If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It: Packers Offensive Line Addition

Photo Credit: Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In 2024, the Packers’ offensive line was ranked 3rd among the NFL’s pass protection units. Guess where they ended up in 2025? 

21st. 

Why the drastic drop-off? You can thank Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst for changing the entire dynamic based off one player. Josh Myers.

Myers was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played out his entire rookie contract through 2024 with the Packers before signing with the New York Jets in free agency on a one-year, $2 million deal.

Two million dollars is chump change in terms of NFL contracts, and the fact the Packers didn’t end up re-signing Myers was a mistake. He wasn’t an All-Pro center by any means, but he fit the Packers’ offensive line scheme. The other problem is Gutekunst and the Packers front office had no succession plan to replace Myers at all. Well, actually they did.

The brilliant succession plan from Brian Gutekunst was to move All-Pro caliber guard Elgton Jenkins to center. Smart, right? It should also be mentioned Jenkins was looking for a REASONABLE, yes reasonable, extension with guaranteed money going into this past season considering the position change.

Unfortunately, Jenkins would end up tearing his ACL, and the Packers were forced to move right guard Sean Rhyan to center for the remainder of the season. The Packers are now dealing with the dilemma of whether they extend or part ways with Jenkins.

So, with Elgton Jenkins moving to center, the Packers needed someone to play left guard. Insert free agent signing Aaron Banks. Banks signed a monstrous four-year, $77 million deal in March 2025.

From the perspective of Brian Gutekunst, he brought Banks in mainly for his size to prevent the Packers from getting bullied as they did against the Eagles in the 2025 playoffs.

From the moment Banks stepped off the plane in Green Bay, he was unfortunately hurt. From training camp through the season, Banks dealt with back, ankle, groin, shin, and stinger injuries. His play, to simply put it, was mediocre at best for most of the season.

The injuries Zach Tom sustained over the season did not help this unit either. Tom injured his oblique in Week 1 and dealt with it for almost the entire season. During locker cleanout day, he also confirmed he would be undergoing surgery for a partially torn patellar tendon he suffered against the Broncos in Week 15 (the day the season ended).

The Packers are also in a predicament with left tackle Rasheed Walker, who is an unrestricted free agent in 2026. It’s not set in stone, but the Packers will likely let Walker go in free agency this offseason. The current market for a tackle like Walker predicts his new salary to be around $20 million per year.

2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan will more than likely fight for the starting left tackle position. Morgan has been at a disadvantage from the start, being shuffled around on the offensive line and not playing his true position of tackle. If Morgan wins the job, hopefully the stability of being the starting left tackle will set him up for success going forward.

The last name to mention is Sean Rhyan, who is the true example of versatility on this offensive line. Rhyan started the season at right guard and was shuffled to center following the season-ending injury to Elgton Jenkins as mentioned previously.

Rhyan is also set to become a free agent this offseason. His expected annual salary is around $3 to $5 million, something the Packers can easily work with. Again, Rhyan isn’t flashy, but the true definition of a Swiss Army knife for the Packers’ offensive line. Not re-signing him would be a mistake.

The main point of this blog was to point out a flaw in Brian Gutekunst’s offensive line vision. Not every player needs to be able to play every position. He had a top-ten unit in the NFL a season ago, and because there was no plan in place, he lost his starting center. The solution? Move your stud guard to center. What kind of logic is that?

Versatility is cool and all, but by going that route, the Packers offensive line is going to continue to struggle and not build chemistry over the course of a season.

The Packers’ ability under general managers Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson to draft and develop elite offensive lines is something Gutekunst should know clearly since he’s been with the team since 1998.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Brian Gutekunst tried to fix something that didn’t need fixing with the Packers’ offensive line.

Real Packer Fans Know 🧀