The Green Bay Packers may have landed one of the most NFL-ready players in their draft class with fifth-round pick Jager Burton. He played over 1,100 snaps at left guard, nearly 1,000 at center, and more than 500 at right guard across his college career. With that kind of background, he’s not a typical developmental player. So the question is, how quickly will an opportunity open up for him to see the field?
How soon Burton plays will ultimately hinge on how things shake out along the Packers’ interior offensive line.
Green Bay’s interior offensive line has been a weak spot for a few years now, and it’s fair to question whether that really changes in 2026. Sean Rhyan is set to take over at center full-time, while Anthony Belton is kicking inside from tackle to guard, so there’s a lot of movement happening up front. Belton did see some time at guard last season, but he finished 32nd among starting right guards in pressure rate allowed.
Meanwhile, Aaron Banks didn’t exactly put together a strong season either. However, the Packers are financially tied to him, and his contract makes it unlikely they will move on anytime soon. Realistically, he’s going to be on the field regardless of performance, barring truly disastrous play. If Burton does carve out a role early, the most likely path for him would be competing for snaps at right guard.
There’s also a scenario where Green Bay kicks Belton back outside if injuries hit Jordan Morgan or Zach Tom, which honestly fits his profile better. At 6’6”, 336 lbs., he has the build of a prototypical NFL tackle, so the move inside has always felt a bit unconventional.
At the same time, the Packers didn’t spend a second-round pick on him just to be a swing option, so they’re clearly trying to get him on the field. But if circumstances push him back to tackle, that could open up a clear path at right guard, one that Burton would have a real chance to seize.
It’s also fair to expect the Packers to be reluctant to move Rhyan off center. He’s heading into his fourth season in Matt LaFleur’s system and, even with limited reps there, he showed last year he can be serviceable at the position.
Center is arguably the most important position on the offensive line, especially given the communication and responsibilities involved. That’s not something teams usually hand to a rookie early, particularly in Green Bay, where there’s a history of being cautious with young players.
So, unless something changes significantly, Jager Burton should have a real opportunity to compete for the starting right guard spot. However, much of it will depend on how the team uses him during minicamp and OTAs. Those early reps often give a clear indication of where the coaching staff sees him fitting in for the 2026 season.
