In the fifth edition of our roster prediction series, we’re focusing on the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line, arguably the most competitive unit on the team. Out of the 15 offensive linemen currently under contract, 12 made at least one Acme Packing Company contributor’s prediction for the 53-man roster.
With Jon Runyan Jr. and Yosh Nijman signing with other teams, Green Bay was set for a reshuffle on the offensive line in 2024. The competition intensified further when the team used their first-round pick on rookie tackle Jordan Morgan from Arizona. As training camp approaches, up to seven offensive linemen could be considered potential starters, depending on the outcomes of these head-to-head battles.
Let’s dive into the details.
On the 53: Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Andre Dillard and Donovan Jennings
Only nine offensive linemen made the 53-man roster cut in our consensus prediction. Personally, I believe the team will keep 10 offensive linemen in 2024, as they have generally kept 10 or 11 under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The returning starters are Rasheed Walker (left tackle), Elgton Jenkins (left guard), Josh Myers (center), and Zach Tom (right tackle). On paper, the only starting job up for grabs seems to be the right guard position, but the Packers like to cross-train their offensive linemen at multiple positions, which often leads to unexpected camp battles.
Behind the returning starters are three offensive linemen who could legitimately push for starting jobs: Sean Rhyan, Jordan Morgan, and Andre Dillard. Rhyan was integrated into the Packers’ lineup last season as a rotational player paired with Jon Runyan Jr., who is now with the New York Giants. Rhyan is primarily viewed as a guard, the position he’s played most during his two years in Green Bay, so expect him to be the first guard off the bench if he isn’t named the starter at right guard.
Morgan has been getting practice reps at both tackle and guard positions in the spring. As a first-round rookie, there’s no doubt he’ll make the team. The question is whether he’ll see extended playing time once the regular season starts.
Dillard, who joined Green Bay on a one-year contract with no guaranteed salary just before the draft, is another potential starter. Currently, he’s receiving most of the number-one snaps at right tackle due to Zach Tom dealing with a pec injury. Dillard has also seen time at left tackle, filling in for Walker.
In addition to these key players, the consensus prediction includes fifth-round rookie Jacob Monk and undrafted rookie Donovan Jennings. Monk, who played all over the line at Duke, is expected to be considered a center-only prospect at the NFL level due to his size. Unless he starts to see reps over Myers, he will likely be a reserve in his rookie year. Jennings, who played left tackle in college for Alabama-Birmingham, will likely see most of his playing time as a guard in the NFL. Despite drafting three players at the position in 2024, the Packers paid Jennings a significant amount of guaranteed money ($110,000) by their standards, indicating they see potential in him.
All selections except for Dillard and Jennings were consensus picks.
Released: Luke Tenuta, Travis Glover, Caleb Jones, Royce Newman, Kadeem Telfort and Lecitus Smith
Luke Tenuta (tackle), rookie draft pick Travis Glover (tackle), and Caleb Jones (tackle) all received at least one vote to make the 53-man roster from our staff. Surprisingly, no one picked Royce Newman (guard) to make the team, despite him starting 24 games leading into the final season of his rookie contract. One reason for this is the salary escalator he hit, which significantly increases his 2024 salary compared to his original contract rate.
If the Packers decide to keep a 10th (or *gasp* 11th) lineman, it will likely be a tackle. The team has enough depth and versatility on its roster that the interior line positions shouldn’t require another roster spot. For instance, the only tackle-only players who made the nine-man unit in our 53-man roster prediction are Rasheed Walker and Andre Dillard.
Tenuta, Glover, and Jones will compete for the potential 10th spot. Tenuta and Jones have both been on Green Bay’s 53-man roster for the last two seasons, despite the team having David Bakhtiari, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Yosh Nijman, and Elgton Jenkins. Glover, a 6’6”, 317-pound tackle from Georgia State, was taken in the sixth round and is admittedly a work in progress.
Along with Newman, 2023 practice squad player Kadeem Telfort (tackle) and Lecitus Smith (guard), who was signed by the Packers following a tryout at rookie minicamp, also didn’t make the 53-man roster on any staff member’s list.