The Green Bay Packers came into the 2017 NFL Draft with two major needs. They addressed the first need with their first pick - a second-round pick of Washington cornerback Kevin King. The second biggest need was on the offensive line, where the Packers needed to replace T.J. Lang with someone who can keep Aaron Rodgers safe in the pocket. They didn't find that person in the NFL Draft but did find a huge bargain in free agency with former New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans.
The Packers loss of T.J. Lang
T.J. Lang was one of the top blockers for Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers.
He left the team in March via free agency and signed with the division rival Detroit Lions, meaning that the Packers lost two Pro Bowl offensive linemen in two years. Lang is from Detroit and the Lions offered him a three-year, $28.5 million deal that the Packers were not willing to match. As a result, it became important to find a way to protect Aaron Rodgers, the most valuable player on the Packers team. Rodgers himself wanted Lang to re-sign with the Packers and said that Lang and John Kuhn should both be Green Bay "lifers" but now both are gone. Green Bay now hopes that Jahri Evans can step in and be a legitimate replacement.
Jahri Evans accomplishments
If anyone knows what it means to protect the most important person on a team, it is Jahri Evans.
For the past 11 seasons, Evans has protected Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. During that time, Evans made it to six Pro Bowls and was also a four-time NFL All-Pro. He played for the Saints when they won their Super Bowl title. Now, that Evans plays for the Green Bay Packers, he is going from Drew Brees to Aaron Rodgers and will hope to keep playing strong at the age of 33.
The Saints released Evans in February in a cost-cutting move, as he was due $4.9 million in salary and bonuses in 2017.
The Packers contract with Jahri Evans
The contract that Jahri Evans agreed to with the Green Bay Packers is where the big news comes. While he was scheduled $4.9 million in 2017 with the Saints, the Packers got him for a huge discount.
T.J. Lang is making $28.5 million over three years in Detroit while Jahri is making $2.25 million for one year in Green Bay. At one time in his career, Evans was the highest paid guard in the NFL. In 2017, he is only guaranteed $200,000, the amount of his signing bonus. On top of that, he is getting a $1.15 million base salary, $50,000 per-game bonus, $100,000 workout bonus, and $250,000 in incentives. His salary cap hit will be $2 million. Jahri Evans is likely the starter in 2017, which makes him a huge bargain, and the lack of guarantees means the Packers can drop him if he shows regression over the summer.
