Can The Packers Afford More Change Along The Offensive Line?
How many avenues to improvement do the Packers realistically have?
By Kalani Jones
Last week, I wrote about the extensive needs the Packers are facing all along the offensive line. To make a long story short: the Packers are facing needs at tackle, guard, and center. I ended that article with the conclusion that relying on the status quo along the offensive line could prove disastrous, that the Packers should seek active investment into the long-term health of the offensive line.
I’m here today to pass along the bad news that, as far as the 2026 season goes, there is little a new player could do to actively crack the starting lineup. Meaning, the team may be forced to retain a majority of the status quo.
I’d be remiss to not point out that, between the week one starters of 2025 and the likely week one starters of 2026, there is a changeover. The offensive line’s disastrous start will not be replicated, at least by the same players. There will be at least three new starters along the offensive line, and maybe even four!
Elgton Jenkins is all but guaranteed to be cut in order to free up $20 million dollars of badly needed cap space. He’ll be looking for a new team in the coming months, and will be joined by Rasheed Walker. He had the chance to convince the Packers to retain him, despite having already drafted his successor in Jordan Morgan. But don’t worry, even with the disappointing contract year in Green Bay, PFF estimates his next contract to fall along the range of four years, $84 million dollars. Goes to show how desperate teams around the league are for offensive linemen (and how Green Bay cannot afford to get that desperate). Next up is Sean Rhayn, also slated for free agency in the near future. He could be back in Green Bay, but it’d be at center instead of right tackle, where he started the 2025 season. I do think the Packers will find a way to make it work with Rhyan, with say, a two year contract extension.
So we have a new starter at left tackle (Jordan Morgan), right guard (Anthony Belton), and center (Sean Rhayn?). The possible fourth comes at left guard, where there isn’t a clear succession plan but lots of cap space to be freed up from a potential Aaron Banks release. The team would be re-couping around $4 million dollars of cap space in 2026, but $17 million dollars in 2027 as well. That’s certainly tempting, but the team will have to convince themselves that they have a clear path to a successor.
Right tackle Zach Tom is the only starter who is slated to be back at the same position in 2026, but guess what? There’s no real guarantee that he’ll be back for the start of that season. Tom underwent a surgical repair of a partially torn patellar tendon in his knee, which typically carries a six month recovery. That could mean that Tom could return for the 2026 training camp, but that is a particularly nasty injury for offensive linemen. For reference, if you are sitting down, put a finger on the underside of your knee and press up. That’s your patellar tendon. Yup, it’s not a great feeling to imagine tearing that.Tom has proved his toughness, but his availability for the season opener should be in question until we receive further news.
So, the Packers are facing the possibility of three to five offensive line spots seeing some form of reshuffle when week one rolls around. Whichever scenario the Packers end up falling into, they will have some unfortunate ramifications to deal with, but for (mostly) different reasons.
If the Packers are facing the “three new starters” possibility, it means that they are almost certainly going to be unable to get new players into the starting lineup. This is the most likely scenario, and I’m afraid that it is going to drive Packers fans (and writers!) crazy.
In this scenario, the Packers are likely seeing a lineup of Morgan-Banks-Rhyan-Belton-Tom. That’s awfully close to the same lineup we saw at the end of 2025. Did that lineup look better than the one the Packers started the season with? Yes, but it was still nowhere near where a championship-level offensive line should be performing at. And as I mentioned, that new lineup is mostly already locked in.
Morgan has been the heir apparent at LT for years, so the odds of someone beating him out for that job are extremely slim. Belton is by far the best option the Packers have at right guard, and just spent a second round pick on him! Center is probably the best possibility to see some new blood, but as I mentioned, I think the Packers would prefer to just bring Rhyan back. Could the Packers draft a center, and see that center beat out Rhyan for the job? Maybe. It does seem like MLF is very set on giving rookies as much of a landing strip into the NFL as he can though, and a rookie would have a hard time getting onto the field right away.
The Packers could sign a free agent, but this scenario see very little cap space room for the team to operate with in 2025, and certainly not enough to sign a top of class free agent like Tyler Linderbaum. And if it’s not a top of class guy who offers an instant upgrade, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to just bring Rhyan back, when the contracts would be similar.
