What the Green Bay Packers are getting in OL Billy Turner
The Green Bay Packers reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with former Broncos OL Billy Turner. What kind of player are they getting?
The Denver Broncos made a couple of big moves on the first night of the free agent negotiating period, but they didn’t lose their first free agent until day two.
It was expected the Broncos could lose an offensive lineman in free agency, but most people expected that lineman to be Matt Paradis. Instead, the Broncos are losing Billy Turner, who is signing a four-year deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Packers are giving former Broncos' OL Billy Turner a four-year, $28 million deal with a max value of $29.5, including $11 million in year one, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019
The Broncos had been working hard this offseason to re-sign Turner, but couldn’t come to terms. The former third-round pick out of North Dakota State was a key piece of Denver’s offensive line this past season.
Apparently, he loves wearing green and gold. He certainly had a lot of success in those colors in college. What does he bring to Green Bay’s line?
Turner was drafted as a tackle/guard hybrid, and I think his best fits going forward are at either right guard or right tackle. He played some left guard for the Broncos this past season, and could excel there, but I think he will find a home on the right side for Green Bay, whether at tackle or guard.
Turner was probably considered somewhat of a draft bust coming over from the Miami Dolphins in 2016. He was waived by the Dolphins after just over two years with the team and the Broncos claimed him the second time he hit the waiver wire.
After battling through some injuries, Turner finally got the chance to show what he could do in 2018 and earned this new contract with strong play both as a pass protector and run blocker.
Despite playing multiple positions on an injury-riddled line, Turner allowed just three sacks in over 800 total snaps and in my opinion, he did his best work as a pass protector as a tackle.
To show just how far he has come, Turner was cut in Miami after allowing three sacks…in a single game.
He has clearly developed and is on pace to become the player many thought he could be coming from the NDSU program.
Next. Broncos free agency recap, reactions. dark
The Minneapolis native will get a chance to play in front of his home fans once a year now and gets to help protect Aaron Rodgers on a team hoping to contend for a title.