The Packers are firm believers that the five best offensive linemen will play.
What does it mean when it comes to the most important position on the line? Last year, Rasheed Walker started all 17 games at left tackle and finished as the third-best pass blocker behind Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom. The problem is, he was one of the team’s worst run-blockers — just above seldom-used tight Ben Sims.
That’s where Jordan Morgan comes in. He was drafted 25th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft with aspirations of potentially being the Packers next cornerstone piece at left tackle. However, thanks to nagging shoulder issues, he only appeared in six games and made only one start.
With Organized Team Activities starting this week, this is a great time to see how much shuffling will be made on an offensive line that was already pretty solid. After being limited for a long time last year, will Morgan’s feet be quick enough to sustain a pass rush on the outside?
“Just the way he runs off the ball, his athleticism, just being able to mirror guys,” said Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus last summer. “Just the way he glides and moves on the field.”
And that is why the Packers took Morgan in the first round. On the back of his football card, it says 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, but he isn’t a run-of-the-mill 300-pound man. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.05 seconds, which means he has the speed to get downfield for second-level blocks on screens and swing passes.
“We didn’t see him much at tackle, which is obviously what he played in college and what he was drafted as,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst after last season.
If Morgan wins the left tackle job, Walker can move inside. And with Elgton Jenkins already poised to move to center, the offensive line is starting to look like musical chairs. With free agent Aaron Banks already locked into one guard spot, that just leaves how the Packers will assemble them.
Finding the best group of offensive linemen that not only block well is important but it’s also important to find a cohesive unit that plays well together.
Lots of people like what they see from Morgan. He has the intangibles like speed and athleticism to be very successful. The question is if he can add to the offensive line group and make this team even stronger. That’s something that is hard to predict, especially when there isn’t much hitting in practice anymore.
Zach Tom is the team’s best offensive lineman, but it appears that he will be staying at right tackle — even though I still think he would be very appealing at left tackle.
There are so many combinations that could fit, but that’s what makes Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s and Butkus’ job so difficult — nailing down the right combination to fit with everyone else.
In order for this team to succeed, it will take the big guys up front to take the main stage. Just how and where they fit is a different story.