Green Bay Packers & Corey Linsley Not in Talks About Extension

It’s the unfortunate reality of a season coming to an end. Oftentimes, several of the key players who made that year a success won’t be around the following season. When it comes to the Green Bay Packers, they have a few players who fall into this category, but none perhaps more important than Corey Linsley.

Since entering the NFL as a fifth-round selection in 2014, Linsley has been the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers’ starting center. He’s been durable, playing in all 16 games in four of his seven seasons, including 13 games in two others. He, of course, has an excellent rapport with Rodgers as the signal-caller of the offensive line, and for much of his career, he’s been one of the better centers in the game.

However, Linsley saved his best for last with an All-Pro campaign during the 2020 season. He went from being one of the better centers in the game to the best center on the field this year. According to Pro Football Focus ($), Linsley allowed just one sack and seven total pressures, including the playoffs. On top of that, he was the highest-rated center by ESPN’s run-block win rate metric and fifth in pass-blocking.

As a whole, by several metrics, the Green Bay Packers had the best offensive line in the NFL this season. And while keeping the group together for at least the 2021 season would be a luxury, I’m also not so sure that it’s in the cards either.

Due to COVID-19 and a lack of fans in the stands prior to the season, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to decrease the salary cap from roughly $198 million in 2020 to as low as $175 million in 2021 and anywhere in between.

Even without the salary cap reduction, the Green Bay Packers’ offseason was going to look closer to that of 2020, where Brian Gutekunst is looking for bargains, rather than 2019, where he went out and signed four big free-agent deals. At this moment, Spotrac is predicting a salary cap in 2021 of just under $179 million, which puts the Packers $32.2 million over.

This means they’ll have to create space rather than take up space with a hefty contract, which is what Linsley deserves.

So when Linsley met with reporters on Monday to discuss the NFC Championship Game and the season that was, he was also asked about contract extension talks between his agent and the Green Bay Packers. And sadly, not much appears to be taking place:

"“My agent hasn’t really had any talks with the Packers,” Linsley told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “That’s obviously not to say that something couldn’t happen, but up to this point it’s kind of been complimentary but nothing of substance. So, you know, we’ll move forward with that.”"

Being a free agent in an offseason where the salary cap is being reduced certainly doesn’t do Linsley any favors, but unlike many teams, the Packers may be as well-equipped as any to handle his departure. As good as the offensive line was in 2020, what might be even more impressive was how good they were despite all the movement that took place with injuries. Instead of having to sign or draft Linsley’s replacement, they have the players they need already on the roster.

Most likely, we would either see Elgton Jenkins or Lucas Patrick take over at center — my guess right now is Patrick — and depending on who is the center, the guards would be Jenkins, Patrick, and Jon Runyan, with the tackles being David Bakhtiari and Billy Turner.

Now, let’s be clear, without Corey Linsley, this offensive line is not better. However, difficult decisions have to be made, and with the depth of this offensive line unit, it’s a loss that the Packers can absorb.

There is still time for an extension to take place, but based on Linsley’s comments, that doesn’t seem to be the case. He could also still sign with the Packers once free agency begins, but more than likely, he will get a big contract elsewhere–which again, is incredibly well deserved.

As I said at the beginning, this is an unfortunate part of the game. Linsley has been a key member of this team since 2014, and he’s been apart of four NFC Championship games. But as of now, it looks like he’s played his final snaps as a member of the Green Bay Packers.