So far, the off-season for the Green Bay Packers has been highly interesting. Moving on from David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones while also adding Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs caused both excitement and grief. These actions, however, continue to demonstrate that General Manager Brian Gutekunst is preparing for the future.
According to recent speculations, the Packers may poach a former rival player in an effort to continue building for the future while also giving seasoned leadership.
The Green Bay Packers Could Land Help For Jordan Love Through The Minnesota Vikings.
According to Jason Schandl from The Dairyland Express:
After losing Jon Runyan Jr. to the New York Giants, the Packers’ interior offensive line is in disarray. Elgton Jenkins is a solid starter, but pairing him with Josh Myers and either Sean Rhyan or Royce Newman would be disastrous.
There aren’t many solid alternatives remaining in free agency, either, but the Packers should look to start a proven veteran rather than counting on a youngster to be NFL-ready right away.
Risner isn’t coming off a particularly impressive 2023 season, but Pro Football Focus has evaluated him as a good pass blocker in each of his five NFL seasons. Green Bay cannot afford to completely punt run blocking, but having Josh Jacobs in the backfield gives you some flexibility room to move the ball on the ground without relying on outstanding run blocking.
Jenkins and Risner are both typically left guards, but given Jenkins’ adaptability to play major snaps at right tackle in 2022, I’m not concerned about his ability to shift over to the right side if Risner is unable.
What is the current state of the Packers’ offensive line?
The Packers’ primary starting offensive line in 2023 consisted of Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, and Zach Tom at left tackle.
Jon Runyan has since departed, but the other four remain. Yosh Nijman and David Bakhtiari have both left the Packers’ offensive line, making it a priority for the team this offseason. Several analysts believe that the Packers will draft an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Still, there are other free agents who could provide ample depth for the Packers. Dalton Risner is one.
Keeping Jordan Love upright will be the offense’s primary priority in 2024. The Packers have numerous weapons on the outside, including Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon’s bruising running back combo, but the offensive line must execute consistently so that the playmakers can thrive.