So, there’s little to no room for any new Packers to actually see the field in 2025 in this scenario. On the other hand, if the Packers are seeing four or five reshuffled or new starters along the line in week one, we’ve probably got an entirely different problem.
This would mean no Aaron Banks, but as I mentioned Green Bay only sees around $4 million dollars of cap relief in 2026. Not enough to really try to sign another replacement straight up. The Packers could try to leverage that additional $17 million of space in 2027 into a contract or two, which is the likely move in this scenario. Or it means trying to find a true plug-and-play option in the second round of the draft, but you're just robbing Peter to pay Paul at that point. You’d still have massive holes at cornerback, and defensive tackle. You also don’t want to rope yourself into having to take a guard at that spot, instead of taking the best player available.
And then there is the nightmare scenario of having all five spots being newly occupied. If Zach Tom is unavailable, I struggle to come up with who the starter will be. Maybe the Packers have retained Darian Kinnard, whose contract also expires this year. If they haven’t, are we looking at starting tackle Travis Glover? I think everyone is tired of the rotating OL experiment, so I’d certainly prefer to keep Belton at guard. Rhyan is at center now, and was never a tackle anyway. Would we be looking at another rookie on the line? This scenario leaves us with Morgan (never played left tackle in a consistent role in the NFL) - Rookie / Small contract free agent - Rhyan / Rookie - Belton - Glover / Rookie / Kinnard.
That would keep me up at night.
Like I mentioned, the scenario that sees three reshuffled offensive linemen is by far the most likely, and is ultimately the best case scenario. In this timeline, we are going to have to just accept that the actual starting lineup is mostly set (barring injuries, of course), while the Packers have (hopefully) added a few rookies that can impact the lineup in 2027. The team might just be in no man’s land when it comes to improving the offensive line for 2026.
That’s not to say that the offensive can’t get better in 2026 than they were in 2027. Coaching certainly goes a long way towards that cause, as does injury luck. Does Sean Rhyan take a jump in play, after spending an entire offseason practicing at center? Does Jordan Morgan prove he should have taken over at LT long ago? Anthony Belton certainly got better as the season went on, and was already playing as well as could be reasonably hoped for. There’s no reason to think he can’t settle in at right guard for the long term.
Internal development might be the only path forward, for immediate results in 2026. I look forward to finding out a few of these answers over the coming weeks and months, especially in regards to the futures of Sean Rhayn and Aaron Banks. The Packers will certainly need a huge step forward from the entire group in order to get this team back into the Super Bowl.
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Co-Owner of the thirteen time world champion Green Bay Packers. Sometimes I write about them. Follow me on Twitter at https://x.com/kjones_in_co and on Substack for film breakdowns!
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Comments (64)
TarynsEyes
February 04, 2026 at 10:39 am
They're playing a multiple-coin-flip game trying to get an OLine set/match/pairing that creates value. That's a hard thing to achieve when the coins being flipped aren't of the same value, so no matter the outcome, the OLine is made up of a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and maybe one silver dollar. Shaking coins in a pocket offers no value if that change has little independent value. Turn those lower coins into half-dollars, and there might be a chance.
Since'75
February 04, 2026 at 04:10 pm
^That right there^
Cheezehead72
February 04, 2026 at 10:47 am
As mentioned in the article the key is Tom's injury. The Packers must find a RT in case Tom is not ready. With the salary cap problems we have they need to look at the less expensive free agents and sign one. They will also need to draft the biggest/strongest tackle that can play RT. I say the biggest/strongest because generally speaking linemen coming into the NFL need at least a year to get strong enough to play. They might have to use him right away.
GregC
February 04, 2026 at 11:20 am
I sure hope Zach Tom is not in such bad shape that they need to spend a high pick on a right tackle. I think the need is higher for interior OL, and they might be able to get a good one in the first four rounds of the draft. Kinnard or Belton will probably need to fill in at RT if Tom can't start the season.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:10 pm
Hey Greg, the problem with this draft is that because GB failed to address the 2 biggest needs in the 2025 draft, we still have those 2 biggest needs now and OL is right behind them.
If we stand pat with our picks we will have 8 swings of the bat with 2 probable comp picks, if we don't move around for more picks. We absolutely can't ignore CB and Run-Stuffing DT again this year, so those have to be our 1st 2 picks. That means no OL until at least the 4th round. We really NEED 2 CBs in this draft and not 7th round flyers.
