5 potential cap casualties for Packers with reduced 2021 salary cap

Billy Turner

At this point, there’s no guarantee Billy Turner will be a starter along the Packers’ offensive line this season. Turner will face competition from Lane Taylor for the right guard job with second-year Elgton Jenkins the starter on the left side of the line.

Next offseason, the Packers could decide to move on from Turner, even if he does start all 16 games this season. The Packers could free up $3.55 million if they cut Turner next offseason.

So, who would start at guard? Taylor will hit free agency next spring, which could mean Green Bay would either have to give him a new deal or instead look for a replacement on the roster. And that’s where this year’s draft class could prove to be so vital. Green Bay drafted three interior offensive linemen back in April. If they moved on from Turner and lost Taylor and center Corey Linsley in free agency, they’d need their young offensive linemen to step up.

Lucas Patrick would be a potential veteran replacement to start at either guard or center, and Jon Runyan Jr. or Jake Hanson could be candidates to also win starting jobs.