INDIANAPOLIS – The Green Bay Packers’ decision to re-sign Letroy Guion earlier this month did not necessarily close the door on B.J. Raji’s return.
In fact, Raji’s agent, Brian Murphy, said he met with Packers chief contract negotiator Russ Ball on Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine and said there’s mutual interest, although no deal is imminent.
Raji would become a free agent next month if a new deal isn’t reached.
“B.J. likes everyone in Green Bay, and everyone there likes him,” Murphy said Thursday. “Usually when that happens, you have a chance to get something done.”
Murphy wouldn’t say whether Raji was looking for more than the three-year, $11.25 million deal that Guion signed, but the Packers would almost certainly be open to a similar deal for Raji.
Raji played in all but one game last season -- one year after missing the entire season because of a torn biceps tendon.
“B.J.’s a guy who'd love to spend his entire career with the same organization and then eventually go to work in their front office,” Murphy said.
This is the third straight offseason as a free agent for Raji, the Packers’ first-round pick in 2009. The veteran nose tackle played last season under a one-year, $2.75 million deal. It was the second straight one-year contract for Raji. He will turn 30 on July 11 and likely is seeking a long-term deal this time around.
