The Green Bay Packers have a good history of adding starting offensive linemen on day three of the NFL draft. Players like David Bakhtiari, Zach Tom, Jon Runyan, Jr., Corey Linsley, and Josh Sitton went on to become solid starters or even Pro Bowl players after being selected in the later rounds of the draft. Some of them stepped in almost immediately and became starters as rookies or shortly thereafter. The Packers are hopeful that this year’s fifth-round pick, Jager Burton, can go on to play a meaningful role early in his Packers career and at least provide the team with solid depth along the interior of the offensive line in 2026 and beyond.
Because Tom has not been practicing as he recovers from his patellar injury suffered last season, Burton has seen some time with the starters at OTAs. The Packers lack of depth along the interior offensive line means that with a successful training camp and preseason, Burton could become the team’s top backup at center and both guard positions.
Burton provides the Packers with the versatility they prefer in their offensive linemen. The 6’4”, 323-pound Kentucky alum started multiple games at all three interior offensive line positions during his time in college. He started nine games at right guard, 23 games at left guard and 15 at center.
Burton wasn’t sure which position was his strongest. “Honestly I think it’s pretty comparable,” he said this week when asked about it after OTAs. “I know that’s probably a boring answer, but I feel like I have strengths at both and obviously weaknesses at both. So just kind of ironing out both of them and being ready to compete at any position.”
Right now, the Packers have questions at all three starting positions along the interior offensive line. Starting left guard Aaron Banks had a disappointing first season in Green Bay in large part due to several nagging injuries that he often played through.
Sean Rhyan returns as the starting center. He started last year at guard but moved to center when Elgton Jenkins was lost for the season due to injury. Rhyan didn’t grade out very highly according to Pro Football Focus, although the Packers like his attitude and toughness. The coaching staff feels he improved as the season progressed but entering this season, he is far from being a Pro Bowl-caliber center.
The starting right guard will be 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton. Belton played tackle in college and made the transition to guard after injuries struck along the offensive line last year. Like Rhyan, he didn’t grade out well according to Pro Football Focus, but the coaching staff feels he got better as the season progressed and he got more playing time at his new position.
With Banks coming off a disappointing season and both Rhyan and Belton not considered elite starters, Burton has a chance to claim a role as the swing interior offensive lineman right away and to step in and start if injuries strike or any of the three starters struggles. His main competition as the swing interior offensive line spot will be Jacob Monk who has played fewer than 60 snaps total on offense in his first two seasons with the team.
Burton has looked good early in OTAs, but again, the team is not practicing in pads or going full speed yet. The early returns are positive, but Burton has a way to go before claiming any kind of role in the offense as a rookie. Still, the early good play and lack of depth at the position give Burton an opportunity to claim a bigger role than most fifth-round picks play as rookies. Now we’ll see if he’s ready to take advantage of that opportunity.