We’ve heard it throughout the Matt LaFleur era: Every spot on the roster is subject to competition from within. Every player must earn their spot and battle to keep it. It’s hard to disagree with this embrace of open competition, but can it go too far?
That’s where Zach Tom‘s situation comes in to play.
By all accounts, Tom is a very, very good right tackle. While Pro Football Focus isn’t the be-all, end-all metric of success, Tom ranked fourth among 140 qualified tackles in their ranking system in 2024. On top of that, Tom played over 98% of the snaps on offense for the Green Bay Packers and didn’t miss a game.
Yet, when talking to the media recently, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich surprised just about everyone when he mentioned an open competition for the starting gig at right tackle.
We’re going to have a lot of competition there at both tackle positions with trying to find who our best five guys are.
Both?
Left tackle makes sense since LaFleur has already stated this offseason it will be an open competition between Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan.
Morgan was Green Bay’s first-round selection in 2023. Whether you or I believe it’s fair, the Packers will give him ample opportunity to win one of the starting spots. Walker has been a starter for the past two years, and he’s entering a contract year as a former seventh-round pick.
Dose the Packers coaching staff with truth serum, and they’ll admit they’d prefer Morgan to win the gig.
Right tackle, though?
What’s somewhat comical about it is that after last season, Tom called his own campaign a “mixed bag,” noting he thought there were moments he could have been better. This came after a season where he produced career highs from PFF in overall grade, pass-blocking grade, and run-blocking grade. All three were near the top of the league among tackles.
That’s just a dude who’s constantly trying to get better.
For Green Bay to air it out as an open competition might just be a bit reckless. Even when Stenavich mentioned the competition at both tackle spots, which caught many by surprise, he doubled down to ensure it wasn’t viewed as a verbal slip-up.
However it shakes out — tackle, right tackle, obviously right guard — there’s a lot of good competition. The guys we’ve added, plus the guys getting older and getting more experience, it’s going to be really interesting to see how this all shakes out.
It’s one thing to note the open competition already announced at left tackle. It’s perfectly fine to open the door at right guard, given Sean Rhyan is in a contract year and Anthony Belton, a tackle who could play guard, was drafted in the second round in April. Green Bay is opening up a whole other can of worms with its “competition for everyone” approach by mentioning right tackle.
The Packers shouldn’t and don’t coddle Tom. That’s not the point.
Who actually believes Stenavich when he mentions a competition for the starting right tackle spot? Does anyone with a pulse believe Tom isn’t the best option at right tackle for the Packers in 2025 — and that it’s not even close?
If you’re going to do this with Tom, why not announce that Jordan Love is in an open competition with Malik Willis for the starting quarterback spot?
Again, competition is fine — it’s great. However, indirectly signaling that Tom’s job isn’t safe feels lame.
Interestingly enough, Tom is also in a contract year, and most assumed he was in line for a hefty payday that would see him get near the top tier of tackles in the league. Now, who knows what the hell is going on?
This isn’t like the Milwaukee Bucks saying Giannis will have to compete for his starting spot on the team. Instead, envision Brewers manager Pat Murphy saying during spring training that Freddy Peralta will have competition to stay in the starting rotation.
Milwaukee has pieced together a rotation with an abundance of random names, Triple-A arms, and rookies over the past two years. Peralta has been the one constant.
A competition to stay in the rotation? A competition for Tom to earn his starting spot at right tackle?
We’ll take “Unnecessary Motivational Tactics” for $200, Alex.
Don’t take our word for it, though.
Will Anderson is a budding star for the Houston Texans. In February, someone asked him who he thought was the best offensive lineman in football.
His answer? Zach Tom.
He’s legit. He’s a quick setter. He punches really quick. And he has a really good step off the ball. A good kick off the ball. He’s good. He’s more on the leaner side. Quick feet. Explosive hands. Can get back really well. I would say he’s up there.
By all means, though, keep smashing the competition-for-all button.
Tom doesn’t need the Packers to roll out a red carpet to confirm his spot on the roster. It just feels forced to suggest he’s in some sort of competition, and Green Bay could tick off the wrong player at some point by doing it to motivate him.
If Zach Tom isn’t one of the “best five” for Green Bay come September, we’ll assume they traded for five Penei Sewells. If that doesn’t happen, any talk of him being in an open competition for his starting spot on the offensive line is laughable.