T.J. Lang: 5 best fits in NFL free agency
By John Buhler
T.J. Lang is coming off his best season as a professional. Here are the five best landing spots for the Green Bay Packers guard in 2017 NFL free agency.
T.J. Lang is a former fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Eastern Michigan. In a contract year for the Packers, Lang earned his first Pro Bowl nod at guard.
Green Bay got really hot during the middle of their season, winning 10 games in a row before falling on the road to the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFC Championship. Fate would have it that Lang would suffer a foot injury and would need hip surgery heading into his free agency year.
While he could be back with the Packers, here are the five best fits for the Pro Bowl offensive guard in this free agency cycle. How much did the injury in the NFC Championship hurt his market value?
Indianapolis Colts
AFC, South
There are about four or five middle of the pack teams in the NFL that will have a ton of cap space to work with this offseason. One of the biggest free agency spenders will have to be the AFC South’s Indianapolis Colts.
Indianapolis has a new general manager in town in former Kansas City Chiefs front office executive Chris Ballard. He has two major areas of focus this offseason with the Colts: 1.) Sign Pro Bowl players to his defense. 2.) Protect Andrew Luck up front.
The Colts will have a projected $55,880,819 to improve its roster this offseason. Overpaying for a veteran guard may not be the best allocation of financial resources, but Indianapolis needs a ton of help up front. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo and center Ryan Kelly look to be promising pieces. Can Ballard get a veteran presence at guard from a guy like Lang?
Given that Green Bay and Kansas City come from the same Ron Wolf school of team-building, it would not be all that farfetched to see Ballard bring a Packer or a Chief over to help rebuild his lackluster offensive line.
Since it’s a particularly weak year in NFL free agency, Lang is set to make a ton of cash regardless of his age and health. The NFL Draft isn’t chock full of elite offensive line talent, particularly on the interior. Maybe the Colts spend big to sign Lang this spring?