Who Are the Packers' Ideal 'Best Five' on the Offensive Line?
What would be the ideal Packers' lineup for the offensive line next season?
Heading into training camp, only two starters are guaranteed for the Green Bay Packers' offensive line in 2024: Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins. Tom will start at right tackle, a position where he excelled by holding former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, former All-Pro Cameron Jordan, and Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson to just nine QB pressures over 125 pass-blocking snaps. Jenkins is likely to start at left guard, where he allowed zero sacks in 544 pass-blocking snaps last season.
Rasheed Walker was the best tackle last year not named Trent Williams in pass block win rate, and he should be on track to open the season as Green Bay's starting left tackle, though he will face competition from Jordan Morgan in training camp and preseason. Morgan struggled during the early portion of OTAs and minicamp, which was expected for a rookie, giving Walker a slight edge in the battle for the position.
The Packers invested high draft capital in Jordan Morgan, and the best way to develop offensive linemen isn't to keep them on the sidelines. Morgan needs playing time, even though he will inevitably face struggles as a rookie. Unless Tom or Walker is injured, Morgan could see his first NFL action at right guard. However, he has no experience playing that position in college, so Green Bay will proceed cautiously before placing him in an unfamiliar role.
Josh Myers will head into training camp as the Packers' starting center, but his job security for 2024 is on the line. He is in the final year of his rookie deal, and it appears that, at this point, we already know what Myers is: average. If Morgan proves to be at least a reliable player at guard, the Packers could easily shift Elgton Jenkins to center and play Morgan at left guard. Jenkins played 297 snaps at center in 2020, including three full games solely in that position. In those games, his average pass-blocking grade and run-blocking grade were 76.1 and 66.5, respectively—both better than any grade Myers has achieved in his career.
The right guard position is the most intriguing on the Packers' offensive line. Who starts there in Week 1 is anyone's guess. It could be Jordan Morgan if the Packers decide to keep Myers at center and Jenkins at left guard. Alternatively, Sean Rhyan has shown flashes as a run-blocker but needs further refinement in pass protection. Andre Dillard played over 50 snaps at guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and could also compete for the job in training camp and preseason. Green Bay might even consider trying Myers at guard, despite all his career snaps coming at center. Rookies Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings bring great upside and could also be in contention. Given Morgan's talent and athleticism, the most plausible option seems to be trying him out at right guard, although Matt LaFleur previously indicated Morgan would start his career at left tackle.
Walker and Tom are likely to open as the starting tackles for the Packers in 2024. Jenkins is expected to play at left guard, and the Packers still appear to trust Josh Myers at center. Despite Morgan not having played his first NFL snap yet, he is the most talented among the remaining offensive linemen. However, it remains uncertain whether the Packers would consider starting him at guard. The probable ideal "best five" would have Walker and Tom on the outside, with Jenkins, Myers, and Morgan inside. Keep an eye on Jacob Monk, who could potentially challenge for Green Bay's starting center position. Monk feels like the type of steal the Packers usually have with offensive lineman in the later rounds of the draft. He is athletic, versatile, and allowed just one sack in 343 pass-blocking snaps last year at Duke.
If Green Bay figures out where Morgan can contribute immediately, if Myers can work on his consistency, and if everyone stays healthy, Packers fans should feel confident that their team could have a top-three offensive line next season.
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Felipe is a Brazilian Packers writer covering the #GoPackGo for CheeseheadTV, Zone Coverage, and Packers Talk. Additionally, he contributes to Cheeseheads Brazil.
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Comments (35)
T7Steve
July 02, 2024 at 02:26 pm
Thank God! This article didn't mention Newman ONCE!
Is Caleb Williams around anymore? He was elevated though inactive all last season. What's going on there?
If this O-line can jell together starting where they left off last season, and get better all through this season, it will be a great step in the right direction.
I'm holding off my predictions of the starting five and #s 6-8 till they get pads on and even maybe all the way through camp.
TheTaxiSquad
July 02, 2024 at 06:24 pm
Why would the article mention Newman? He ranked 43rd in the league. That means there were 10 back up guards better than him.
LLCHESTY
July 02, 2024 at 06:47 pm
I think you mean Caleb Jones. Williams is the Bears' QB
T7Steve
July 03, 2024 at 06:31 am
Thanks. Brain cramp.
