Bulaga allowed only (4) total pressures on 70 pass-blocking snaps against Hunter in their two match-ups this season.
No sacks or hits allowed, all four were hurries. #Packers https://t.co/LfR8qUPP7F
— PFF GB Packers (@PFF_Packers) December 26, 2019
Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga all but eliminated Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter as a pass-rusher during their two meetings in 2019.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hunter – who leads the NFL in total pressures this season – produced only four pressures over 70 pass-rushing snaps against Bulaga, who held him without a sack or quarterback hit.
Hunter did have two sacks against the Packers, but neither was credited to Bulaga.
In the first meeting in Week 2, Hunter beat tight end Jimmy Graham for an easy third-down sack. On Monday night, Aaron Rodgers held the ball for almost six seconds off a bootleg action before taking a 1-yard sack near the sideline, so the blame for the sack goes to the quarterback.
Hunter has freakishly long arms and impressive power and quickness, but Bulaga had a counter for just about everything the Vikings’ Pro Bowler threw at him in 2019. Keeping Rodgers protected from Hunter on 66 of 70 passing snaps is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Bulaga is enjoying one of his finest seasons. Not only has he played in every game, but he’s shut down Hunter twice and Khalil Mack twice, while also scoring overall victories against other top pass-rushers such as Demarcus Lawrence and Von Miller.
The Packers will have a decision to make this offseason, Bulaga, who turns 31 next March, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. Once again, he’s proven his worth as one of the best right tackles in football, and he’s done it while battling through a few injuries and playing in every game. Despite his injury history, teams will likely value his ability on the open market.
Do the Packers pony up and pay to bring him back on a multi-year deal? Or do they let him walk and begin the search for his replacement?
In a perfect world for the Packers, Bulaga would return on a team-friendly deal that features protections against injury. Maybe such a deal is possible for an Illinois native that has been in Green Bay his entire NFL career.
Then again, Hunter and the Vikings probably won’t mind if Bulaga leaves the NFC North.
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