OL where we can pick them I like:
Trey Zuhn-Texas A&M-All-SEC as a LT but will switch to center-shorter arms
D J Campbell-Texas-3 year starter @ OG 6'2 325lbs
Jaden Roberts-Alabama-OG 6'5 330 lbs
J C Davis-Illinois-OT- 6'4 330 lbs
Diego Pounds-Ole Miss-OT-6'6 335 lbs
Brewcity_BearsFan
February 04, 2026 at 01:43 pm
FWIW, I had heard some talk on Sports Radio, that Tom's injury could preclude him from returning as a Tackle, but that Center could be an option.
dobber
February 05, 2026 at 05:16 am
Shouldn't be true of a patellar tendon injury
greengold
February 04, 2026 at 10:50 am
Great points, Kalani.
There are a good number of cap saving measures Gutekunst could immediately address with the release of: Quay Walker, Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins and Nate Hobbs. That should be a good chunk of cap savings collectively. Not one of those players would be greatly missed, from a performance standpoint.
Gutekunst has to do better as GM by:
1. protecting Jordan Love
2. adding two equally adept run-stop/pass rushing NTs
3. upgrading ILB and CB positions
4. adding legit pass rush
5. SMART cuts/adds only
No wiggle room for draft mistakes up top, nor in FA. Gutekunst can't expect real change by running wild through Day 3 of the draft like he's in the Dollar Store. Again.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 12:13 pm
The Walkers are not under contract for '26 and so the current cap calculations already account for that. There's no additional savings there. The Jenkins cut is a significant one, and even though he'll be in demand, the Packers simply can't afford to retain him.
Cheezehead72
February 04, 2026 at 02:11 pm
You say Gute needs to add a legit pass rush. I thought that is why we gave up two first round picks and Clark and paid all that money to Parsons. Everyone has said our pass rush is solved.
TKWorldWide
February 04, 2026 at 05:03 pm
Defensive tackles that can stuff the run AND rush the passer are extremely hard to find!
murf7777
February 05, 2026 at 06:03 am
And very expensive!
Leatherhead
February 04, 2026 at 11:26 am
This is a perfect opportunity to reshape the line, with two of our starters entering FA and a third a probable salary cap cut.
You return Tom and Belton on the right side. You move Morgan to LT and he and Banks are the left side. This is not a bad start for an offensive line. Add in Kraft and that's another good blocker.
We'll have to address Center. Either pay Jenkins, or pay Rhyan, or get a replacement. Can you get a starting caliber Center who is an upgrade on Rhyan? Will Morgan be an improvement over Walker? Will Belton be better this year? Will Tom stay healthy the entire season?
All questions that don't have answers right now. But, in a best case scenario, I could see the offensive line being better than it was last year. Morgan could be better than Walker (remember how much trouble Walker had when he was plugged in as a starter?) Belton and Banks could be better.
The key, IMO, isn't about what we have; it's about who we could add. The core of a pretty good line is there.
TarynsEyes
February 04, 2026 at 11:47 am
"The key, IMO, isn't about what we have; it's about who we could add. The core of a pretty good line is there."
If the core were pretty good, the issues wouldn't be so compelling.
A strong foundation is easier to build upon, and the Oline for GB is far from a strong foundation on which to build. The crumbling sound and vision of the Oline heard soundly across Packer Nation was blaring and openly seen due to its cutting-corners structure. If they try to build again off the core, a rerun is likely to be played out.
Your desire to deny what was evident is aligned with the FO.
WestCoastPackerBacker
February 04, 2026 at 01:49 pm
Cutting corners? A first round pick on Morgan, a second rounder on Belton, paying Tom and Jenkins? And late round pick Williams; we don’t yet know how he’ll fit in. And then a big FA contract for Banks. How is that cost cutting? Three guys on big contracts two high round young players. That looks like an investment in the line to me. You can say these guys are not the talent GB needs and question Gutey’s scouting. But they have committed massive resources to the line.
TarynsEyes
February 04, 2026 at 02:08 pm
Cutting corners doesn't only apply to money. In this scenario for GB, it's about player talent/ability.