I do think Williams has the size to eventually develop into a good O-line too. HA!
Leatherhead
July 02, 2024 at 02:26 pm
Assuming good health of all parties, it should be Morgan-Jenkins-Myers-Rhyan-Tom. That leaves us one good, experienced backup tackle in Walker, and a couple of rookies, and some long-term projects like Mt. Caleb.
Morgan because he's a premium athlete with much success who was drafted to be the starting LT. You don't spend #25 to put him at RG. Much better to start the LT of the future and Walker gives us a really good backup at tackle.
Jenkins, because he's so good at LG
Myers, because he's been the starting Center since he's been here. The coaches like him more than some fans do, probably because they realize all the subtle things he brings to the table. This is probably his last year with the Packers, and we'll probably get a comp pick when he leaves in FA.
Rhyan at RG. He's a Day 2 pick, he's been developing for 2 years. If we don't get return on investment from him, it wasn't a good draft pick. He looked OK in his field appearances last year.
Tom, because he's so good there. In fact, I've been watching all of last year's games over, and when I focus on Tom, he really impresses me. Do you know what Hutchison and Parsons and Bosa accomplished against him last year?. Jack Squat. Hundreds of snaps last year and usually, his man could have just stayed home.
Anyway, we're set for two years on the offensive line, but in 2026 Tom and Walker and Rhyan will all be FAs, and Jenkins is going to be really expensive and on the bad side of 30. I think you might be able to retain one of those guys, but when a guy like Runyan is getting $10M/year, you have to wonder if you might be able to replace these guys in the draft, rather than paying a RG $10M. Just a thought. I hope Glover and Monk look like players when the pads go on.
Guam
July 02, 2024 at 03:13 pm
For me the biggest O-line question is at RG with Rhyan. As the author pointed out, he was okay last year but had some pass pro issues while rotating at RG. He needs to take a jump this year if he wants to be a consistent starter. If Rhyan comes up short, the Packers will need to move Walker, Morgan or Dillard to RG. I don' think Monk or Glover will be ready and no one wants Newman back.
Oppy
July 02, 2024 at 06:19 pm
Giving starting spots to players based on where they were drafted is a great way to end up with bad team.
I don't care where a player was picked. You're not getting a positive return on investment just because a player is playing. You play the best player for the position, not the player you hoped would be the best player for the position.
Same goes for who's getting paid big money. Don't care. Once the contract is paid, it no longer matters. the "Return on Investment" might look more comforting in the ledger, but on the field of play, is it really a balanced budget if playing the $$$ player is holding the team back?
**Edit/Addition: I get there is a place for projecting the career arc of a player in all of this- 'going in a certain direction' as it were. However, far too often I see fans, media, and yes, coaches and GM's far too concerned with the investment dictating if a player plays or not. It's just not healthy for the roster.
Leatherhead
July 02, 2024 at 07:08 pm
Oppy, if the players we pick at the top of the draft can't outplay the guys we have,, then that's not a good sign for the organization. Why are we drafting them, then?
There's also the undeniable impact of a contract. Last year, for example Nijman was a veteran and arguably better than Walker was early in the season, yet the coaches went with Walker , knowing he'd be here this year and Nijman wouldn't.
They took Morgan in the draft after last season. Why? To play RG? or because he was a Better Available Player, like Cooper DeJean?
After all due consideration, Morgan was selected to be our LT instead of other guys who would have been surefire starters.
I agree with you that positions shouldn't be given, but if you're drafting guys at the top of the draft who can't beat out the guy we have, then why are we taking him?
So, my assumption is that since LT is the 2nd most important position on offense, and we had a chance to get a guy who was better than the guy we have, we took him. And it's time that Rhyan earns his keep, so he'll be the RG until he shows he's just not capable.
IMO, that's not the same as 'giving starting spots'. It's more like "If we know what we're doing, this is the way it'll work out''.
I love this topic, but it really is going to depend on who gets hurt first.
