There are a few starting positions that are going to be up for grabs when the Green Bay Packers start training camp in a few weeks. The kicking competition is one that many people will have an eye on, as Anders Carlson looks to reclaim his spot after a shaky rookie season in 2023.
Another area that people will be watching is the offensive line. There is a chance that all five spots in the starting lineup will be different in 2024 than the grouping that ended in 2023. Right now, nothing is decided, which is part of the reason Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report has named the offensive line the team’s most important training camp battle.
“It’s hard to narrow down the competition on Green Bay’s offensive line to just one spot. Few teams are as willing to shuffle their offensive line the way the Packers have to get their five best players on the field…
There are a lot of combinations the Packers could roll with. That’s mostly a good problem to have, but it’s still an important question to figure out if Jordan Love is going to build on his brilliant second half of 2023,” Ballentine wrote.
The offensive line will play a major role in how high the Packers’ offense can ascend in 2024. Jordan Love closed his first season as a starter on a very high note, leading to expectations being on the rise.
For him to take that next step, the offensive line needs to protect him. As things currently stand, there isn’t a single spot set in stone for 2024. Right guard is open after Jon Runyan Jr. departed in free agency and Josh Myers looks like he will lose his starting spot at center.
Left guard Elgton Jenkins has taken snaps at center during offseason workouts. Last season’s right tackle, Zach Tom, has been rumored to be a candidate to move to the pivot as well. Both have experience playing multiple spots along the offensive line, as Green Bay is notorious for cross-training linemen.
A first-round pick was used on Jordan Morgan, who is receiving a crash course. He is being cross-trained and played every spot but center during OTAs and minicamp. Rasheed Walker is the only holdover from last season after he replaced David Bakhtiari at left tackle.
Taking a stab at how things could look come Week 1, Jenkins and Tom are guaranteed starting spots somewhere. Morgan should receive a shot as a first-round pick as well. Early prediction; Walker retains left tackle, Jenkins remains at left guard, Tom kicks over to center, Morgan starts at right guard and Caleb Jones plays right tackle.
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