TACKLES (5)
David Bakhtiari (Ht.: 6-41⁄2; Wt.: 315; Age: 24; Acquired: D4-13; College: Colorado)
One decision that Thompson should feel great about is agreeing to a four-year, $49.677 million contract extension with his left tackle last September. Bakhtiari, who is entering his fifth season, has improved in each of the last four years and was named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2016. He has started 62 of 64 regular-season games in his career. He has never missed a playoff game. He fared extremely well in one-on-one matchups with some of the league’s premier pass rushers last season and rarely required help. He allowed fewer “bad” runs than any other offensive lineman on the team.
Put simply, Bakhtiari was a sound investment.
“He’s never satisfied,” Campen said. “He will continue to get better. Now that he’s going into his fifth year, he has a lot of playing time. But David last year got stronger. He made strides with his physique, his physicality, those types of things. Looking for him to be more accomplished in the run game this year, to take another step in that direction. Certainly, there are always things to learn.”
Bryan Bulaga (Ht.: 6-51⁄2; Wt.: 321; Age: 27; Acquired: D1-’10; College: Iowa)
Evans might be the oldest player in the offensive line room, but Bulaga has the most experience in Green Bay. And as Bakhtiari said near the beginning of the off-season program, it’s Bulaga’s room to lead.
Bulaga assumes a leadership role in the wake of a fine season, arguably the best of his career if you ask Rodgers or coach Mike McCarthy. Bulaga reduced his number of “bad” runs from 17 in 2015 to 10 last season. He dropped out of four games with injuries but did not miss a start in a year when the No. 3 tackle was a vulnerability for the Packers. He should not lack for confidence in 2017.
“Bryan’s done a great job in the room and his record speaks for itself, what he’s done in the league, and it’s awesome that I’ve been there,” Bakhtiari said in June. “Because when I was younger, I was looking up to him, too. So for us to now help out, we’re some of the older guys, the longer-tenured guys with the Packers, I think it’s huge for the locker room.”
Jason Spriggs (Ht.: 6-51⁄2; Wt.: 301; Age: 22; Acquired: D2-’16; College: Indiana)
Spriggs played all over the line in 2016 during various relief appearances and starts. He took 31 snaps at tight end, 34 at left tackle, 183 at right guard and 29 at right tackle.
His largest percentage of snaps came at guard due in large part to the broken foot that sidelined Lang from mid-November to mid-December. But in ideal circumstances, Spriggs is — and should continue to be — a swing tackle for the Packers behind both Bakhtiari and Bulaga. He lacked the foundational strength to handle interior linemen last season.
Kyle Murphy (Ht.: 6-61⁄2; Wt.: 308; Age: 22; Acquired: D6-’16; College: Stanford)
Add Murphy to the list of players hoping to win the starting spot at right guard.
Though he played tackle in college, Murphy said as early as March that he wanted to take reps inside during organized team activities and minicamp. McCarthy furthered the idea by telling reporters Murphy likely would work more at guard than tackle during May and June.
Come training camp, Murphy’s distribution of snaps between the two positions will be a clear indication of what the Packers thought of his efforts.
Don Barclay (Ht.: 6-4; Wt.: 310; Age: 27; Acquired: FA-’12; College: West Virginia)
The Packers re-signed Barclay to a one-year deal worth up to $1.3 million. His importance surged following the inevitable departure of center JC Tretter, who took a three-year, $16.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns.
It means that Barclay is now the backup center behind starter Corey Linsley, who has missed 10 regular-season games in the last two years due to injury. Barclay must be ready to play.