The Green Bay Packers are returning all three of their starting interior offensive linemen and have invested nine draft picks in the last three offseasons into the offensive line, most of which have ended up playing either guard or center. So adding to the interior offensive line in the upcoming draft isn’t a must, but Green Bay does need a developmental prospect or two.
The only member of the interior offensive line that we know is going to be here for the long haul is Elgton Jenkins. While Josh Myers still has two years left on his rookie deal, he was inconsistent during his second season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Zach Tom competing with him for playing time this summer, especially if the Packers add a right tackle early on in the draft.
Jon Runyan was steady and often praised by Aaron Rodgers for his reliability at both guard positions, but he is entering the final year of his rookie deal. As far as options off the bench go, Jake Hanson was re-signed as an exclusive rights free agent, but he is far from guaranteed a roster spot. Royce Newman allowed 14 pressures and four sacks in a five-game stretch before being relegated to backup duties for much of the season. Lastly, 2022 third-round rookie Sean Rhyan was suspended, but even before that point, he was regularly a healthy scratch.
Perhaps on paper, it would appear that the Packers are in good shape along the interior — and it’s not as if they are in bad shape by any means — but the reality is they need Myers to take a leap in Year 3, and Green Bay is one injury away from a lot of uncertainty.
Given the needs that the Packers have elsewhere and having a foundation in place along the interior with Jenkins, Myers, and Runyan, I don’t expect this position to be an early-round selection. However, it is very much in play on Day 3, which has often been a sweet spot for the Packers in finding offensive line help.
At that stage of the draft, it’s not only centers and guards that Green Bay could select, but even going back to the Ted Thompson days as GM, the Packers have been very good at finding mid-to-late-round offensive tackles and moving them inside. Runyan is the latest example of this. In terms of overall talent and depth of the draft class, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has this positional group ranked seventh out of 11 positions.
Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire provided us with a few names to keep our eyes on.
Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga
As for offensive tackles who could potentially kick inside on Day 3:
Braeden Daniels, Utah
John Ojukwu, Boise Statw
Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland
Asim Richards, UNC
Warren McClendon, GA
The Packers absolutely need to give Jordan Love more playmakers. The wide receiver and tight end rooms are incredibly thin. However, as I wrote recently, none of that really matters if the offensive line isn’t holding up. If there aren’t running lanes for Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon, or if Love doesn’t have time in the pocket, then the chances of success for this Packers offense are going to be slim.
