#PackersDaily: Where will Zach Tom line up in 2024?
It is definitely the silly season leading up to the draft, but Demovsky dropped an interesting nugget earlier today regarding Packers offensive lineman Zach Tom.
By PackerAaron
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Comments (36)
KKB
April 12, 2024 at 04:46 pm
Trade Meyers and #25 and #58,
to Steelers for #20 & #51
Move Tom to Center, and draft OT or Cooper DeJean.
Lare
April 12, 2024 at 06:37 pm
If they're going to move Tom to center they better draft an OT to replace him.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 12, 2024 at 07:05 pm
A rookie's going to replace Zach Tom in week one?
Further, he's about the same size as Bakh. If those are the best OTs we have (or have had) what's the sense in acquiring huge humans at 6'6", 6'7" 6'8" and 6'9"? Or even keeping them on the roster? I'm very interested in seeing them compete until week 1, Mt Caleb was dominant last year before week 1 but still hasn't played an offensive down in the NFL.
Coldworld
April 12, 2024 at 07:20 pm
Gute hinted that they will look at the best place for Tom and others immediately after the season. This doesn’t seem new. How the draft falls will no doubt go a long way to setting the backdrop to such ruminations.
MooPack
April 12, 2024 at 08:17 pm
So, if this is correct -
Here’s what Demovsky had to say on the subject:
“I was told by a couple people, within the organization, they think Zach Tom is a Pro Bowl right tackle, an All-Pro guard and a potential Hall of Fame center.”
as I and a few others have alluded to being his best position, then RT is in play as a draft pick. If that is so, King Sua or Tyler Guyton could be an early pick for them. IMO, others to keep an eye on are Blake Fisher, Roger Rosengarten, Brandon Coleman. Outside possibility is Barton, but he is best suited to iOL, so I don't think so.
Bitternotsour
April 12, 2024 at 10:23 pm
Demovsky's sources within the organization were two cafeteria workers.
Tundraboy
April 13, 2024 at 02:13 am
😂😂
Tundraboy
April 13, 2024 at 02:14 am
😂😂 lol
Tundraboy
April 13, 2024 at 02:14 am
😂😂 lol
TKWorldWide
April 12, 2024 at 08:42 pm
Interesting options. Tom to center? Tom to LT? Myers “shaky” at center? Is Rhyan the man at RG? Is Rasheed entrenched at LT? Do they want more of a mauler at RT?
Seems like if GB drafts a lineman who is of starting caliber right away, they have a lot of ways they could shuffle the deck. And it all starts rolling in a little under 2 weeks.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 12:46 am
I think they draft their highest graded O linemen when they can and then figure out the best 5 later. Biggest thing is hit on enough of them that Newman isn't on the roster week 1.
TKWorldWide
April 13, 2024 at 07:13 am
Newman!
SicSemperTyrannis
April 12, 2024 at 09:04 pm
Aaron, I'm glad you haven't given up on the idea of Zach Tom at C. My idea of how that should happen is different from anything I've seen: go back to 2022 and instead of trying to thread needles from a mile away on 3rd and short and just turn the ball over, bring in some of these huge humans to help Quadzilla press forward. Even if it doesn't work you at least have film on them to help them actually develop.
As it is, how is Gutey supposed to know what he's got at depth at OT? They've never played. I'd love for at least one of Mt Caleb, Telfort or Tenuta to free up #50 to play on the interior where he belongs, even if it's only to bring up a rookie at OT and split snaps like was done this past season. That way the high picks towards the O line could go for depth on the interior, and if somebody winds up being a great OT? It's not like we're going to be able to get Joe Alt anyway. Let Gutey grab another mid-round draft and develop player that deserves a roster spot.
I also disagree with evaluating a draft based on the idea that if somebody doesn't get a second contract with the Packers, it was a bust. I think a much more sensible evaluation is, what did they contribute? Four years is enough for that to be substantial. In any given year there seem to be plenty of good players who don't get re-signed but they continue having a good career, or even if their career is over by no means does that equate to a wasted draft pick. IMHO.
WD
April 13, 2024 at 11:15 am
It is refreshing to hear someone at least mention our own massive O-linemen Caleb Jones. What is not to like? They say he may be too big? Seriously? His limited and brief time on the field during preseason wa a highlight film in itself. What exactly is he supposed to be learning sitting on the bench? How to drink water? I think he would be perfect somewhere on the line. Why not right Tackle? He at least needs to be given a chance to compete. If he isn't at least depth I don't know who is. Our O-line is the least of our problems for 2024. In terms of our priories we need Safety and ILB first. Not necessarily in that order. Only then can we afford to look at other positions. Besides the draft is deep at O-line while not so much at safety and ILB. I know I am not the only one who feels this way.