Nearly everyone in football knew GB reached on many picks when better was available. A reason for doing so is that when the extension contract time comes, the cost should be low enough to retain, but they overpaid for a couple, whether retention or FA, because the majority really weren't and proved unworthy of an extension due to coaching/player growth, leaving them where they're at now, with overpaid FA/retention players. Money is a part of the problem; the bigger problem is them not being smart with it.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 12:38 pm
There just aren't a lot of pieces coming back to be excited about, and not a lot of darts to throw to make things better.
Remember that Belton had virtually no snaps at G before they plugged him in there. I think that we can assume that an off-season in the pro training room and a full camp where Belton is planning ot play G (whether it's on the right or left side) will make him better in '26. If Banks goes, Belton might be the better choice on the more valuable left side than a rookie.
The same might be said of Rhyan at C (focus on the position for a full off-season and camp) after he entered camp last summer playing mostly RG. I'm not all that excited about Rhyan, and I think that C is the key position of this whole off-season. The projections on Sporttrac essentially make Rhyan--as a young guy yet--as the 5th C in this free agency class, and when the top couple guys resign with their respective teams, his value will go up. Do the Packers think he's worth a couple years at about $6.5M AAV? If your C isn't very good, the whole line will suffer. That's the position above all that they need to get right.
If Glover, who was having a very good offseason and camp before he got hurt, is really improving, maybe he pushes Kinnard out and the Packers don't pay his $3.75M RFA tender. We don't know what John Williams brings--the Packers list him as a G--but he wasn't a high-end prospect.
T7Steve
February 04, 2026 at 01:20 pm
The worst thing is that we're already trying to patch a line together and the best options are the ONLY options. Where does that leave them for depth? Something's got to give. I hope the cap rises more than expected and we can sign some of the guys we thought were over the top. It's not like they're luxuries.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:26 pm
Dobber, I just don't see where GB can afford to let Banks go to only save $4 million this year. That creates another hole that needs to be filled. I think they should keep him this year, then dump him next year if he still sucks and save $17 million.
Rhyan was an upgrade over Myers last year and should be better just from not moving around again. For $6 million he is a bargain OC/OG.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 03:17 pm
I think you're right on Banks. He wasn't great, but they'd better have a really good plan if they're going to throw him out at this stage because the cupboard is getting pretty bare. He was better toward the end of the season as he got healthy and was playing next to a C who was also getting better.
I think Rhyan's asking price will go up as the FA market at C thins. There might be a couple cuts who come on the market, yet, but I don't think the top 3 C FAs (McGovern, Linderbaum, and Mayes) make it to free agency. That puts Rhyan toward the top of the class.
Houndog
February 04, 2026 at 11:31 am
Kalani,
I see the 2025 season as one of the worst ever for the Packers O-line, for more than one reason.
Of course injury goes without saying, and they surely had their share!
Secondly, their passion for juggling guys around from position to position in training camp and beyond only served their delusion of diversity, and it didn't work! Their rotating of different guys throughout games was even less successful.
Another concern is they're drafting of tackles to convert to guards, or vice versa! Play the man in the position he's already succeeded at, and the likely reason he was drafted in the first place. Is that really that hard to understand?
There's also the coaching question: Are our coaches doing a good enough job, how many guys have left GB only to succeed elsewhere? Is that playing a part?
There was an article last week suggesting that Luke Butkus was coaching in handcuffs, not allowed to do things the way he wanted, is that a part of this? Who's right, and who's wrong?
The only thing certain is that the O-Line needs serious improvement, and we need to hope it comes from somewhere!
Leatherhead
February 04, 2026 at 11:34 am
You realize that we were an average running team, and an above average passing team. How does this happen if the Oline isn't getting something done?
Please tell me that you aren't one of those people who thinks blocking isn't particularly important, and that you can gain yards and score points without good blocking.
TarynsEyes
February 04, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Perhaps, if you were to cease using the 'average' as a defense for this team, you would diagnose the real issues and why they look good against bad and bad against better.
Averaging is the cover-up used to sway the willing subordinate to believe all is good.
The average nationwide price of gas is ---, but we all know many places have lower and others much higher, with some benefiting and others not. The ignorant take it to be that all are having equal benefit because of the 'averaging'. You need to look inside the numbers and reason why they simply don't mean what you think they do.
Leatherhead
February 04, 2026 at 12:17 pm
We had very few sacks. A high yards/completion rate. TDs. That's not average. We were an average running team, after being better the year before.
