Packers: Predicting next contract for pending free agent Corey Linsley
The Green Bay Packers have a number of difficult decisions to make on free agents this offseason. And although a couple of them may be more high profile, none promises to be more crucial than what they decide to do with center Corey Linsley.
Linsley is entering free agency at the perfect time considering his play in 2020. According to PFF, he finished the season with an overall grade of 86.4–the highest of his career and the best among all centers. He was equally dominant in both the passing and running games, proving to be one of the most complete centers in the entire NFL. He ranked fourth among 36 centers in pass-blocking–allowing one sack, two hits and four total quarterback pressures in 437 pass blocks–and second in run blocking–never getting called for a penalty all season.
In 2017, he signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension that kicked in the following season and paid him $10.5 million a year ago. Now at 29-years-old, he’s looking for one more major payday that will take him into his early 30s.
Green Bay Packers’ center Corey Linsley is a free agent this offseason so let’s make a prediction about the next contract he’ll sign.
Fortunately for Linsley, he should be able to find a nice payday somewhere out there–even if it’s not with the Packers. Green Bay is cap-strapped and still needs to find a way to cut money before free agency begins. As much as they’d like to keep him, he’s most likely to sign with another team.
Linsley should be able to find a deal within the three to four year range–something that’s an absolute must for a player at his age. And the deal will go for more than his previous extension which averaged out to $8.5 million per year.
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Even if he never tops his 2020 campaign, he should still get paid for some really good football in his near future. However, four years is pushing it and anything more than that is just silly negotiations by any franchise. My prediction is that Linsley will sign a four-year deal this offseason and take slightly less money on a per-year basis. Then, he’ll sign a new one at a lower price the next time he hits free agency. For now, however, he’s going to make some team open up their wallet.
Prediction: Four years, $40 million