The Green Bay Packers probably have a new starting center to start the 2021 season.
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, the Packers and All-Pro Corey Linsley have had no contact since the end of the season, which is expected to bring Linsley – an appetizer at the Packers center for the past seven seasons – home drive goes on during free agency.
His contract with the Packers will expire next month. At that point, he will become an unlimited free agent, giving him the ability to join any team.
Following the NFC title loss, Linsley said he had not spoken to the Packers about a new deal, which would set the scene for a possible departure. At the very least, Linsley will get a chance to reach the open market and see what kind of deals from other teams await him.
The Packers drafted Linsley in the fifth round of the draft in 2014. He became an immediate newcomer to the center, a position he has since manned in Green Bay.
The 2020 season was Linsley’s best as a pro. Once again dominant as a pass blocker, Linsley emerged as an important part of the Packers’ zone-blocking scheme. He ended the year with the highest overall grade among all centers at Pro Football Focus.
The Packers have internal options to replace him in the center. Lucas Patrick has experience playing the position, the second round of 2019, Elgton Jenkins was a longtime center in the Mississippi state and played there while Linsley hurt last season, and the sixth round of 2020, Jake Hanson all four seasons begin in downtown Oregon. . It is possible that even Jon Runyan could be an option in the middle, based on how the Packers want to cross-train the positions and set up the first five without Linsley and possibly David Bakhtiari, who is recovering from an ACL injury.
Linsley, who turns 30 at the end of July, could order a deal worth $ 10 million or more a year on the open market. According to Over the Cap, Ryan Kelly of the Indianapolis Colts is the highest paid center in football. His four-year deal is worth $ 12.4 million per season. Generally, five different centers earn $ 11 million or more per year, so from 2020 there will be a salary increase for the first team All-Pro center.