The signing of free safety Anthony Smith early in free agency helped the Green Bay Packers add some depth to their secondary.
Late last night, the Packers decided to add some depth to their offensive line by signing free agent guard/center Duke Preston, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, to a two-year contract, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
First, some general information on the Packers’ latest acquisition:
- Preston is 6-feet, 5-inches and 326 pounds. His weight is significantly more than that of Green Bay’s two potential starting centers, Scott Wells (303) and Jason Spitz (302).
- He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Bills out of Illinois in the 2005 draft.
- He’s played in 59 games over the course of his four-year career. He’s started 20 of those games, including 11 last season. All of his starts last season came at center.
- His name is pretty cool.
This is not an earth-shattering move by any stretch. Preston probably does not figure to be in the mix for a starting spot, either at center or guard (or right tackle, although the team apparently thinks he could play there).
For example, the Journal Sentinel article points out that Preston struggled in his time as a starter last season, particularly against players like Cleveland’s Shaun Rogers and New England’s Vince Wilfork, amongst others.
That doesn’t bode well for him gaining a starting spot in Green Bay. Six times a year, Packers’ interior linemen have to face the likes of Chicago’s Tommy Harris, Minnesota’s Pat and Kevin Williams and, now, Detroit’s Grady Jackson.
Still, Preston at least has some starting experience and should provide insurance for Green Bay at a couple of different positions.
That’s a good thing because, as of now, the Packers don’t have much depth on the o-line.
Assuming the starters will be Chad Clifton (left tackle), Daryn Colledge (left guard), Spitz (center), Josh Sitton (right guard) and Breno Giacomini (right tackle), that leaves Wells (center), Tony Moll (guard/tackle) and Allen “I was drafted with the pick that could have landed Randy Moss” Barbre (guard/tackle) as the three backups.
Yikes.
Now, the team will have a little more flexibility. Green Bay can either go into the season with these nine linemen or – should it decide to draft at the position - dump one of the nine currently on the roster (hint, Moll, hint, hint) and still have a better group than it did last year.
And most importantly, the move won’t do much to lower that $21 million of cap space the Packers currently have, money that should go to the likes of wide receiver Greg Jennings and free safety Nick Collins.
Any time now, Teddy…
-Chris Lempesis
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