The Green Bay Packers are in an interesting position along the offensive line. They just said goodbye to two veteran starters, David Bakhtiari and Jon Runyan Jr., then used their first-round pick on Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan.
Green Bay has a one-year wonder in former seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker at left tackle. Sean Rhyan is another veteran looking to make his mark at right guard. A few undrafted free agents and rookies are vying to make the roster. The Packers also have a center in a contract year with something to prove.
This group has many unknowns. With all the internal competition, what would the best starting five look like?
On the first day of OTAs, the Packers debuted a group of Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Myers, Rhyan, and Andre Dillard.
Dillard is at right tackle, and Rhyan is at right guard. He was a recent free-agent signing by Green Bay, and he’ll fill the depth tackle role. Dillard essentially replaces Yosh Nijman. A former first-round pick, Dillard is good depth but will not be a starter.
Zach Tom usually fills in Dillard’s spot at right tackle, but he’s out with a pectoral injury. Tom was a staple at right tackle and is a versatile player. He could take on any role on the line and play it incredibly well.
Jenkins is also versatile. He has played both tackle spots for Green Bay and center in college. Tom and Jenkins excel at their current positions but can play anywhere on the line.
However, there seem to be openings at the three other spots. Rasheed Walker blocked Jordan Love’s blindside and was as good as any seventh-round pick.
The only problem is knowing whether or not Walker, 24, can keep up this level of work next season. Walker was a seventh-round steal, but maybe people would view him differently if he had been a fourth-round pick. The tape suggests that Walker will be fine as the placeholder at left tackle.
The Packers are also grooming their first-round pick to play in that spot. Morgan has the tools to excel at guard, but the Packers like him as a long-term project at left tackle.
There were talks about Tom potentially moving to center over Myers and then having Myers move to guard. Myers was a guard in high school but moved to center during his freshman season and never played a snap at guard for Ohio State. Myers has the build and athleticism to be a good guard, and maybe not having to snap gives him the freedom to be more aggressive.
Would Myers be an upgrade over Rhyan? Or could the Packers slide Morgan into the right guard spot? That’s what this offseason is for. Green Bay has almost four months until it’s time to find out the hard way.
Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich knows the group’s versatility and wants to select the best five.
“Very excited about it,” Stenavich said. “I think it’s just a matter of putting the best group out there and there’s a lot of different combinations. We’ll see how it all shakes out. That’s one thing we’re always pretty intentional about is working guys at multiple positions to just see where they fit best. I think that’s kind of what we’ll be doing in OTAs and the early part of camp.”
If I were in Stenavich’s shoes, the group I’d put on the field would look like this:
Walker – Myers – Jenkins – Morgan – Tom
I debated flipping this to have Tom play on the left, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Tom would have been there last year if the Packers weren’t confident in Walker at left tackle. It’s about time the Packers gave the center position a little boost, so I’m flipping Jenkins and Myers. Both show great potential to excel in a flip like that, and it keeps the five best linemen out there.
The Packers want to develop Morgan as a tackle. However, he’ll fit better at the right guard spot than Rhyan. Morgan can still move to tackle next season once Tom and Walker’s futures are more certain.
While I feel bad for Rhyan, this leaves the Packers with the five best linemen available and a change that could improve the unit. Green Bay aims to win games, and this starting five gives them the best chance.
All stats and data via ESPN, Green Bay Packers, and Sportrac unless otherwise noted.
