Bryan Bulaga can upgrade Arizona Cardinals right tackle spot
By Jim Koch
The Green Bay Packers veteran free agent would be an outstanding candidate for the Arizona Cardinals right tackle position
Just days before last season’s season-opener, the Arizona Cardinals offense was dealt a huge blow. Marcus Gilbert, acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, suffered a significant knee injury during a practice. The 31-year old landed on the injured-reserve list, forcing the Cards to name a new starting right tackle.
Justin Murray did an adequate job filling in for Gilbert, but Arizona will likely try to upgrade at the spot this offseason. Bryan Bulaga, a free agent from the Green Bay Packers, would be an excellent candidate for that job. Could the Cardinals be a possible destination for the 30-year old tackle?
Bulaga has logged 111 career starts since he joined the Packers 10 years ago. The 23rd-overall selection of the 2010 draft played well enough to be named to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team following his first professional campaign. Bulaga also became the youngest player (21 years, 322 days) in history to start in a Super Bowl that year, when Green Bay defeated the Steelers to capture the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The one red flag associated with Bulaga is his susceptibility to injuries. Hip, knee and ankle ailments have caused the 6’5, 314 pounder to miss numerous games during his time with the Packers. Bulaga did manage to start all 16 contests in 2019, however.
Arizona’s right tackle position is completely up for grabs at the present time. Gilbert and Jordan Mills, another acquisition from last season, are both unrestricted free agents. Murray is an exclusive-rights free agent, meaning that the Cards will have final say on where the 26-year old plays in 2020.
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Bulaga would bring both experience and leadership to the Cardinals offensive line. It’s being reported that the University of Iowa product’s next contract could net him $10 million a year. Arizona general manager Steve Keim will have to decide if the talented but injury-prone Bulaga is worth that kind of money.