LLCHESTY
July 02, 2024 at 07:37 pm
Choosing not to believe Walker was pass blocking at a top 10 level at the end of last year is your prerogative but saying Nijman was better at the beginning of the season is almost blasphemous. Nijman played 12 snaps against Atlanta and then played 3,0,0 and 4 the next four weeks. Walker has some early struggles in the run game but was decent in pass blocking and got better all year. PFF has him as a top 5 up and coming in the league this year.
"Walker has outstanding size (6-foot-6 and 324 pounds) and posted just two below-average PFF game grades as a pass blocker in his first season as a starter. He will be very good next season if he can continue his progression. If he can improve his run-blocking, he could become outstanding."
https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-top-5-offensive-linemen-break-out-2024
T7Steve
July 03, 2024 at 06:46 am
Top 10 is ok. Just ok. The Packers need a TOP O-line, not a top 10 O-line. I think and hope this kid will push the line into the top 5 unit just to start out the season. You have to get better. You can't just stay the same and think you'll get the same results.
With a big game like Philly to start out, it won't be long to wait for the first real test.
Leatherhead
July 03, 2024 at 09:33 am
Who doesn't believe Walker was doing a good job by the end of the season? That's just another one of the strawmen you like to set up.
And yes, he was struggling early in the year, and Nijman would have most likely done a better job, but you don't improve on the bench, and that's why the staff stuck with him.
Let's assume everything you just said about Walker is true, and that he's a good LT. Why did the Packers then go around at draft the best LT on the board at #25? So they could convert him to guard? We passed on guys like Cooper DeJean and Graham Barton to take Morgan. Why? So he could be a backup sitting on the bench?
I'm going to spell it out for you: The Packers had a problem at LT when Bakhtiari was finished. They could have moved Tom, or Jenkins, to LT. They could have started Nijman. But they didn't do any of those things, and instead they went with Walker, and they stuck with him when he was struggling.
Then, when the season ended and the talk turned to improving the team, the talk turned to the offensive line. They could have taken Barton, and put Myers on the bench. But they didn't do that. They drafted Morgan, not so he could play RG, not so he could back up Walker.
If the Packers personnel department used our first round selection on a guy who can't beat out the guy we already have, then that's a big failure on the personnel department/Gutekunst. You choose to believe that could be true. I choose to believe the Packers improved themselves over the next four years at the second most important position on offense.
Turophile
July 03, 2024 at 01:24 am
Leatherhead, you are talking like you know how good Morgan is going to be while dismissing how well Walker played in the latter part of the season. Neither you, or the Packers know who the better player will be, It will have to play out out on the field.
The relative success or failure of one high draft pick will not move the needle much compared to the overall success rate of all picks taken over several years. No team hits on every pick, as you well know - so no, it's not a 'bad sign' for the Packers organisation if he fails to beat out Walker, just one data point among many.
Drafting has always been a 'law of averages' exercise for teams, which is why the Packers prefer to have 10 or 11 picks in a draft, when they can.
Using your logic there would never be starters like a Sam Shields (undrafted), Rasheed Walker, Mark Tauscher and Donald Driver (all 7th round picks) holding down the top spot at various positions for the Packers. You cannot anoint a guy a starter until he outplays the guy already in the position. Whether you EXPECT a guy to win (based on a being a high draft pick) or not, is irrelevant.
The cream will rise to the top regardless of draft position. Andre Dillard was a high pick (22nd overall) who hasn't panned out like the team (Philadelphia) that drafted him wanted. That is why he isn't on that team now, but is a low-cost reclamation project for the Packers.
Ask yourself where the 49ers would be if they insisted on continuing to start Trey Lance (3rd overall pick) over Brock Purdy (the Mr. Irrelevant pick in the same draft).
13TimeChamps
July 03, 2024 at 09:16 am
Great post Turophile.
What day you're drafted on should never be the "be all-end all" in deciding playing time. You put your best players on the field. That is determined by competition. May the best man win. The team will be better for it.
Leatherhead
July 03, 2024 at 09:41 am
''''Leatherhead, you are talking like you know how good Morgan is going to be while dismissing how well Walker played in the latter part of the season. Neither you, or the Packers know who the better player will be"'''
Ok. One of two things is true. The Packers, after seeing Walker for an entire year, decided to draft a guy with our first pick who can't beat him out.
OR, The Packers, after watching every snap Walker took this year, and every snap that Morgan took over the last three years, thought Morgan was a big enough upgrade over Walker to spend our first round pick.
