T.J. Lang was always likely to be a goner. As one of the top offensive guards in free agency, he was bound to command a deal richer than the Green Bay Packers' blood could manage. Few fans of the team could imagine, however, that he would choose to sign with one of the team's most bitter rivals in the NFC North: the Detroit Lions.
Crossing enemy lines
The details of the contract have not emerged yet, but Lang has signed a three-year deal with the Lions, according to his agent. The team was looking to rebuild their offensive line following the departures of Riley Reiff and Larry Warford in free agency to the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, respectively.
They already signed Rick Wagner to a five-year deal this offseason to play tackle, but the Packers guard might be the real prize.
Lang spent the first eight years of his career in Green Bay. He developed into one of the best guards in the NFL, making his first Pro Bowl last season despite missing three games with a hip injury (which required surgery after the season) and a broken foot. He had been a full-time starter for the team since 2011, missing just nine total games in his career to date. Now, he'll try to prove that durability in Detroit.
Offensive line woes
Lang will be joining an outfit in Detroit that needs help protecting franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. He will help to improve the right side of the offensive line.
His ability to run block will help a facet of the offense that has struggled for several years in Detroit. He will also get to return to Michigan, his native state and the home of his college, Eastern Michigan.
Meanwhile, the Packers offensive line falls further into disarray. The team already lost backup center JC Tretter to the Cleveland Browns and are dealing with injury concerns with incumbent center Corey Linsley. With Lang off to Detroit, the team is running out of reliable offensive linemen to protect star Aaron Rodgers and help to improve one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.
