Packers releasing Billy Turner
The veteran offensive lineman will undoubtedly find a big pay day in free agency
By PackerAaron
The Packers are hard at work getting under the salary cap by Wednesday afternoon, with their latest move being a release of offensive tackle Billy Turner, per NFL Network.
Turner started 43 games for the Packers over the last three seasons, with his versatility proving valuable on more than one occasion.
The move saves the team over $3.3 million against the salary cap.
Turner was selected by the Dolphins in the third round (No. 67 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, the highest-drafted offensive lineman to that point out of North Dakota State. He signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Packers as a free agent back in March of 2019.
Comments (22)
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 10:14 am
Maybe not the best move. But the right move.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2022 at 10:22 am
I’m sorry to read this. I think versatile, veteran linemen are important.
marpag1
March 14, 2022 at 10:27 am
Agreed, but being under the cap is important too.
Turner was an unsung hero last year. But it's hard to imagine the Packers bringing back ARod and Adams and NOT cutting Turner...
He's not going to be hurting though. Someone is definitely going to pay him.
Guam
March 14, 2022 at 10:38 am
The cap problem and the development of Nijman made this inevitable. Good guy and good player, just not enough money to keep him.
Coldworld
March 14, 2022 at 12:25 pm
A waste of an opportunity to trade for value made necessary by the failure to sort out Rodgers’ and other things. This FO is costing itself daily at this point.
TarynsEyes
March 14, 2022 at 12:45 pm
From out of the foreseen chaos, chaos is being witnessed, and only the blind cannot see the chaos still to come.
LeotisHarris
March 14, 2022 at 04:28 pm
The storyteller makes no choice, soon you will not hear his voice, his job is to shed light and not to master.
PackfanNY
March 14, 2022 at 10:25 am
Unfortunately, it had to be done.
Esquetoi
March 14, 2022 at 10:31 am
You speak this because of the Rodgers resigning. Otherwise, incorrect.
PeteK
March 14, 2022 at 10:41 am
Nijman (could) or Jenkins will fill the RT position maybe even better than Turner. It would have been great to keep him, but there are more important positions of need that have no viable backups to fill the position ( ILB & CB)
Leatherhead
March 14, 2022 at 10:55 am
Jenkins won't be ready by opening day. If you put Nijman there, who backs up Bakhtiari? Or does Bakhtiari not require a backup?
ILB is not more important than protecting the QB and creating holes in the run game. Our starting CB situation is pretty well set, especially if we bring back Douglas, which we appear to be doing.
PeteK
March 14, 2022 at 11:08 am
A possible dilemma for a few games, but is it a given that Jenkins will not be ready. Van Allen is listed as a RT backup, move Runyon there and use Hanson at G who is listed as a G backup, or a draft pick. I have confidence in Stepanovich coaching a solution to the problem.
Leatherhead
March 14, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Jenkins is not expected back until November.
Do you think it's important to keep Rodgers well protected, or can we just rely on a bunch of Day 3 guys and UDFAs with very little experience at their position?
We're playing with fire here. We just released a capable, proven, veteran and all we have to replace him are some Day 3 guys who have never played a snap at that position in the pros. One foul up, one guy with a clear path to the QB, one bad hit, and that's our season. Think about that.
Johnblood27
March 14, 2022 at 05:30 pm
Okay, I thought about it...
The correct decisions were to trade the fragile old man and then to cut Billy "Turnstile' Turner.
Gutey batting .500...
Guam
March 14, 2022 at 12:03 pm
Either Runyon or Van Lanen could be the backup RT. Nijman can slide over and play LT as needed as he proved last season. The Packers will be fine at tackle w/o Jenkins as long as they have no more than one injury prior to Jenkins' return.
PeteK
March 14, 2022 at 11:27 am
We are 17 mill over the cap which should easily be solved with Rodgers, Adams, Alexander, and maybe Amos contract manipulations. Hopefully this will also leave room to sign the very important Douglas, Campbell, and Lazard.
Starrbrite
March 14, 2022 at 02:22 pm
I’m with you PeteK.
Starrbrite
March 14, 2022 at 02:28 pm
I believe we’re fine, even without Turner. I liked him (North Dakota Sate guy), but we will be in good shape.
stockholder
March 14, 2022 at 05:07 pm
Matt Waletzko ? I like Tom Zach Wake Forrest more.
Packers0808
March 14, 2022 at 04:48 pm
Just read he was released because he flunked his physical.
Johnblood27
March 14, 2022 at 05:31 pm
...guess he didn't study enough...
HankScorpio
March 15, 2022 at 05:38 am
I'm not a member of the Gute fan club but surely he was smart enough to try to trade Turner before releasing him. No takers on about $4 mil in cap space says it all, IMO.