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 01:34 pm
It’s draft crush time. We will see if Jones or Tenuta are real or imaginary over the coming months, but not one of us knows what they really represent because we’ve never really seen them. All we do know is that they’ve held on to them at the cost of roster spots when they didn’t have to.
Theres more basis for pontificating about Rhyan, because he’s actually been seen playing, for example. But we have a leadership that doesn’t blood players till they have to and as little as possible typically even then. Cox, even DT Ford are other examples. Melton would still be were it not for injuries. Cant read much into them not being active, only that we affirmatively wished not to release them.
“Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight.”
Napoleon Bonaparte
skydancer506
April 12, 2024 at 09:06 pm
I disagree. While Zach Tom certainly is talented, and perhaps his best position might be at center, I believe this is a smokescreen. If the Packers want to select a center in the first round, then you make it sound like you aren't going to get a center. If the report comes out that Zach Tom can be a HoFer at center, then no other GM is going to suppose that the Packers will pick a center. If this is the smokescreen that I think it is - then I fully expect them to go all out for Jackson Powers-Johnson, and might actually trade up to get him (I'm hearing some rumors that they might be having a deal in the works for #16 with Seattle, to ensure that he's still available, otherwise Pittsburgh will grab him at 20). If they can't land JPJ and have to select at #25, then my best guess is that they will go with Tyler Guyton or Graham Barton, if JPJ is not available.
The team's website came out with their Prospect Primer on him yesterday (April 11) in both print and video form. Right after that comes the story from Rob Demovsky about Tom being an HoF center? I just don't believe in coincidences.
Earlier I thought they were going to reach and select Edgerrin Cooper at 25, but it seems like Cooper will most likely be available at 41 and they will take their chances with him there.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 12:27 am
I think that rumor you heard was BS. At least three people reported this week that they're hearing from scouts JPJ and Zach Frazier are going to go later than people think.
KKB
April 14, 2024 at 07:25 pm
Steelers badly need a center. I expect JPG to go there. GB would need to swap with Steelers or move in front. I LOVE JPJ - & I don't care what round.
cdoemel
April 12, 2024 at 10:34 pm
I don’t think the draft needs to be earlier, but the NFL should bundle the combine and the draft within a few weeks of each other.
Leatherhead
April 12, 2024 at 11:34 pm
Oh no. You've got to evaluate what you saw at the Combines. You've got the Pro Days. You need to look at what's available in FA. This takes time. These guys in the scouting department are working 65 hour weeks right now, guaranteed. I don't see how Gutekunst can shut off his brain long enough to sleep.
Leatherhead
April 12, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Fascinating. I'd been wondering if the Packers might shuffle their line. You usually put your best guy at LT, because that makes your QB better. You put your second best guy at C, because he handles the ball on every play and makes the defensive call and he makes both guards better, which makes the QB better. Then RT, where Tom played last year, then LG and finally RG, who are a dime a dozen, according to Ron Wolf and me.
If Runyan is worth $30 million, then you have to kind of wonder what Tom is worth. I've been rewatching these games from last year and Tom just beats whoever it is....Hutchison, Bosa, whoever. He's a very good RT.
We're going to have to pay to keep him, and if we are, then why not put him in a more premium position?
It looks like the Packers like Walker at LT. You could move Tom to center and draft a RT in this draft and we're looking good. Or you could move Walker to RT and draft another LT. Personally, I'd be inclined to leave Tom where he is and draft a better Center to replace Myers, who is in the last year of his deal.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 12:35 am
TT thought guards were a dime a dozen so he let Wahle and Rivera go in the same year and it took him three years to fix his mess.
Leatherhead
April 13, 2024 at 10:48 am
I hate to waste time engaging you, but this is just so fundamentally incorrect on so many levels.
Ron Wolf thought Right Guards were a dime a dozen. There's a difference between LG and RG, and there are reasons why you'd want the better Guard on the left, but I'm sure you know all that. Right guards are a dime a dozen.
Mike Sherman was our GM for a short while, just enough to convince the people in charge that HC and GM were too much for him to handle, and they brought in Ted Thompson, a Wolf protege
That was after the 2004 season, prior to the 2005 draft. Among the numerous problems that had to be addressed was that we had bad salary cap problems, and TT resolved that by parting company with several expensive vets, like Wahle and Rivera and Sharper and others.
The next year, we fell to 4-12. I tend to look at Favre's 36 turnovers as a big reason that happened and I'm not sure that if we'd had Wahle and Rivera....and their contracts....it would have made a real difference, all things considered.
Our guards were a couple draftees, Colledge and Spitz. Our tackles were Clifton and Tauscher, and that was what you call "a mess"
So, to recap: RGs are a dime a dozen. TT cut the two starting guards for salary cap reasons and replaced them with guys who were part of a very good line for the next several years, making it to the NFC Championship game twice.