Half of everybody you know is below average.
crayzpackfan
February 04, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Your take on the GB OL is definitely below average.
jannesbjornson
February 04, 2026 at 01:20 pm
Draft and Develop for the next team, but nobody's missing Myers and Newman. They probably keep Banks,
or Whack-a-mole becomes the game of choice.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:29 pm
"Another concern is they're drafting of tackles to convert to guards, or vice versa! Play the man in the position he's already succeeded at, and the likely reason he was drafted in the first place. Is that really that hard to understand?"
100% Houndog. GB has also tried and failed miserably drafting Safties to make into CBs. I can think of 4-5 we wasted draft picks on. Draft them to play the position they have been successful at.
stockholder
February 04, 2026 at 11:38 am
Rhyan is the key-
You can change any part of this OL
if Gute re-signs Rhyan
Key Center-
But he can go back and play RG pushing
Beltone to RT.
Especially since most of you think
Morgan can play LT.
I prefer Tom and Morgan on the Left.
But Morgan is a RT, thanks to PFF grades.
Tom has to move if you want to save money.
**And Dillan Randunz NO is my FA choice.
Leatherhead
February 04, 2026 at 11:50 am
I would see our first pick in the second round as being key. We pick at #52. If we can get a legitimate LT, then Morgan can continue to back up at the other positions.
I suspect we'll resign Rhyan and release Jenkins, and we'll draft an Olineman on Day 2.
stockholder
February 04, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Lt? @52. Never happen
RT and C. best bet.
jannesbjornson
February 04, 2026 at 01:22 pm
DT, remember the Baltimore game?
Cheezehead72
February 04, 2026 at 02:21 pm
Need I remind you of Bakhtiari drafted in the 4th round, then there is also Mailata drafted in the 7th, Walker in the 7th, and Jackson UD to name a few.
crayzpackfan
February 04, 2026 at 12:33 pm
So what you want us to make our round one pick from a couple years ago into a backup (swing tackle)? You know how dumb that sounds right?
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 12:48 pm
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Packers open in September with Tom at LT and Belton beats out Morgan at RT. Just about anything could be on the table at this point.
crayzpackfan
February 04, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Then that makes Morgan a bust. Is that where we're going?
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 01:16 pm
Interpret as you will.
crayzpackfan
February 04, 2026 at 02:09 pm
There's nothing to interpret. A number one draft pick never being a starter is a bust. You seem fine with this.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 03:10 pm
"You seem fine with this."
How you land there is your own party, man.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:34 pm
So you are saying just kick the can down the road again by not selecting a CB @ #52 that has the ability to start. The CB room is weaker than the OL room by far. Maybe a trade back from #52 will gain us another 3rd round pick. This draft is all we have to fix the CB room and get a run stuffer DT. Those are priority 1 & 2.
GregC
February 04, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Best case scenario:
LT--Jordan Morgan settles in at the position he played well against quality competition in college. He also looked good in the 2025 preseason when he played against starters.
LG--Aaron Banks stays healthy and becomes a consistently good player.
C--Either Sean Rhyan stays and benefits from having experience at his new position, or he is replaced by a high draft pick who can start and play well as a rookie.
RG--Anthony Belton builds on his up-and-down rookie season and becomes a consistent player.
RT--Zach Tom returns for the season opener, or very soon afterwards, and gets back to full strength quickly.
I don't think this scenario is far-fetched, but it's doubtful that ALL of these things are going to happen. I think they should retain Aaron Banks, try to re-sign Sean Rhyan if the price is right, and probably draft a guard or center in the first four rounds. In 2025, we had the worst OL we've had in a long time. Usually our O-lines are at least decent, so I'm hoping for regression to the mean.
Leatherhead
February 04, 2026 at 12:13 pm
It's not far-fetched. Who goes in after the first injury? The second?
We were an average running team, and an above average passing team. That doesn't happen unless people are getting blocked.
crayzpackfan
February 04, 2026 at 12:36 pm
You must have a parrot for a pet?
GregC
February 04, 2026 at 01:09 pm
They were 15th in total rushing yards and 25th in YPC. So I would say they were a little below average in rushing overall. And average is not good enough anyway if you want to win a championship.
