The future of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line offers more questions than answers. Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker are entering the final year of their rookie contracts and could be in line for massive paydays. If Tom delivers another borderline All-Pro season in 2025, he won’t just earn a raise – he’ll likely reset the market for right tackles.
The questions don’t stop on the outside. The Packers also face uncertainty on the interior. Sean Rhyan will also be in a contract year, while Elgton Jenkins is set to start at center. However, Jenkins’ long-term future in Green Bay may depend on how the tackle situation unfolds. If Walker puts together another strong season as Jordan Love’s blindside protector, the Packers would likely have little choice but to re-sign him. In that scenario, Jenkins’ contract could become a cap casualty, leaving the door open for a trade or outright release.
By the 2026 offseason, the Packers could face significant voids at tackle and along the interior of the offensive line. With several contracts nearing their conclusion, strengthening their depth up front should be a primary focus in the 2025 draft. Fortunately, there is a player who fits the traits Brian Gutekunst looks for in an offensive lineman.
Miami’s Jalen Rivers.
Rivers played in seven games as a reserve tackle in 2020. He redshirted in 2021, starting the first three games at left guard before a leg injury ended his season. In 2022, he started seven out of nine games at left guard but missed the end of the season due to a right leg injury. Rivers earned Second-Team All-ACC honors in 2023, starting all 13 games at left tackle. Last year, he was named Honorable Mention All-ACC, starting eight games at left tackle but missing five midseason games due to injury.
He posted a 6.61 relative athletic score. While he’s not the most athletic offensive lineman in the class, Rivers brings the kind of size the Packers value in the trenches.
Rivers is also versatile, with over 1,000 career snaps split between tackle and guard. In 2024, he logged 364 snaps at left tackle and 219 at guard, allowing just one sack and nine total pressures on 348 pass-blocking reps. As a full-time tackle in 2023, he gave up only 15 pressures across 483 snaps in protection. He played exclusively at guard in the two prior seasons, surrendering 17 pressures on 482 reps. Rivers allowed a pressure once every 32 pass-blocking snaps in his college career.
Whether Rivers played full-time at guard, held down the edge at tackle, or rotated between both, his production never dropped. He consistently delivered solid play regardless of role or alignment. When you pair that with the natural versatility in his game, it’s easy to see why a team like Green Bay – which is known for valuing flexible offensive linemen – would have interest in him.
It turns out Green Bay’s interest is genuine.
Reports indicate that the Packers met with Rivers at the Senior Bowl. In an interview with Eli Berkovits of 247Sports, Rivers acknowledged the importance of versatility to Green Bay and confidently asserted that he can play at all four positions along the offensive line.
Bleacher Report projects Rivers as a third-round pick, but I drafted him in the fourth round in one of my mocks, which feels like a realistic spot. With only eight picks in the draft, the Packers could trade down to gain an extra selection and potentially grab Rivers just before the board might push him off. His draft range is likely to fall between the third and fourth rounds.
Green Bay should target multiple offensive linemen in this year’s draft, and Rivers would be a valuable addition. He could compete at tackle and guard while providing a solid contingency option if contract negotiations with Tom or Walker hit a standstill.
