I agree Bulaga's play has made his re-signing a good option. OTs can play at a high level well into their early 30s, and BB has shown no decline in play, 2019 was a very good year for him.

Keeping Bulaga and Martinez will cost about $20m (I'm guessing $11m for Bulaga and $9m for Martinez). Bulaga's play and the excellent addition of Elgton Jenkins means this line is an excellent unit, which is precisely want will help Aaron Rodgers in his later years.

It helps that Bulaga seems more of a happy camper this year with the revamped coaches and new team chemistry. I'm not talking a huge 'hometown discount' just a willingness to stay where the vibes are good.

In 2020, even if Graham and Taylor are released to gain money, along with Rodgers restructured contract, there is still only enough money for a maximum of one mid-tier veteran FA or less, because Kenny Clark will get a new contract, maybe even before the 2020 season begins and that will cost a ton of money.

That puts a lot of pressure on getting enough quality draft picks to fill the holes. I think we need early picks at RT, ILB, WR, DL, TE. There aren't enough early picks to get quality at all these spots, which is why the deals with Bulaga and Martinez are so important, it makes the draft easier. With their re-signing I'd probably start the draft with DL, WR, ILB, if the talent was there when the pick was due.

I might wait until round 4 for the ILB because that is where a lot of guys at that position are clumped together, but the team needs to add someone besides Martinez. None of Goodson, Summers or Burks inspires confidence as a no.2. The TE position is poor in this year's draft, so no early pick there. That might be the position for a veteran FA to be added.

So, as you can see, retaining Bulaga is key to rounding out the team.

Yes, but no more than a 2 year contract laden with workout and performance bonuses, and an out after 1 year. Bulaga has played well, yes, better than I thought he would as well. He is also on the wrong side of 30 with a big long injury history and missing a ton of games. Like a QB, tackles play can fall of a cliff quick and with Bulaga's injury history, I do not think it would wise to sign him to some big long extension. A team friendly 2 year deal, with an out and performance bonuses I would be fine with.

Best forecasters for injury are age and previous injury history.

I get why people want him resigned but if we do we have to acknowledge its playing with fire and there can be no feeling sorry for yourself if he goes down in training camp.

Again I get why people want it done and I don't hate it but...
,
1. Career season in contract year
2. Over 30
3. Extensive injury history particularly with knees

It's a huge risk to sign him on a big multi year deal, red flags everywhere you look. Optimal would be a 1 year deal but doubt he would sign that.

I don't think it can be under estimated how poor the guards played the last few years. If your worried about the guy next to you not handling his assignment you can't focus 100% on your own. Bulaga is a top tackle when healthy. We don't have his replacement on the roster. We have no choicr but to resign him and draft his replacement. The chances of scoring another Elton Jenkins is slim...

They should let him test the market and see if anyone else is willing to give him what he wants. If so, let them pay him, he deserves it. If not, re-sign him for what the Packers want.

Well done to shine spot on Bulaga, and great opening line to humbly admit a misjudgment. Classy.
I agree, another 2 year extension rewards a fighter and mentor, and keeps that Oline intact and allows Gute to target WR and TE in higher draft rounds.

Another area that would give Gute a lot of BPA freedom, is to find an ILB vet FA either a cap space casualty, or scheme misfit casualty, or....simply a new regime wanting to clean roster (another ZSmith). Or if cap space doesn't allow for an ascending FA, it still seems previous years, there were decent ILBs out there to be had for low cost, one year deals. If Gute attacks that position like he did in 2019 for Safety and DE/OLB, then we could see a decade-long weakness resolved and big ripple effect in the whole defense. Find another ZSmith castoff for ILB in free agency.

If BB can be retained and a FA ILB be bought, seems a modified BPA strategy around WR and TE in rounds 1-2, then pure BPA thereafter. Hopefully, a OT, ILB and CB in mid rounds. This would help add playmakers to the 2020 starting roster.
But WR and TE corps had declined, has improved slightly but needs a big investment in 2020.

When TT cut Sitton he went to Chicago and the pro bowl. When Lang became a FA, he went to Detroit with barely an attempt from TT to retain him and also had an all pro year.

Those two exits created a mess at G and helped create losing seasons. No one was one the roster to effectively replace them.

I think Bulaga has not only proved he deserves another deal (short term like 2 years, incentive heavy)...I think he would take a bit of a discount too given his family is down the road in N. IL (Crystal Lake).

Next draft his eventual replacement. Because the cost to replace him with a top FA for next season would likely cost more than re-signing Brian. Keeping one of the top OLs in the NFL INTACT must be a priority for 2020.

"Many of you may think that's crazy, because of Bulaga's injury history and his age."

Not at all. But I wouldn't go for more money per year than his current deal and I would keep the garuntees after the first season very low.