Passing was a mixed bag: 18th in yards but an impressive 5th in yards per attempt, tied for 1st in fewest interceptions (only 7), and tied for 7th in fewest sacks allowed. Low volume (6th fewest attempts) was a contributing factor to all of those stats. The defense often could not get off the field, while the offense tended to be feast-or-famine.
I still think the OL needs to improve quite a bit overall to take this offense to the next level.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 01:18 pm
"I still think the OL needs to improve quite a bit overall to take this offense to the next level."
Or they need to find the next Barry Sanders at RB to make the run game more relevant. Even with terrible OLs, he was a maestro. By far my favorite non-Packers player to watch.
jannesbjornson
February 04, 2026 at 04:29 pm
Lloyd's back for year three.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 12:52 pm
I think this is the most likely and direct scenario based on how 2025 ended. It could be dedicated practice time and reps make Rhyan (if he's retained) and Belton meaningfully better. LH's comment is the key one: who's next? Because there's not much to be excited about under contract for '26 after these guys, and someone's (or someones) going to get hurt. With the limited picks and cap, the management of the OL is going to be like threading a needle.
Since'61
February 04, 2026 at 12:13 pm
The current OL situation is one of Gute's own making. IMO it all started when Gute chose to draft Myers instead of Creed as the Packers Center. If Gute had selected Creed over Myers Creed would still be the Packers starting Center and Jenkins could have remained at LG. This means that the Packers would not have needed to sign Banks and that money could have been used for depth on the OL or more importantly signing a FA NT or CB or both.
We'll never know how much a difference having Creed would have made in the OLs 2025 performance or in the Packers 2025 W-L record. Almost for certain our interior OL would've been better with Jenkins and Creed in their appropriate positions. Our 2025 OL could have Walker, Jenkins, Creed, Rhyan and Tom.
Instead the OL is a huge question mark for 2026 with the possibility of 4 new players on the Packers OL. It looks like the best we can hope for is Morgan, Banks, RHyan, Belton and Tom. However, if Banks is released and Rhyan leaves in FA the Packers will be down an LG and a Center. Jenkins will likely leave in Fa with Walker. Nearly all of this is unnecessary if Gute had selected Creed.
In any case this offseason is critical and Gute needs to make some good decisions to improve the Packers OL for 2026 if that even will be possible after the Fa period. Thanks, Since '61
Coldworld
February 04, 2026 at 12:58 pm
I don’t know how good Jenkins is these days. He wasn’t that good at LG in recent seasons. OK, but not the player he had been. That seemed to be part of his issues again at C, which is usually seen as the less athletically demanding role. Certainly, he didn’t play as well there as his stint at C earlier in his career.
I think his struggles are current athleticism as much as positional change. With additional ligament damage now, who knows when he will be ready to play and whether there will be a further decline?
I can’t argue on Humphries. I do wonder, if at that point Gute still expected Tom to end up at C, but beyond that, I have nothing if we were going to draft one. I’m not sure we’d not be replacing Jenkins and his contract anyway though.
Clouding it all further is the only OL from 2024 to be better in 2025 was Myers, and on a worse team. Then there’s the stubborn insistence that Belton was a T and Morgan a G and they were darn well going to prepare accordingly, till November. Coaching is a multiplying factor that can’t be explained away purely by personnel choices.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 01:21 pm
"I can’t argue on Humphries. I do wonder, if at that point Gute still expected Tom to end up at C"
Not to be a noodge, but the Humphrey/Myers draft was the year before the Tom draft.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:41 pm
"IMO it all started when Gute chose to draft Myers instead of Creed as the Packers Center."
Careful 61, you will be branded like me as a "Hindsight" guy. That could be the worst Packer draft blunder of all time, but it's one of many the last 6-7 years. As much as Myers weakened the whole OL, Creed would have strengthened it more. Maybe not as much difference that Parsons has on our defense, but very comparable.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 12:46 pm
As far as Banks contract, do we still save the $17 million if we cut him next year when this current crisis has passed? If so that makes more sense than having an extra hole to fill for just $4 million in savings this year.
Also How much is Jenkins actual salary this year if some team traded for him. What are they on the hook for. If it's feasable then trade him for a 6th or 7th or 2 7ths. Anything we got would be gravy.
