Green Bay Packers will Re-Sign IDL Tyler Lancaster

The Green Bay Packers continue to re-sign their own, this time bringing back interior defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster, who was a restricted free agent but did not receive a tender.

While this move may seem underwhelming on the surface — and I get it — it’s one that makes sense given the lack of depth at the position.

Kenny Clark, Kingsley Keke, and Dean Lowry are the only returning players with any sort of meaningful playing time under their belts, while Anthony Rush and Willington Previlon were primarily practice squad players last season.

Lancaster was an undrafted rookie in 2018 out of Northwestern, who has spent his first three seasons in Green Bay in a rotational role along the defensive front. In 2019, he was on the field for 442 snaps, and in 2020, he appeared in 15 games taking 382 defensive snaps.

Specifically last season, Lancaster tallied 4 pressures, 22 total tackles, and nine run-stops, according to PFF ($). He is known more for his ability against the run than as a pass-rusher and does a lot of the dirty work that comes with being an interior defensive lineman.

By no means does this re-signing mean that the Green Bay Packers are done addressing the interior defensive line position. In fact, there isn’t even a guarantee that Lancaster is on the initial 53-man roster. But the Packers are in desperate need of some added depth at this position, and Lancaster is a familiar player who won’t break the bank by any means.

At this time, we do not know the exact details of Lancaster’s deal, but chances are it is for the veteran minimum, which according to salary cap guru Ken Ingalls, will count against the 2021 cap for a net amount of only $140,000.

This certainly isn’t the flashiest move, but it’s a low-risk one that provides Green Bay with some familiar depth at a position of need.