The Green Bay Packers have always been a team that primarily builds through the draft. General Manager Brian Gutekunst has done an admirable job of assembling young talent throughout the roster. The time has come to make a big decision on a key player on defense – interior defensive linemen TJ Slaton is set to hit unrestricted free agency. Although Slaton has expressed that he is keen to remain a Packer, he will be a costly signing. Here is an analysis of how much Slaton will cost the Packers to re-sign this offseason.
Green Bay Packers – TJ Slaton Was One of the Top Interior Linemen in 2024-25
Although Tadarrell “TJ” Slaton is far from a household name, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t been one of the most productive interior linemen in the league. Drafted by the Pack in 2021 out of the University of Florida, Slaton’s output has far exceeded his 5th Round draft status and has been a top run defender in the NFL since.
In 2023-24, Slaton was in the top ten in Run Stop Win Rate (RSWR) according to ESPN. RSWR measures whether the defender was able to meaningfully beat a block on running plays. Last year, Slaton was 9th in RSWR, winning 39% of blocks on run snaps despite having a double-team rate of 41%.
This year, Slaton was even better. As his double-team rate flattened to 36%, his RSWR accelerated to 46%, good for 1st in the NFL over the course of the season. While he did play fewer defensive snaps than in the previous year, the increased production is still encouraging. There’s no doubt that Slaton’s agent will be presenting these advanced analytics to make a case for his client.
Although Slaton drew ire from fans following his unnecessary roughness penalty against the Eagles during their season-ending loss in Philadelphia, one play does not take away from Slaton’s body of work over the course of his Packers career.
I know his last play as a packer wasn’t ideal…
but TJ Slaton was solid all year and should remain a green bay packer. pic.twitter.com/xn0Wk48ZWs
— RELAX (@itssRELAX) January 23, 2025
TJ Slaton would likely remain as a backup if re-signed due to the fact that that long-time Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark signed a 3-year extension in 2024. Both Clark and fellow interior linemen Devonte Wyatt have seen more playing time than Slaton, but given how he has ascended over the last two years, he is a player that Green Bay should be keen to bring back.
It is true that Slaton has not shown a propensity to get after the quarterback – he has just two sacks in four years in the league. While this is part of the reason that he has not grown into a four-down starter, he is still a vital part of the Packers defense. Nose tackles without significant pass-rushing upside are not as attractive as they once were, but they are still necessary for a competitive NFL roster.
The other thing working in TJ Slaton’s favor is a clean injury history. He has avoided major injuries and has been available consistently throughout his four-year career. This is a rare case for many interior line players, and this adds to his upside moving forward.
Analyzing Similar Contracts – What Would Green Bay Realistically Offer?
TJ Slaton is 27 years old and will be entering his 5th year in the NFL. He has been averaging 33.5 total tackles per year so far. Let’s take a look at several recently signed contracts for similar players.
In 2023, the Carolina Panthers signed DT Shy Tuttle to a 3-year, 19-million-dollar deal. He was 27 years old at the time of signing. Tuttle has been decent during his time in Carolina, but at 30 years old, entering the last year of his deal, and owed $6.5 million in non-guaranteed money, he figures to be a cap casualty candidate. Tuttle has not been a bad player, but in hindsight, many will feel that this contract was a bit excessive.
Also in 2023, nose tackle Andrew Billings signed a 2-year, 8-million-dollar deal with the Chicago Bears. He was 28 years old when he signed the dotted line and was a big part Chicago’s strong defense in 2023 and their promising start to their 2024 season. In November, Billings tore his pectoral, and the Bears defense was visibly worse as the team skidded to a 5-12 record.
The last comparable deal we will look at is nose tackle Montravius Adams. 28 years old at time of signing, the Steelers gave Adams a 2-year deal for $5.25 million. Like Billings, Adams dealt with injuries in 2024, but he has still been a strong part of the impressive Steelers defense.
Tuttle, Billings, and Adams all had similar production to Slaton in their careers. Known for run-stopping ability with a limited arsenal of pass rush moves, these players have been complimentary pieces in the trenches. Given this, as well as Slaton’s relatively clean injury history, it is likely TJ Slaton could command a multi-year deal with an APY of around $4.5 million per year.
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