The 2026 draft class for centers is weak. Trey Zuhn-Texas A&M is listed as a center but has been All-SEC at LT last 2 years. Short arms=center.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 01:04 pm
Since Jenkins' dead money stays in GB, he's got this last season with about $18.5M in cash (plus game bonus checks). That's where the $20M-ish in cap savings comes from and what another team would incur. I'd guess that if someone dealt for Jenkins, they'd rework his deal right off the bat. The cuts on Banks depend on whether his roster bonuses have guaranteed when the Packers cut him. Those could be converted to signing bonus and played out to bring Banks back at a similar savings to a cut, but pushing some money out onto future caps (and decreasing his savings on a cut after '26).
An interesting piece I found on the internet the other day, I think at si.com, looked at who might be available in trade and Jenkins, Van Ness, and Gary were all listed prominently in that article as Packers trade targets for other teams. I think Nixon and Hobbs were each mentioned once.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:53 pm
I saw that article as well dobber. That's why I was asking what another team would be trading for with Jenkins. It's irrelevant if they reworked his contract.
Getting something back for Jenkins & Gary would be insanely good news for this years draft. I still think Van Ness will benefit from gaining 15-20 lbs and taking more snaps inside where he could be Green Bays version of the Rams Braden Fiske. Van Ness is as big but faster than Fiske.
The Hobbs trade reference was Hafley might want him. That would be awesome news for us to get anything for him, but Miami is also not in great salary cap shape.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 03:23 pm
I think everyone knows at this point that the Packers are going to cut ties with Jenkins, and in those cases teams are happy to wait for him to be turned loose.
Turophile
February 04, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Before the 2026 season starts, I predict on the O line.
Morgan turns out better than Walker.
Banks gets injured as usual, but plays fine when healthy.
Rhyan signs a new contract and plays Center better than Jenkins did (not a high bar, but still).
Belton makes the second year jump, solidifies the RG position and upgrades the run-blocking from last year.
Tom gets back to playing healthy.
Lots of little upgrades, but taken as a whole, a different and significantly better O line than in 2025. If this doesn't happen, the seat that is already fairly hot under Butkus, will feel like chewing a naga chilli does on the tongue.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 01:16 pm
A cheap OL I would target that can play OT & OG and is still young. Jedrick Wills was a 1st round pick in 2020 by the Browns who are a terrible organization and have ruined more draft picks than any team in the past 10 years. Wills was a 1st team All-American @ RT for Alabama, who was a college powerhouse still then. They had Studs 4 deep at every position then and Wills was a solid starter @ RT. Cleveland moved him to LT and strted him there right away. He struggled at the new position for 2 years, and they moved him around the OL the next 2 years. He started 50+ games for them. Wills tore his ACL late in the 2024 season and Cleveland didn't exorcise his 5th year option. He sat out last year and rehabbed. He would be well worth a cheap prove it contract and could be a real steal.
A potential cut candidate, OC from the Giants, Austin Schlotman, might be an option for GB. The question is he better than Monk? If yes, then cut Monk and sign him. We also should try to resign Rhyan for his versatility, and he was an upgrade from Myers last year.
Andy Hermann in another article suggested trading for Creed Humphrey and paying him $15 million plus per year. That would be like sticking a burning stake in your eye at this point. Yes he is great and would solve the center problem for the next 5 years, but we can't afford that contract. If trading for a center is the plan, GB should approach the Raiders about Jackson Powers-Johnson. He was the best college center by far in 2024 and the Raiders selected him in the 2nd round that year. They chose to play him at OG last year. The Raiders are in another management purge, and as so often happens in the NFL, new coaches and GMs are not in love with former regimes draft picks. So maybe they have no love for Powers-Johnson and we could pry him loose for a 4th in 2026 and another pick in 2027 when we have all those comp picks. That would make more sense.
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 01:24 pm
"A potential cut candidate, OC from the Giants, Austin Schlotman, might be an option for GB."
Austin Corbett is a free agent in CAR and they're likely to let him walk. He's 31 and will not be pricey, but he's still a viable guy as a stopgap--I think we said the same things about Jeff Saturday, so buyer beware. He's had his share of contact injuries, too.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 02:01 pm
I must have named the wrong center dobber. Andy Hermann had a podcast article on here about possible trade or cut OL candidates we might go after. The player I saw was playing center for the Giants last year. That's the guy he mentioned, I got it wrong.
