The 90 to 1 Green Bay Packers roster countdown: No. 18 – Billy Turner
The Green Bay Packers, and their 90 players on the roster, are in the midst of their first training camp under coach Matt LaFleur. In an annual tradition from my 11 years at Packer Report, I rank the players in order of importance from No. 90 to No. 1. This isn’t just a listing of the team’s best players. Our rankings take into account talent, importance of the position, depth at the position, salary and draft history. More than the ranking, we hope you learn something about each player. (Note: The start of this series can be found with my former employer.)
No. 18: G Billy Turner ($4,250,000 cap)
In 1985, Maurce Turner played three games as a backup running back for the Packers.
In 2018, Turner figures to be the Packers’ starting right guard.
Turner was part of the Packers’ breathtaking free-agent spending spree, which netted outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith and safety Adrian Amos. While those three are established starters, Turner is not. While Turner started 11 games last season for Denver and played extensively in two others, he didn’t actually win a starting job with the Broncos. Rather, injuries forced him to right tackle early in the year and left guard for the final seven games due to another injury.
Turner started his career as a third-round pick by Miami in 2014 and has played for Baltimore and Denver, as well. Despite being something of a journeyman, Turner’s four-year, $28 million contract makes him the 19th-highest-paid guard in the game by total contract, according to OverTheCap.com. With that, he immediately vaulted ahead of Justin McCray and Lucas Patrick at right guard. He hardly looks like a lineman with a sleek, athletic frame. His explosiveness is obvious, though he’ll have to prove he’s got the sand in his pants to battle the big guys.
“Billy is a very good player,” right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. “I think he’s very smart and he adapts well. When you’re playing next to someone new, you have to learn each other’s ins and outs, what they are very good at, what they’re maybe not so good at, and you have to adjust your game to fit that. I think Billy and I have done a really good job kind of working through those things with each other – what he’s comfortable doing, what I’m comfortable doing – and then we’re learning a whole new system to go along with that. So, you’re working through some things and trying to get on the same page, but I think for the most part it’s gone really well. It’s gone really well.”
Added quarterback Aaron Rodgers: “The guy I have to say I’m really excited about is Bill at right guard. Just his presence in the huddle, he’s a big dude and he’s a no-nonsense guy at times, but he’s also got a dry sense of humor. He’s been a great addition to that group.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Turner allowed three sacks at right tackle but none at left guard last season.
“To be completely honest with you, I don’t think I gave up any sacks,” Turner said with a smile. “I think the sacks I gave up at tackle weren’t on me. I have fun when I play. And that’s the biggest thing about this for me. People forget that, yeah, we get paid a lot of money to play this game but, at the end, of the day it is a game and you’re supposed to have fun. That’s why I say it doesn’t matter what position I play. As long as I’m out there and I’m able to play and help this organization win games, it really doesn’t matter the position. I think I can flourish at any position that they let me play, as long as I’m there or a couple of games. I’m only going to get better and better so whatever position that is, and whenever that happens, I’m OK with that.”
