When Ted Thompson cut Josh Sitton a few weeks before the Green Bay Packers’ 2016 season opened and then saw him perform well for the NFC North rival Bears, criticism of the move appeared fair. A year later, Chicago moved on from Sitton, who signed in Miami, got hurt, and never played football again. T.J. Lang’s career followed an overlapping trajectory: move on, play well briefly for a division rival, retire shortly thereafter.
Bryan Bulaga appeared to be headed down that path through the offseason. Billy Turner joined the team with a big-money free agent deal, ostensibly to play right guard, but potentially as a Bulaga replacement.