The Green Bay Packers often invest in the offensive line during the offseason, but they did so in a big way this time.
After the Philadelphia Eagles exposed their offensive line depth in their Wild Card loss, the Packers targeted former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks in free agency and spent a second-round pick on Anthony Belton. Banks and Belton are massive men with a different size profile than Brian Gutekunst usually targets. They also drafted Cincinnati’s John Williams in the seventh round, adding another fun developmental project.
The Packers did this after drafting Jordan Morgan, one of the few times they’ve used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman. They want to bolster their O-line to protect Jordan Love and create better paths in the running game.
That investment is likely bad news for Rasheed Walker, the former seventh-rounder who stepped in for David Bakhtiari and never looked back. Walker was a pleasant surprise and a quality starter. However, with Walker in the last year of his rookie contract and the recent investment in the line, it’s looking like this will be his final season in Green Bay.
When Walker stepped in for the injured Bakhtiari, it seemed like a likely stopgap. But Walker admirably held down the left tackle spot the past two seasons.
In 2024, he played over 1,000 offensive snaps and earned a respectable 68.4 PFF grade (44th of 140 qualifying tackles). He excelled as a pass protector, with a 79.6 grade (21st of 140). However, he was less reliable as a run blocker, with a 54.1 (107th of 140). Furthermore, his nine penalties were problematic and prime examples of the offense’s unforced errors.
If Walker can clean up some of his shortcomings, he could earn a second deal in Green Bay. However, in addition to the competition from Morgan and Belton, his draft classmates Zach Tom and Sean Rhyan are also looking for new deals. Tom’s deal is a matter of when and how much rather than if, but Walker and Rhyan need stellar years to stave off their rookie-contract competitors.
Three spots on the offensive line are soft locks: Banks at left guard, Elgton Jenkins at center, and Tom at left tackle. You don’t hand out a deal like Banks if you don’t intend for him to start. With Josh Myers out of the building, Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur said that Jenkins would move to the center, which could be his best position. Tom can play anywhere, but he’s been an elite right tackle at this point.
Walker is Green Bay’s de facto starting left tackle, with Rhyan manning right guard, but those battles will be fierce in training camp. Morgan primarily competed with Rhyan at right guard last season, even splitting snaps, but his main spot in college was at tackle. The plan seems to be letting the former first-rounder get his shot as a tackle first.
Similarly, Belton was a tackle in college, but some of his deficiencies could be better masked on the interior. Despite his massive size, Belton, like Walker, is much better in pass protection than run blocking at this stage of his development. However, the Packers are particularly impressed with Belton’s footwork, which they highly value in their tackles.
VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan didn’t rule out any spot for Belton, praising his versatility. “He’s very versatile,” Sullivan said. “I think he can play left tackle, he can play both guard spots, he can play right tackle.”
Belton has the makings of a classic tackle-to-guard convert, but as an older prospect (24), he’s ready to play now. That may position him to take early snaps at tackle, especially if Morgan does end up at guard. That’s bad news for Walker, who now has two early-round players in contention for his spot.
Couple that with John Williams, a fun developmental project like Yosh Nijman, and Walker himself, and it’s hard to see the Packers shelling out money to keep Walker around.
Walker will have a strong market if he hits free agency. Most NFL teams aren’t as rich with offensive line talent as Green Bay. The Packers have seen plenty of guys they really liked move on after their rookie contracts ended. Walker likely gets a good deal elsewhere that Green Bay isn’t willing to match, while Morgan or Belton take over the left tackle spot in 2026, if not sooner.
The Packers had a good offensive line last season, but they need a great one to compete with the top class of the NFC. They’ve shown a willingness to change their preferred type this offseason, bringing in bigger-bodied linemen who can bully more in the run game. They’ve spent premium draft capital to bring in promising, versatile talent. Walker outplayed his draft position and brought stability to the left tackle spot after losing Bakhtiari, but, unfortunately, there probably isn’t a place for him on the team in 2026.