Those are the choices. You mention all those 7th round picks, and that's just the point......you can take a flyer on a 7th rounder, but that first round pick is either going to be a contributor or your personnel department has made a serious and expensive mistake.
The Lance/Purdy thing.....Lance was given the chance. He was cross trained at RG, he wasn't on the bench behind Purdy. He was given the chance, but the coaches started to believe, based on what they were seeing, that Purdy would be better. If the Packers start Morgan, and they've been colossally wrong about him, I have no problem with going with Walker.
Morgan was drafted to be our LT by Gutekunst. He's going to be our LT.
Bitternotsour
July 03, 2024 at 01:38 pm
In theory fine, in practice not reliable. Also, there's the Jordan Love situation which flies in the face of your scenario. I think you know that, and are ok staking out the ground, but the reality is the window is bigger than the first game in Brazil and if he's not ready, he won't be the first (or the last).
mnbadger
July 03, 2024 at 11:59 am
Wasn't rnewman a 3rd rounder?
He should be on the field at all times then, correct?!
NO!
Five best win and move on to Brazil!
Backups keep nipping at their heals to elevate all and be prepared when injuries strike.
GPG!
Oppy
July 03, 2024 at 06:43 pm
Leatherhead,
Clearly, you're hoping you're picking players who are or will be the starters of the future, but the reality is that most NFL players never see a second contract.
Yes, you should have confidence in the system, the approach, in your scouting.. but at some point, the projections and hopes you have for the players from all of the scouting ends, and the actual talent, play, and production on the field starts.. and an organization has to keep themselves honest and look at what IS, not what they hoped it'd be.
LLCHESTY
July 02, 2024 at 07:22 pm
"I don't care where a player was picked."
Thank goodness most coaches think the same way.
LLCHESTY
July 03, 2024 at 12:07 pm
I've given you the answer a couple times already. The Packers weren't willing to let the season come down to two unathletic giants who have never played a regular season snap. At the same time they had a lot of interest in Cooper and Bullard and weren't willing to wait until the 3rd round to draft an OT.
I don't care where he ends up playing as long as he plays well.
HarryHodag
July 02, 2024 at 02:46 pm
" Despite Morgan not having played his first NFL snap yet, he is the most talented among the remaining offensive linemen."
Based on what, being able to compete at the college level? "Most talented" means able to do the job best and there is zero evidence of that at this point. If he does win a job he will do it in training camp, fending off the likes of Van Ness and Gary with pads on and full speed.
Running around in your underwear doesn't count,
Guam
July 02, 2024 at 03:24 pm
Yeah I kinda agree HH. Memories of Mandarich, Hallstrom, Verba, Sherrod, and Spriggs still resonate with me. Too many "can't miss" prospects that did for me to give Morgan anything. I want him to succeed, but let's see him prove it on the field before we award him a starting job.
GregC
July 02, 2024 at 05:38 pm
You need to look up "talent" in the dictionary. It does not mean "able to do the job best." It refers to natural aptitude or skill. Morgan has plenty of that. He is extremely nimble for a big man. Of course it remains to be seen whether he can put his natural gifts to good use in the NFL.
HarryHodag
July 03, 2024 at 01:51 pm
"Talent" also refers to people available to work and that is what he is at this moment.
The folks who feed into hyping 22-year-olds as 'talent' haven't seen the wreckage of great 'talent' that failed miserably when pressure was applied.
dblbogey
July 02, 2024 at 03:21 pm
No love for Walker at LT? Just because he was a 7th rounder? So was Tauscher. Walker played well. Our weakness is RG and Center. Hopefully they'll give Morgan a chance to win that RG job.
HawkPacker
July 02, 2024 at 03:50 pm
Yeah, I like Walker a lot and am still a bit surprised we took at tackle in the first round. I guess we needed a tackle but we now have so many, including Mt Caleb, and the other two being developed. I think this is what their second or third year developing and apparently we don't think much of them to draft one in the first round and to sign another tackle earlier before the draft as well. I think we need interior lineman and apparently the FO thinks some of these tackles can develop in to guards which is fine with me.
Let the best men win on the OL.
