of All-Pro T.J. Watt?

Unrestricted free agents

Along with Linsley, Jones, Williams and King, Green Bay’s unrestricted free agents will be tight end Marcedes Lewis, guard Lane Taylor, utilityman Tyler Ervin, defensive linemen Montravius Adams and Billy Winn, safety Will Redmond and linebacker James Burgess.

Of that group, the 36-year-old Lewis has been the team’s most valuable as a blocker and highly respected team leader. Adams, a third-round pick in 2017, is having his best season to salvage what had been a disappointing career.

Taylor, a 50-game starter, is spending his second consecutive year on injured reserve. Ervin jump-started the special teams when he was signed late last season and was given a role on offense this season. However, he’s made almost no impact as a returner and has been sidelined by wrist and rib injuries.