Green Bay Packers Re-Sign or Let Go & Prediction: Lucas Patrick
By Paul Bretl
Among numerous financial and personnel decisions that the Green Bay Packers will have to make this offseason, they have 14 unrestricted free agents that they will either have to re-sign or let walk.
As unrestricted free agents, players are able to freely negotiate with other teams and can accept whatever contract they are offered. It goes without saying, but of course, not all 14 players will be back in Green Bay.
However, even though the salary cap situation is tight, some will still return–remember, the salary cap is all about tradeoffs; if the Packers want someone back, they can make it happen, but what ends up being the corresponding cap move to make it work?
Similarly to my Cut ’em or Keep ’em & Prediction series, where I took a look at each potential cap casualty for Green Bay, in Re-sign or Let Go & Prediciton, I’ll be taking a look at why the Packers could bring back each of their free agents, why they could let them walk, and I’ll make a final prediction at the end.
Up first is Lucas Patrick.
Why the Green Bay Packers would keep Lucas Patrick
Sure, Lucas Patrick has taken his lumps, but he has provided the Green Bay Packers with two key aspects to offensive line play–reliability and versatility.
Patrick can line up at any of the interior positions, and he spent most of 2020 at right guard where he performed quite well. The 21 pressures he allowed, according to PFF ($$), were the 12th fewest out of 86 guards, not to mention that in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric, he finished sixth among all guards. Patrick was also PFF’s 31st ranked guard as a run-blocker by their grading system.
After starting the 2021 season at left guard — a position he lost to Jon Runyan after suffering an injury Week 1 — Patrick would take over at center for much of the season, filling in for an injured Josh Myers. He again allowed 21 pressures and would finish third in ESPN’s run-blocking win rate measurement.
Patrick has been very steady, and as we saw this past season, there is no such thing as too much offensive line depth. If brought back, he could compete for playing time at either guard position, and if needed, provide Green Bay with a high-quality backup at any of the interior positions.