Arguably the strongest unit that the Green Bay Packers have heading into the 2023 season is their offensive line. When healthy, this unit has the pieces in place to be one of the most dominant in the NFL, led by their Pro Bowlers, left tackle David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.
Jenkins was a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and he filled a major need for the Packers at the time. Green Bay didn’t have many long-term options on the interior of their offensive line at the time other than center Corey Linsley.
However, had the Packers had a crystal ball during the 2018 NFL Draft, that hole likely would have been filled already. Over at ESPN, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller did a re-draft of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Originally, the Packers selected cornerback Josh Jackson out of Iowa with the No. 45 pick. They doubled up on cornerbacks after selecting cornerback Jaire Alexander with the No. 18 overall pick.
In the re-draft, the Packers selected wide receiver D.J. Moore in the first round. In the second round, they bolstered the interior of their offensive line, selecting Texas offensive lineman, Connor Williams.
“Williams’ lack of length was the big concern during his pre-draft process, which forced him to transition inside. The move proved best for him, as he has posted a 91.9% pass block win rate over his career. With Corey Linsley in his prime at the time, Williams would have slotted in at guard for the Packers, where they didn’t have any clear answers moving forward. Williams’ strength could have helped protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers until his departure.”
Williams was originally selected No. 50 overall by the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers’ original selection in Jackson, did not end up being selected in the re-draft.
The Texas product has enjoyed a solid career with them, starting 51 out of 57 games he played in during his first four seasons in the NFL before signing a free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2022. He started all 17 games for the high-flying Dolphins offense last season.
There is no doubt that the Packers could have used a presence such as Williams on the interior of their offensive line. As pointed out, he has been an excellent pass-blocker in his career.
