Green Bay Packers: Quick Takeaways from the Ricky Wagner Signing

The Green Bay Packers signed right tackle, Rick Wagner earlier today. Here are some quick takeaways from the free-agent signing.

With the NFL’s legal tampering period starting earlier today, the Green Bay Packers got to work very quickly with two reported free-agent signings at positions of need. Of course the first was linebacker Christian Kirksey, followed shortly by Rick Wagner who will take over for Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.

While the signing is still relatively fresh, here are my quick takeaways from the Wagner addition:

• Can Wagner bounce back? He is coming off a brutal season where in just 467 pass-blocking attempts, he allowed 3 sacks, 4 hits, and 32 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). For some context, Bryan Bulaga allowed just 4 sacks, 4 hits, and 27 pressures in 612 pass-blocking opportunities in 2019.
• So to my next point, there’s no sugar-coating it, this move is a downgrade for the Green Bay Packers. Bulaga has just been more reliable over his career and he is coming off an excellent season against some of the best pass rushers that the NFL has to offer.
• This could be a tremendous value signing for the Green Bay Packers, however. Wagner will make $11 million over the two years and he has base salaries of just $2.25 million each season. If he can bounce back in 2020, Brian Gutekunst will look like a genius once again.
• Drafting an offensive tackle within the first three rounds or so should still absolutely be on Green Bay’s radar. Wagner is 30-years-old and he is just a short-term solution.
• Now having said that, I’m happy that this position was taken care of early on because the Wagner signing does give Green Bay some stability in 2020 at a key position. And now they don’t have to worry about relying on a rookie, barring an injury.
• Although Gutey loves to bring in athletes, Wagner’s Relative Athletic Score was just 5.25. A bit on the low side compared to past acquisitions.
• Wagner has been durable over his career having started 85 of his last 96 regular-season games dating back to 2014. But he did play in less than 70 percent of Detroit’s offensive snaps in 2019.

• With the cap space that the Green Bay Packers saved by signing Wagner instead of Bulaga, does that give them enough room to make another big addition? We will have to see.