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 11:36 am
this is factually correct. and, because I'm contractually obligated to make this observation, Ron Wolf promoted Mike Sherman to GM. He also hired Ray Rhodes to be the Head Coach.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 11:59 am
Leatherhead likes to say that you can judge a position's importance by how much they get paid. RG Chris Lindstrom made $6 million more than C Jason Kelce last year, they were the highest paid at their respective positions.
The difference between the highest paid CB and S is $2 million. A lot has changed since 2000.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 11:38 am
Did I say the OL was a mess? I said the guard spot was a mess until '08 when they drafted Sitton. College and Spitz weren't good.
BTW you've repeated the Ron Wolf mantra at least a half a dozen times on here. You don't think he might have changed his viewpoint as the NFL changed over the last 25 years? If centers are the 2nd most important why are they paid less than guards and way less that RTs?
Leatherhead
April 13, 2024 at 12:01 pm
College and Spitz weren't good I mean, they were both Day 2 picks. They started for us in 2007 on a 13-3 team, and they had long careers and got multi-million$ contracts after they left Green Bay.
If Wolf has changed his mind, he hasn't said so. I'll leave the mind-reading to you.
Centers handle the ball on every play, and call out the blocking schemes, and help both guards. You simply can't run an offense without a reliable Center. I can't explain the pay disparity, but I know I always put my next best guy at Center.
Oh,you said the LG spot was a mess. That's not the way it read.
''''TT thought guards were a dime a dozen so he let Wahle and Rivera go in the same year and it took him three years to fix his mess.''''
Dooniebrewers
April 13, 2024 at 01:28 pm
And they didn’t want to pay Linsley, so they’ve been messed up at center since.
TKWorldWide
April 13, 2024 at 07:16 am
Yup, some of the same thoughts above.
WD
April 13, 2024 at 11:23 am
I am all for drafting a Center but not in the first round.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 16, 2024 at 08:59 am
Zach Tom nullified some GREAT players this past season! Basically took them right out of the game :)
This results in several possible conclusions:
1) he's both so good at RT, and established there, why fix what ain't broke?
2) he's talented enough to do anything, where can he contribute the most?
3) what's his natural strength and therefore position?
I prefer 3 & 2 over 1. #50 is an asset regardless. It will be interesting to see what GB does with the whole O line, and building it around him is not a bad starting point.
Which to me suggests he's the C. Not LT only because we have bigger humans and he's at something of a disadvantage there, at least against some individuals on other teams.
Or maybe 6'4" is big enough regardless? In which case GB has some shuffling to do. I think navigating those crossroads requires playing the bigger humans at OT, sometime, just to see what happens. I see this past season as the ideal time to have done that for two reasons: 1) injuries 2) no playoff expectations. Hopefully both those reasons are gone this season.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 12:39 am
Jason Kelce was the highest paid center at $14.5 million last year. That would have been around the 25th highest paid OT. You want Tom to leave after 4 years move him to center.
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 11:31 am
Great point, though I think we paid Jenkins tackle money in his last contract, I suppose there's nothing preventing the Pack overpaying for a center.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 11:40 am
Jenkins would be the 18th highest paid OT, although that would have been higher when he signed it. Maybe 10th?
Leatherhead
April 13, 2024 at 11:49 am
LT, C, RT, LG, RG......that's the order of importance. In order of compensation, both LTs and RTs make more than Centers. If the Packers think they're going to have to pay a load to keep Tom....and they are.....then you'd have a reason to switch him with Walker, but there are three RTs making more than $20M/year. It wouldn't be financially unthinkable to pay him and keep him at RT....where he's very good.
Jenkins counts about $14.5M against the cap, which puts him 5th among guards. He has three years remaining on his contract, it goes up to a $17.5M hit next year, and then 2026 it's $25M. I, personally, don't think that will happen, but I do expect that he'll be on the team for the next two years, and since the rest of the offensive line is on rookie deals, we can afford the generosity towards Jenkins, IMO.
If the Packers wanted to, they could play Jenkins at Center, or they could move Tom to Center, but IMO they should just draft a Center and leave the other people where they are. This was a very good line by the end of last season, and if the starters are healthy, it'll be very good again this year.
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 10:50 pm
I hate to break it to everyone, but the Packers have a center, and he's going to be the center in 2024. There's even a 50/50 chance that he gets extended. The team likes him much more than the fan base.
Myers is way better when he has competent guards beside him. A recovered Jenkins is step one, Rhyan with his newfound experience makes two. I'm all for drafting linemen, but it's not critical, and I'd argue that no particular position is critical at the moment. I look for the packers to draft talent for the FUTURE, whether that's at center, guard, tackle or cornerback.
We're back to being good, rebuilt without a true rebuild. It's a miracle if you think about it. We're better at safety, better at running back, have a genuine star at quarterback who should be better with another year under his belt, we have a receiving core that will be better by the same metric, and really talented tight ends. We're legitimate super bowl contenders.