Bryan Bulaga has always been a good player when he plays. The “when he plays” part has been the key. I am not blaming the player but his availability has been an issue. Very similar to Randall Cobb and Nick Perry. I don’t expect that to get better with age. Maybe they try to sign him to a shorter term, more incentives. If another team steps up this might be the end of the line with the Pack.

To me it would make a lot of sense to resign Bulaga to a two year deal with a small pay increase and a lot of incentives in for next year and and an out clause in 2nd year if he would agree to such a deal!

I think we ought to re sign Bulaga and Clark, let Martinez go, and go after Joe Schobert at ILB for Cleveland. Than draft another ILB in the middle rounds and work on developing Summers. Draft a WR and TE high, and after the T of the future in round three, just go BPA. I think we can steal a really good guy if we look past their physical stature a little bit and prioritize smarts, great routes and great hands.We become better up the middle and in coverage, and with EQ back and Lazard starting to develope, we just have to get something out of Sternberger The exciting thing is we only need an immediate hit on the WR, as long as others make the 2nd and 3rd year jumps. A lot to ask, but not out of the realm of possibility.

Need to think of the future as far as a replacement, offer him a team friendly deal but many teams are looking for tackles and are willing to overpay. I don’t want to use a high pick to replace him either not when the team has other needs .

Would like to see Number 75 return to the Pack for no more than the same approximate cap % he currently receives, or slightly less given the next rise in cap money.

He is playing well manning a tough spot and his play has measurably contributed ( per your stats above) to the 13 & 3 record and playoff berth.

The Pack has the veteran Veldheer to sub for or to spell Bulaga and I like that veteran presence in the line-up.

Noticed a number of times this year Bulaga blocking downfield for Jones or Williams heading down the left side of the field - Bulaga will play the whole field to the whistle so his tank has some premium gas left in it.

Time marches on and injuries take their toll though Bulaga's play this year warrants another (cap reasonable) contract with the Pack.

Definitely keep him if the contract is incentive laden and reasonable. Good tackles are not a dime a dozen. He might give us a Packer discount.

They should take a tackle in the first round and WR in the second. Of course depends on how the draft flows. No need to take a WR in round one there will be very good ones in 2 and of course history shows we have done great drafting WR in round 2.

If they don't go to the super-bowl clean house. Why spend the money for average, twi-light players that are a risk every down. You spend millions for the elite. Look how the Smiths replaced CM3,Perry, etc. Gute must find players this side of 30!

We must ensure we keep key figures on the team like Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones, and Bahatari all of whom will require a significant contract in the next few years to keep them in a Packers uniform. It's also time to draft a quality OT prospect. That being said, I do like Bulaga and hope he will fit into the near term plans of Gute. Bulaga has been a class act both on and off the field.

Is Aaron Nagler going to write one of these about how wildly wrong (and now stubborn) he was about the GR receiving corps? Unlikely. "They just need to play"......(eye roll, think of MVS "progression" this year and me beating G-mo in a foot race)...

Like everybody else if the Packers could sign him to a team friendly deal, hopefully no more than 3 seasons top, then I'd like to see BB resigned. If they gave him a longer contract then NO DEAD MONEY after year two. Each time Bulaga is taken out of the game I hold my breath it isn't for the rest of the season. The man is a warrior and I hope he ends his career in GB.

BUT the Packers HAVE to nail it in this next draft and FA period. The next offseason will be the offseason we're either toasting Gute or calling him out for failing to deliver.

Need a WR or 3, RT, DL, ILB, and TE in no particular order although IMO WR and ILB HAVE to be in first 3 rounds.

I still have high hopes for Sternberger. The kid was hurt in the preseason and REMEMBER, the season isn't over. For all we know MLF is getting ready to unleash the Packers TE of the future in the divisional round...OMG...How cool would THAT be!!!!!

Oren Burks...MEH...BUT stranger things have happened. Bishop was a late bloomer.

Gute HAS to get a WR HIGH in the draft and sign a FA or two as well.

All good points but the Packers need to draft in the first round the best inside linebacker available, then receiver 2 Nd round .

Well, what we fans think, and what the Packers front office brain trust think are two different things. In any case let us remember that GM Gute and his front office are still in the mist of a team wide rebuilt. And only they know what their needs are for next year. While that may be obvious, it usually turns out that way in hindsight. For example, the Packers went into this season with no clear backup for either tackle. They gambled that they could keep a future prospect (Adam Light) on the 53 without pushing him down to the PS. It helps that both tackles played thru some very tough injuries, but it caught up to them at the 49ers, and Aaron Rodgers paid the price. (one with the grass..) So, the Packers signed a veteran short term backup for both slots. A tough but necessary trade off for this playoff season. Next year who knows. I expect that giving the reality of the Cap, we could see a close to 50% turnover of the roster. The ugly underbelly of a hard cap league....

I really believe Veldheer was signed as a backup this year and if he played well to replace Bulaga for next season. Sign him for 2 years for 4 million per year. Quite a bargain for a comparable player.