In the first edition of his top 50 prospect rankings, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has 11 offensive linemen listed. This is a position group, both at tackle and along the interior, that the Green Bay Packers will have to add to this offseason.
We heard throughout the college season that this upcoming draft class was going to be really strong along the offensive line. And these initial rankings from Jeremiah reflect that.
Below are the offensive linemen who are inside his top 50:
9. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
11. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
12. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
13. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
16. Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
17. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
18. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
31. Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
33. Graham Barton, IOL, Duke
35. Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon
37. Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
The play of the Packers’ offensive line during that second half of the season was a huge contributor to the overall success the offense had. By the end of the year, this group was operating as one of the best units in football.
With Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom all returning for the 2024 season, it’s possible that the Packers’ starting five is already on the roster.
However, what sparked that midseason turnaround up front was a rotation at the left tackle and right guard positions. Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich, and Luke Butkus all credited that rotation for increasing the level of competition, which then elevated the play of the entire unit.
But looking ahead to training camp and even the 2024 regular season, if the Packers want to go down that rotation path again, there is very little depth, and therefore competition, at this position group.
Jon Runyan and Yosh Nijman are both unrestricted free agents. That leaves, in addition to the five players previously mentioned, Royce Newman as the only other interior lineman on the roster at the moment, along with Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, and Kadeem Telfort at tackle.
The Packers obviously think highly of Jones and Tenuta. Jones has had essentially two red-shirt seasons on the active roster to develop, while Tenuta did so in 2022 and was on IR for all of 2023 after initially being placed on the 53-man roster. Telfort was an undrafted rookie last spring who spent the year on the practice squad.
Perhaps the Packers are confident that either Jones or Tenuta can step in at a moment’s notice if injury strikes or provide competition at tackle if needed. But there is also some risk in relying on players with little to no experience, especially for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Inside, Rhyan isn’t going to be handed the starting job. He may be the front-runner for that right guard spot, but he will have to earn it this summer.
Rhyan’s play earned him more playing time in that rotation as the season went on, and where he really stands out is in the run game. But as Stenavich would mention, he has to improve in pass protection if he is going to be a long-term starter at the position.
“He’s still got a ways to go,” said Stenavich of Rhyan. “I like what I’ve seen from him from a physicality standpoint. He does a good job in the run game at the point of attack. But he still has a ways to go in pass protection would be his biggest thing moving forward.
“If he wants to be a staple guard of this league, you obviously have to excel in this realm. So that’s one thing we are going to focus on with as we move forward just to elevate that part of his game.”
How to address the offensive line this offseason is a bit of a tricky situation for the Packers, especially at tackle. Zach Tom was playing at a very high level at right tackle, while Rasheed Walker steadily improved as the season went on.
Although depth is needed, if the Packers view those two as their long-term answers at the position, then spending a first or even second-round pick on a tackle may not make sense.
If Green Bay does take a tackle early, at a minimum, you’ll want that player to at least push for playing time. But with how well Tom played at right tackle, ranking 14th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric and doing so against many of the best edge rushers in the game, moving him to center, even with some of the ups and downs Josh Myers had, may no longer be on the table.
As Walker gained more experience, we really saw his development take off. From Week 15 through the playoffs, he allowed just one sack, nine pressures, and ranked 10th in pass-blocking efficiency. There is, however, still room for growth, which perhaps leads to competition being added.
“He’s getting all this experience under his belt,” said Stenavich prior to Week 18. “He’s doing a good job. I’m really impressed with how he goes about his business. How he competes. He’s still got a ways to go. He’s got a lot of room for improvement, but I’m impressed with how he works.”
Myers will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024. While his play has been scrutinized on the outside, Myers’ ability pre-snap to get protection responsibilities identified, and his connection with Jordan Love can’t go unnoticed either. Regardless of whether the Packers want to plan ahead at center, provide some competition, or simply look for depth, they need to add to that specific position group this offseason.
The Packers will absolutely add to the offensive line in the draft. It’s a position that Brian Gutekunst adds to often and one in need of depth, especially inside. The big question is when they will make those picks. The Packers have five selections in the top 100 and 11 draft picks overall.
Along with having 11 offensive linemen in his top 50, Jeremiah also had 11 wide receivers. Given the youth and depth that the Packers already have in that position group, unless a top prospect falls their way, they probably won’t be spending an early-round pick on that position.
Other positions of need include linebacker, which had three players in Jeremiah’s top 50. Cornerback had seven players listed and no safeties.