Brian Gutekunst made an early splash in free agency by doling out a pair of expensive contracts in the opening hours of the new league year.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs helps assuage the Packers’ immediate need for cornerback, while guard Aaron Banks adds interior offensive line depth to a group that was exposed in their playoff exit.
Banks’ signing answers a few questions while generating a few more about the O-line’s future.
With Banks signing the highest-paid iOL contract this free agency and Josh Myers departing for a spot with the New York Jets, Banks gets a starting guard spot while someone moves to center. Right now, it looks like Elgton Jenkins will switch positions.
The Packers want their 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan in the lineup, adding another wrinkle. Morgan’s best chances are at left tackle and right guard, putting Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan on notice. Green Bay drafted Morgan for his potential to play tackle, but that isn’t written in stone. With Banks joining the team and Morgan looking for a starting spot, it complicates life for Rhyan, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said at the combine of the OL: "We’re always going to continue to address the offensive line because there’s just never enough of them."
The Aaron Banks signing gives them the ability to move one of the guards (Elgton Jenkins or Sean Rhyan) to center.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 10, 2025
Rhyan’s career in Green Bay started with a whimper after a nondescript rookie season that saw him suspended for six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
But the former third-rounder entered his second season in better shape mentally and physically and competed with Jon Runyan Jr. for snaps at right guard. While he never quite emerged as the starter, his snap share grew over time.
For his third season, he was again fighting for a starting spot at right guard — this time, against Morgan. The rookie couldn’t steal the spot from Rhyan and split snaps with him until injuries cut his inaugural season short.
Rhyan started every game in 2024 and was solid. His 62 PFF scored ranked 67th of 135 qualifying guards. Surprisingly, although he appears to be a better run blocker than a pass protector, he had a higher pass protection score (69.4) than run blocking (58.4).
Rhyan enters Year 4 as a fine starting option at guard. With his potential to play center, he is a decent option at all three interior line spots.
Unfortunately for Rhyan, he will face stiff competition and an uphill battle for a second contract in Green Bay.
Green Bay’s three offensive linemen from the 2022 class, Rhyan, Zach Tom, and Rasheed Walker, are eligible for extensions, but it’s hard to see all three of them getting big deals in Green Bay, even if all three started in 2024.
Tom should receive a deal first. Tom has proven himself a rock at right tackle and has the versatility to play anywhere on the line. The cost of his services will only rise as the market adapts and Tom shows even more impressive play.
Rhyan and Walker have a prove-it year in 2025, and Morgan is on their heels. While there is a good chance neither of them will get second deals with the Packers, whichever one loses their job to Morgan is in greater danger. Banks got too much money not to be a starting guard, Jenkins at center makes the most sense, and Tom has right tackle well-locked down. The real battles are at right guard and left tackle.
Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan will be entering contract years in 2025. You like those guys as starters, but now they really have competition behind them. Jordan Morgan could start at left tackle or right guard next year.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) March 10, 2025
The Packers might have pushed Morgan to compete at guard last off-season, but the team always saw him as an option at left tackle, where he played in college. Following the draft, Matt LaFleur said he saw Morgan starting his career at tackle, and it seems he’ll get his first opportunities there.
If Morgan can be the team’s left tackle, that’s good news for Rhyan. Walker has been a tackle-only prospect and would slide into a Yosh Nijman-type backup swing tackle. That would give Rhyan a full-season audition to take his game to the next level and earn a long-term deal at right guard.
An interior offensive line of Banks (6’5” 325) – Rhyan (6’5” 321) and Jenkins (6’5” 311) has the ability to actually move some people inside in short yardage and goaline. Could be real fun.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) March 10, 2025
Things get rockier if Morgan ends up at guard. With Banks on a big deal at left guard and Morgan on his rookie deal at right guard, there wouldn’t be much chance for Rhyan to earn a payday. He could theoretically come back as a quality interior backup option, a la Lucas Patrick. Still, his chances of getting a payday would be low, especially if Jacob Monk can take a step forward as the top interior backup.
Green Bay’s offensive line performed well in 2024, but “well” wasn’t enough in a conference featuring Philadelphia’s elite offensive line. The Packers need to bolster their line, and they’ll look to do that with a high-priority free agent and their 2024 first-round pick. With Jenkins and Tom as Pro Bowl-level players, there aren’t many open spots left on the offensive line. Sean Rhyan’s best chances to stay in Green Bay will be for Morgan to establish himself as a tackle and take his game to the next level.