The Green Bay Packers might have reshaped the future of their offensive line on Day 3 of the NFL draft.
Late-round picks are never guaranteed to develop into starters, but the Packers clearly wanted to add a bunch of experienced depth to the interior offensive line spots in this draft.
With three straight picks, the Packers took players expected to play on the inside at the next level: Michigan’s Jon Runyan Jr., Oregon’s Jake Hanson and Indiana’s Simon Stepaniak.
Runyan played left tackle at Michigan but will likely move inside to guard or center. He’s athletic, with NFL bloodlines and a bunch of experience against NFL-caliber rushers.
Hanson was a four-year starter and four-year All-Pac 12 pick. He started 49 games at center for Oregon and did 33 reps on the bench press at the combine. He could be the future replacement for Corey Linsley, a free agent following the 2020 season.
Stepaniak played 30 games at guard at Indiana and was an All-Big Ten pick in 2019. He did 37 reps on the bench press at the combine.
The Packers recently invested on the interior, signing Billy Turner to a four-year deal and draft Elgton Jenkins in the second round of last year’s draft. But Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur aren’t satisfied.
Although Jenkins should be a lock starter long-term, it’s possible the Packers will have at least two new starters up front by 2021, potentially at center and right guard (and also right tackle).
The events of Saturday are probably bad news for Lane Taylor and Cole Madison, and Linsley long-term future with the Packers is now in question.
Combined, Runyan, Hanson and Stepaniak started 105 total games at the college level. They will not be lacking experience when they arrive in Green Bay.
This entire draft feels like the start of a transition away from the spread passing concepts and toward the traditional power run game for the Packers offense. Gutekunst and LaFleur have added a running back, tight end and three interior offensive linemen despite needs in the passing game and in the defensive front.
The Packers have two more picks in the draft, both in the seventh round: No. 236 and No. 242.