As the Green Bay Packers move along in their offseason program, the coaching staff will get a good look at areas of the team that need to be shored up. Right now, it looks like one of those areas is along the offensive line.
The starting unit could look vastly different in 2024 than it did in 2023. Long-time left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has battled knee injuries in recent seasons, was released in a cap-saving move. Right guard Jon Runyan Jr. departed in free agency, signing with the New York Giants.
Needing to replenish depth, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst hit the trenches hard in the 2024 NFL Draft. Three draft picks were used, including their first-round pick on Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan.
There isn’t a team in the NFL as adept at developing offensive line talent as the Packers. But, it wouldn’t hurt to add some veteran insurance to the mix. David Kenyon of Bleacher Report has suggested two veterans as targets for Green Bay.
“Yes, they have flexibility in the existing personnel thanks to Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins. Still, the Packers—who have $16.8 million in room—should add a reserve tackle to compete with a nerve-testing group of Andre Dillard, Travis Glover and Caleb Jones.
Among other possibilities, D.J. Humphries and Charles Leno would be cost-effective veterans to consider,” wrote Kenyon.
Both players would help shore things up at the tackle spots, where nothing is set in stone. Following the post-June 1st cuts, Green Bay now has just over $30 million in salary cap space to spend, per Over The Cap. Tom played right tackle last season, but rumors have swirled he could be pushed inside to center this season to replace Josh Myers.
Rasheed Walker took over at left tackle last season for Bakhtiari and improved as the season went along. Morgan will compete with him for that spot. Right guard is wide open, as the team will consider several options.
Right now, the only thing set in stone is that Elgton Jenkins will be at left guard and Tom will be somewhere. The five best players will be on the field come Week 1 for the Green Bay Packers, but the alignment is far from set in stone.
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