Heyjoe414
July 04, 2024 at 07:39 am
Agreed. Assuming Walker continues to play well in TC and PS games, leave him at LT. Morgan doesn’t have to start just because of where he was drafted. The Packers value flexibility on the OL, so maybe Morgan plays RG. And if Walker stumbles at LT, put in Morgan.
They have talented and versatile players. Let the play speak for itself.
GregC
July 02, 2024 at 04:09 pm
I don't see a need to play musical chairs with the O-line. The default starting lineup is Walker-Jenkins-Myers-Rhyan-Tom. If Morgan can beat out Walker at LT, that's fine, and if he can't do that, maybe he can beat out Rhyan at RG. A lot can happen in six weeks of training camp, even without injuries, but I don't think the coaches should switch the players around unless there is a really compelling reason to do so. I'm not seeing that right now.
EnemyTerritory
July 02, 2024 at 04:58 pm
During the last half of the season and into January QB1 was an elite QB, a far cry from the first half of the season where there was great speculation about how the team was going to spend possibly a top 5-7 draft pick. Yes much of the success was QB1 figuring it out and the stable of young WR also figuring it Out and Jones coming back. However, the O Line was also a mess the first half and I posit that if the O line had not gelled then the draft pick would in fact have been a top 10-15 pick. Why in the hell would we want to sit Walker, an effective Left tackle, and shuffle the line just because we have new bodies? Until these new recruits show in an intensive training camp and padded practices and games that they are better than the incumbents, then the incumbents IMHO are the best starting five. Don’t mess with success based on being a high pick…
TheTaxiSquad
July 02, 2024 at 06:14 pm
Walker, Jenkins, Tom, Rhyan, Morgan. Unfortunately, this probably won’t happen with Tom’s injury until into the season. Until then. Walker, Jenkins, Myer, Rhyan, Morgan.
Heyjoe414
July 04, 2024 at 07:42 am
How serious is Tom’s injury? A pec tear is serious by definition, but some require lengthy recovery and rehab, others not so much. I haven’t read much on his status, which probably means it’s a significant injury.
GregC
July 04, 2024 at 09:52 am
In May, Tom said he had the surgery in mid-April and recovery time was expected to be 8-12 weeks. I don't recall hearing any updates since then. Even if it takes the full 12 weeks, he should be ready for training camp, though I wouldn't be surprised if they start him off slowly.
CanPackFan
July 02, 2024 at 06:59 pm
Morgan is still a big unknown, even though he is a first round pick. I am still not convinced that Myers is one of our best 5 but until players like Morgan can show promise, I guess Myers starts at center. We always need depth and flexibility in the Oline.
LLCHESTY
July 02, 2024 at 07:03 pm
I'd like to say Walker, Jenkins, Tom, Rhyan and Morgan but the coaches like Myers and it might kill any chance to resign Tom. Morgan has never played on the right side and took no snaps there in minicamp so it might be Walker, Morgan, Myers, Jenkins and Tom.
Since'61
July 02, 2024 at 07:44 pm
For me it's too early to determine who are the best starting 5 for the Packers OL. I wouldn't mind seeing Morgan start at LT if he earns the position during TC and the preseason games. Jenkins is the LG. I also would like to see if Tom should be moved to Center. Again he would need to prove it during TC and the preseason. However many of the coaches have commented that he could be an HOF Center. Any time a team has a player who can play at an HOF level at any position I think the team should give it a go. Myers can be moved to RG if Rhyan doesn't cut it during TC.
I can see a Packers starting 5, left to right, of Morgan, Jenkins, Tom, Myers or Rhyan and Walker at RT. However, this may not prove to be the best starting 5 after TC and the preseason games. The OL TC should prove interesting. We'll see. Thanks, Since '61
LambeauPlain
July 03, 2024 at 10:07 am
I will be watching Monk in camp. Many (me included) were enamored with Barton...but Duke coaches and fans indicate Monk was as good, maybe better than Barton. That was a nice surprise.
He will be a candidate for both weak spots on the line, C and RG, and will get extensive looks at both.
The best 5 will be hopefully so...and not the favorite 5.
We could see two rookies on the best 5 in Morgan and Monk. Entirely possible: Morgan, Jenks, Monk, Myers, Tom. Walker as swing T.