Ranking the Green Bay Packers Key Free Agents in 2021
By Paul Bretl
4. Corey Linsley
This was a difficult decision to make as I really debated having Corey Linsley higher-up on this list because he has been very durable over his career, which is certainly valuable. Not to mention that he is very good before the snap and he has an excellent relationship with Aaron Rodgers.
However, and I want to preface this by saying that replacing Linsley won’t be easy, given what Aaron Jones, David Bakhtiari, and Kenny Clark bring to this Green Bay Packers team, I believe that he is the easiest of this remaining group to move on from.
The Packers saw something in Lucas Patrick that led to him earning a contract extension late last season. Now, whether or not he can be a full-time starter remains to be seen, but he is one option. Another potential replacement is rookie Jake Hanson from Oregon. Over the past three seasons, Hanson took 1,233 pass-blocking snaps and allowed just two sacks and three quarterback hits during that span.
Initially, it may seem far-fetched that the Packers would rely on Hanson as the starting center in 2021, but keep in mind that Linsley started right away in 2014 as a fifth-round pick and didn’t have the benefit of sitting and learning for a season.
Next season Linsley will be 30-years-old and he’s in line for another high-paying contract. With younger options in Patrick and Hanson behind him on the depth chart, my guess is that the Packers would be more willing to rely on one of them and use that extra money towards the next three players on this list.