Green Bay Packers: As Expected, Signs Point to Corey Linsley Not Returning

Much of the conversation surrounding this Green Bay Packers team this offseason is around the salary cap. With the salary cap dropping in 2021 — the big question is how much — the Packers currently find themselves $11.4 million over the projected cap. Meaning, before they can sign anyone, they need to first shed some dollars.

This, of course, doesn’t bode well for Green Bay retaining their own high-profile free agents, and I think most of us have come to the realization that both Aaron Jones and Corey Linsley won’t be back.

And while I suppose anything can end up happening, in a recent interview with Sirius XM NFL radio, Linsley was asked about his upcoming free agency, and from the sounds of it, he expects to be playing elsewhere in 2021:

"“We’re not closing the door for anything…but yeah it definitely feels weird. Looks like all signs are pointing towards snapping the ball somewhere else next year.”"

Again, this isn’t a huge shock at this point, but if there was a sliver of hope that the Green Bay Packers would find a way to bring him back, this pretty much closes the door on that possibility. Not to mention that while there were multiple reports throughout the season of the Packers engaging in negotiations with Jones, we never heard that about Linsley.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old Linsley is coming off the best season of his career, allowing just one sack and four pressures during the regular season while not being called for a single penalty either.

By Pro Football Focus’ ($) pass-blocking efficiency metric, Linsley ranked second, not just among centers, but out of all offensive linemen. He also finished fifth out of all centers by ESPN’s pass blocking win rate metric and first in run blocking.

The result of this stellar season was that he was named a first-team All-Pro and will receive a well-deserved payday this offseason. Unfortunately, it won’t be from the Packers.

So with Linsley likely gone, who will be the Green Bay Packers starting center in 2021?

On the roster options include Elgton Jenkins, but with David Bakhtiari injured, he could very well begin the season at one of the tackle positions. 2020 sixth-round pick Jake Hanson is another option; however, at this point in his career, I wouldn’t bank on him being ready to start–especially with him being cut at the end of the season before he was re-signed. Teams don’t do that with players they’re in love with.

As of now, I’d call Lucas Patrick the leader in the clubhouse for the starting center position. Overall, I’d say he exceeded expectations in 2020, playing both guard positions while allowing three sacks and 21 pressures over 650 pass-blocking snaps. He can play any one of the interior positions, including center, and based on what we’ve seen from him, that actually may be where he’s at his best.

To put it simply, there is no replacing Corey Linsley, but to GM Brian Gutekunst’s credit, he built an offensive line last season that withstood a number of injuries and still performed as one of the best in the game. This is a loss that they feel they can absorb.