Will the Packers add to the center position in free agency?
Whether through the draft, free agency, or both, put adding to the center position in the must category for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. However, compared to other position groups in PFF’s top 150 free agents list, there are fewer options at center available if Brian Gutekunst goes the free agency route.
With only Josh Myers on the roster at center, the Packers need depth at the position, not only for the eventual 53-man roster but they’ll also need three options to get through training camp as well.
Myers will be the front-runner for the starting center position coming into 2024 and the most likely option. But if the Packers want to create some competition at the position, they could explore free agency, the draft, or even once again consider moving Zach Tom inside.
Although Myers started at center all throughout the 2023 season, it was competition at right guard and left tackle during the second half of the year that played a key role in sparking the improved play that we saw from the offensive line unit as a whole.
Whether you asked Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich, or Luke Butkus, the competition that was created helped elevate the play of the entire unit.
While Tom certainly has the ability to play center, after how well he played at right tackle in 2023 – a premier position – I’m not sure how willing the Packers are going to be to move him off that spot at this point.
Tom allowed only two sacks the entire season and ranked 18th out of 86 tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric while doing so against some of the game’s best pass rushers. In terms of total pressures generated, Tom faced seven of the top 10 edge rushers in that category.
“I think we’ll get to that,” said Brian Gutekunst when asked about Tom staying at right tackle, “but I think we’re gonna try to get the five best guys we can out there at all times and again, I think it’ll be our job to bring in some guys and have healthy competition in there.
“He played really well at right tackle this year, you know what I mean, and so to move him around I think, on the coaching staff, will be hard, but at the same time he’s probably a guy that can play all five spots and I think he could be really good at all five of ’em, so it’ll be just dependent on what we have and where we need him.”
From a pure run-blocking and pure pass-blocking perspective, Myers had his ups and downs last season. His 28 pressures surrendered were the 11th most among all centers, not to mention that by run-blocking grade, Myers ranked 33rd out of 38 centers.
Ideally, more consistency in those areas is needed. But with that said, where Myers really shined was as a leader in that offensive line room and in his ability pre-snap to identify blitzes and communicate responsibilities to the rest of the blockers. Although those things can go unnoticed, they certainly do matter when it comes to playing center.
“From a locker room standpoint,” said Stenavich about Myers, “he’s really taken a big leadership role in the offensive line. As a center, that’s a very, very important thing. He’s done a really good job getting the table set, the calls, all that stuff. Him and Jordan working together, you can see they have a really good relationship, communication, things like that.
“From a leadership standpoint, that’s been awesome. Then on the field, he’s playing with good physicality. He’s moving really well. Doing a better job in pass pro, using his hands, and playing in good phase. He’s going a good job.”
This draft class, coupled with the Packers having five selections in the top 100, will provide Gutekunst with the opportunity to add competition at center. However, if Gutekunst wants to add some experience through free agency, there are a few candidates as well–although the draft may be the better way to go.
I wouldn’t call the Packers’ salary cap situation great, but it’s improved over where it was last season, and depending on how willing they are to push cap charges to 2025 and beyond, Green Bay has the means to create cap space and explore free agency. As Gutekunst said, if the right impact player is available, they believe they have the ability to make an addition.
For more on the Packers’ current cap situation, click here.
Below are the seven centers that made PFF’s top free agents list, along with contract projections from Sportrac when applicable.
37. Connor Williams ($13.5M per year)
44. Andre James
57. Lloyd Cushenberry
77. Aaron Brewer ($5.2M per year)
93. Tyler Biadasz
97. Coleman Shelton
131. Evan Brown
