Redskins top three must-sign free agents in the 2020 offseason
No. 2 – Packers RT Bryan Bulaga
Back in 2017, the Washington Redskins gave Morgan Moses a rich five-year contract, as the now 29-year old right tackle rightfully earned for his solid play.
Now, in 2020, the Redskins should look to move off of that deal rather quickly.
It’s no secret Morgan Moses has had a serious regression as it pertains to his play on the field. With the past two seasons seemingly going downhill rather quickly, from penalties to allowing sacks and struggling heavily against blitz identification, stunts, and various other things, the Redskins haven’t received proper compensation on the field from their right tackle over the last two seasons.
Letting go of Morgan Moses will free up $4.8 million on the salary cap, and like the Austin Hooper situation, that money, along with a bit more, should go right into the Bryan Bulaga fund.
Building similarly to the 49ers, Ravens, Packers, and others, the Redskins will likely look to embrace running the football to set the tone for their offense, making it easier for the offense to flow more fluidly for second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Bulaga, after a bit of an injury history in years past, has seemed to turn over a new leaf after tearing his ACL in 2017. The year before the devastating ACL tear, he played all 16 games. The following season after the ACL tear, he missed two games. This past season, he played all 16 games.
Penalties and such haven’t been nearly as big of an issue for Bulaga as they have been for Morgan Moses. Moses, the six-year veteran tackle, has had 19 holding penalties and a total of 45 penalties throughout his six-year career. Bulaga, through his nine-year NFL career, has had 20 holding penalties and total of 48 penalties throughout his nine seasons in the league.
A drastic change will be felt rather quickly going from Moses to Bulaga, as the Redskins get a major upgrade at a position of need.
With Bulaga’s injury history and him being near 31 years old, his contract situation is a bit tricky. Coming off of a year where he made $5.8 million, but played at a solid level at the right tackle spot, he could be a great veteran presence in a locker room that needs it immensely.
According to Spotrac, Bulaga’s market value is $10.1 million average annual salary. While I feel this number is a bit high, I will say he performs quite well statistically against elite right tackles; guys like Lane Johnson, Mitchell Schwartz, Bobby Massie, and La’El Collins. Bulaga has his fair share of better numbers. In terms of his hurries allowed per game, Bulaga is well under the league average of 1.26, with his rating being 1.07. His overall grading is 9.65 percent higher than the average right tackle of 76.35.
All of that being considered, this is the contract I feel is most reasonable for both sides:
Contract Offer: Three years, $24 million ($17.5 million guaranteed)
Bulaga’s injury history does him no favors here, but when looking at the abundance of other tackles signed at his age, the deals all seem to be in the same direction. Low years, low total money, with a high guarantee. I would be all in for this deal, as in the grand scheme of things, an AAV of $8 million for a solid right tackle, one that is exceptional in pass blocking and more than adequate in run blocking, is a “go” from the jump if I’m the Redskins.