With Jon Runyan’s move to the New York Giants in free agency, the Green Bay Packers are set for a shake-up in their offensive line dynamics for the 2024 season. Runyan’s departure leaves a gap in the team, especially in the interior offensive line department. Looking ahead, the Packers face the challenge of having only four interior offensive linemen under contract.
Elgton Jenkins, Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, and Josh Myers form the core of the Packers’ interior offensive line for the upcoming season. Jenkins, a standout when healthy, is recognized as one of the league’s premier guards. However, concerns arise with Royce Newman, as both his pass protection and run-blocking PFF grades significantly lagged below the league average. Sean Rhyan, while showing promise as a run-blocker, requires further development in pass protection, evident from his grade of 42.5 in this aspect. Despite Josh Myers finishing the previous season positively, his inconsistency throughout the regular season is highlighted by all his grades falling below 55.0, signaling a suboptimal performance level for a starting center.
The Packers have the opportunity to leverage veteran options in free agency, with Kevin Zeitler standing out as a valuable prospect. Zeitler’s credibility is underscored by his impressive performance, starting 15 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Additionally, other seasoned players like Brian Allen, Andrus Peat, and Mark Glowinski offer valuable assets. Beyond bolstering depth, these veterans emerge as strong contenders for potential starting roles within the Packers’ offensive line.
The 2024 NFL Draft boasts a rich pool of athletic and talented offensive lineman prospects. The depth of talent is reflected in the possibility of witnessing up to six offensive linemen selected on the first day of the draft.
Within the top 100 selections of the draft, Green Bay possesses five picks, offering Brian Gutekunst numerous opportunities to address positional needs. Gutekunst holds the flexibility to maneuver on draft day, potentially securing an offensive lineman who aligns with the Packers’ versatile profile. Notably, Green Bay refrained from selecting any offensive linemen in last year’s draft, making it improbable that they would stick to the same strategy in consecutive drafts.
The Packers could find prospects that pique their interest. Graham Barton from Duke, for instance, boasts versatility, playing over 2000 snaps as a tackle and over 400 as a center. Kingsley Suamataia, Beaux Limmer, and Christian Haynes stand out as other mid-to-late round options.
Opportunities abound for the Packers to fortify their roster and add depth, particularly along the interior offensive line, in the upcoming draft and potentially through free agency. With a robust history of cultivating offensive line talent, Green Bay positions itself as a fertile ground for incoming players to flourish.