Andy also mentioned trading for Creed Humphrey. I suggested calling the Raiders about Jackson Powers-Johnson because new coaches and GMs don't feel loyalty for previous draft players. If we could get Powers-Johnson for a 2026 5th and a 2027 4th, they could see value in that if they are not sold on him. What do you think?
What's your opinion on signing and trading Rasheed Walker for higher immediate draft picks than waiting for a 4th round comp pick?
dobber
February 04, 2026 at 03:30 pm
"I must have named the wrong center dobber. "
I gotcha. I was just offering another name that's similar but was a better player in his prime.
"What's your opinion on signing and trading Rasheed Walker for higher immediate draft picks than waiting for a 4th round comp pick?"
That it's a bad idea due to dead money and guarantees staying in GB on the '26 cap.
BuckyBadger
February 04, 2026 at 02:25 pm
The cap situation will change here once the league year changes over. There will be deals reworked and players cut to make room and sign new players. They won't be landing any big name free agents but hopefully some young guys that can compete and just need something new. Should be able to find a Guard in the 2nd or 3rd rounds and even later many times. I think the line can be fixed up to be good enough for the offense.
I can see Love reworking his deal to open up space. He has shown to be good enough to extend 3 more years and the price tag will only go up. He fits MLF's system and has the arm strength to cut through the weather in Green Bay. Cutting Jenkins seems obvious but that leaves a hole on the line. I never liked the move to Center because he was a very good guard. They could approach Gary for a rework or cut him but I don't see that latter happening. He is too young to be washed up unless his last contract made him fat.
Since'75
February 04, 2026 at 04:32 pm
...and lazy
As i've said, imo, they will (should) rework (redo) his contract at a lesser amount.
Unless he refuses, which would make him a real asshat.
No one is even paying him 12-15 million/year.
Maybe 12 at best, think jimmy Haslam.
Since'75
February 04, 2026 at 04:27 pm
I think we might be seeing the salary cap can kicked down the road again for 2-3 years,
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It seems like everyone see's Morgan slotted in at LT.
That may be true.
But i want to see how that plays out on the field.
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Not sure why people are soured at Jenkins back at LG.
Maybe i'm missing something but wasn't he one of the best left guards in the league?
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I like Tom at RT.
Like Jenkins, don't fix what isn't broke.
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When you have as much flux at one position as this, an important position, being the O line.
It doesn't exactly give you the warm and fuzzy's.
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Here's the rub, we need an article addressing not only the O line, but DB's and maybe DL.
We aren't one or two players away....are we?
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Personally, i also want to see what they are going to do with Rashan.
Mr....where are you?
I remember when Parsons got hurt, and reportedly, Gary told Parsons.
"Don't worry, we got you"
Ummm, ok.
golfpacker61
February 04, 2026 at 06:54 pm
"Not sure why people are soured at Jenkins back at LG.
Maybe i'm missing something but wasn't he one of the best left guards in the league?"
Yeah 75, I just read an article regarding Jenkins, that the Chargers are starving for OL and might be willing to trade a 4th round pick for him. I don't know where these article writers get there info but that would sure beat cutting him for nothing but cap space.
Same thing with Gary, someone will want him too. Even @ $18 million because Edge rushers make fabulous money. Even average ones. Garrett and Parson are way above average, but with the enormous contracts they got, it trickles down to where below average Edges with "potential" make $10 million per year.
heyjoe4
February 09, 2026 at 07:30 am
Very good article about the quandary the Packers are in with the OL. IMO CB is the #1 position group to be upgraded. After that a DT needs to be added. Both positions are best met through FA, IMO. Once all the injured guys are back, mainly Parsons and Wyatt, the D looks pretty good. Upgrade CB and add a solid DT and the D could be elite. Could be....... A lot of "ifs".
The Packers have been so good with the OL for so long I've taken it for granted, No more. As the article points out, the starters are very likely on the roster now - Walker, Banks, Rhyan, Belton, Tom. Gotta hope Rhyan can make a recovery from a partially torn patellar tendon, a particularly nasty inury for any 3-point down lineman.
Aside fro OL though, the rest of the offense looks very good, although a few places below elite (and this assumes Kraft's return in September to early Octoer). The D is a lot closer to being elite IF the CB position can be significantly improved, and IF a solid DT can be found, and Wyatt returns healthy (he should). And ideally Parsons returns in early October.