The Green Bay Packers are set to open training camp later this month. This is the next in a series of articles previewing the Packers position by position, analyzing the talent on the roster and discussing key questions that are facing the Packers as they begin preparation for the 2023 season. Today we examine the offensive line. For our look at the quarterbacks, click here, click here for the defensive line, here for running backs, here for inside linebackers, here for tight ends and here for edge rushers. We will examine another position each day until the start of training camp.
Packers Offensive Line
Tackles
The Starters
David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari remains one of the best pass protecting offensive tackles in the game when he’s healthy. The key issue will be keeping him healthy and in the lineup.
The knee injury kept Bakhtiari out for nearly all of 2021 and the first two games of 2022. Last year, the former Colorado star missed six games but four of them were due to an emergency appendectomy. The knee will need to be monitored but hopefully it won’t keep him out of many more games.
When he played, he still ranked near the top of all offensive tackles according to Pro Football Focus. Keeping Bakhtiari in the lineup gives the Packers a strong veteran presence and a better opportunity to evaluate new starting quarterback Jordan Love.
Zach Tom
Second-year man Zach Tom is battling for the starting right tackle spot with Yosh Nijman. Tom gives the Packers versatility along the offensive line. He can play all five positions and lined up at four of them last season. This year, he has the chance to prove he deserves to be one of the starting five.
The former Wake Forest star played in nine games last season and started five. Tom graded out much better as a pass protector than a run blocker but hopes to improve in the latter area.
Tom’s potential improvement is a key to making the offensive line and the entire offense better in 2023.
Battling for Backup Spots and a Place on the Roster
Yosh Nijman
Yosh Nijman signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent and has worked his way up to being a starter.
The former Virginia Tech star started a career-high 13 games last season and played in all 17. He could remain a starter if he beats out Tom for the right tackle job or he could be the team’s swing tackle and top backup.
Like Tom, Nijman grades out better as a pass rusher than a run blocker. He struggles most against quick rushers off the edge, an area he needs to improve on to take his game to the next level.
Caleb Jones
Caleb Jones stands 6’9” and weighs 370 pounds. If he appears in a regular-season game for the Packers, he will become the largest player in franchise history.
The coaching staff sees similarities between Jones and Nijman when he first came to Green Bay. They love his raw size, strength and potential but know he needs refinement and time to contribute to the offense.
The key for Jones will be showing enough progress to earn a roster spot or at least to make the practice squad.
Rasheed Walker
Penn State alum Rasheed Walker played just four snaps in one game as a rookie. The Packers selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In many ways, Walker is also a project. He has good measurables and athletic ability but his inconsistent performance in college, especially in his senior year, caused him to slip in the draft.
Walker needs to improve his technique in his second season to have a chance to make the roster this year.
Luke Tenuta
The Packers claimed Luke Tenuta off waivers from the Colts last October. The former Virginia Tech star appeared in three games with the Packers in 2022 playing seven snaps on offense and 18 on special teams.
Tenuta is big at 6’9” but must work at keeping his pad level low. His technique also needs improvement in both run blocking and pass protection.
He has good natural moves and ability but needs real refinement to succeed in the NFL.
Kadeem Telfort
GM Brian Gutekunst signed Kadeem Telfort as an undrafted free agent in May. The former UAB star has good footwork in pass protection and good size.
Telfort needs to improve his hands in pass protection and to be more consistent with his effort. He has the natural ability scouts look for but needs to put it all together to show he’s worth keeping at least on the practice squad this year.
Jean Delance
The Packers claimed Jean Delance off waivers in December and he finished the season on the practice squad. He spent time last season in training camp with the Bears and on the Cardinals practice squad.
Delance has solid technique and athleticism but needs to improve both his upper and lower-body strength to stick in the NFL. He just hasn’t generated enough push to take full advantage of the moves he makes in both pass protection and run blocking.
Guards
Starters
Elgton Jenkins
By the end of last season, Elgton Jenkins showed he was fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2021 season prematurely. After struggling early in the season at tackle, he moved back to left guard and regained his Pro Bowl form.
Jenkins provides versatility to the Packers and has a good work ethic and a high football IQ. Scouts consider him one of the better interior offensive linemen in the league.
Jenkins and Bakhtiari combine to give the Packers one of the best left sides of any offensive line in the NFL.
The Packers signed Jenkins to an extension last season so he should stay in Green Bay through the prime of his career.
Jon Runyan Jr
Jon Runyan provides the Packers offensive line with durability and consistency. He is a much better pass protector than run blocker according to PFF. Since becoming a starter in 2021, the Michigan alum has started 33 of 34 games and played in all of them.
If Runyan can improve his strength and his ability to get to the second level when run blocking, he can become a stronger player and solidify his hold on the right guard position.
Battling for Backup Spots and a Place on the Roster
Royce Newman
Royce Newman started 16 games as a rookie in 2021 but struggled picking up blitzes and stunts. He started six games in 2022 mostly when injuries struck elsewhere along the offensive line.
Newman grades out as average as a blocker against both the run and pass. He is a guard who can shift over to play tackle in an emergency.
Unless he makes a jump in his third season, Newman appears to be a useful backup who you prefer wouldn’t start for long periods of time on your interior offensive line.
Sean Rhyan
Sean Rhyan appeared to continue the Packers third-round jinx last season. The UCLA product suffered through a poor rookie campaign. In training camp, Rhyan was clearly outplayed by Tom and struggled to pick up the offense.
He appeared in exactly one play in one game on special teams and then was suspended by the NFL for the last six games of the season for a PED violation.
Rhyan needs to bounce back from last year’s disappointing performance and show why he was a day-two draft pick. If he doesn’t, he could find himself cut before the 2023 season starts.
Jake Hanson
Jake Hanson proved he can play guard and served as a backup center. His versatility may be what kept him in the league as Hanson has struggled to succeed in the NFL.
Hanson played six games for the Packers last season but is a fringe roster player who provides depth but lacks the upside of some other players fighting for roster spots.
Chuck Filiaga
Chuck Filiaga excelled in the Minnesota zone blocking scheme in college. His run blocking is considered stronger than his pass blocking.
Filiaga is a smart player with average athletic ability who could provide a team with depth along the offensive line. The undrafted free agent is a longshot but will fight for a spot on the roster or practice squad.
Centers
Starter
Josh Myers
Josh Myers enters his third NFL season as the Packers starting center. The Ohio State product has been a serviceable starter but needs to improve his run blocking which graded out quite poorly.
Myers missed a good chunk of his rookie season due to injury but started all 17 games in 2022 to give the offensive line some badly needed stability.
One big issue for Myers remains one pick after the Packers selected him, the Chiefs grabbed Creed Humphrey who has outshined Myers in every facet of the game.
The Packers hope Myers takes makes a jump this year and lives up to his second-round draft status.
Battling for Backup Spots and a Place on the Roster
DJ Scaife
The Packers signed DJ Scaife off waivers after the Dolphins released him in May. The Miami (Florida) product started 52 games in college at either RT or RG, but the Packers are converting him to center.
Scaife is an average athlete who run blocks better than he pass protects and has a solid knowledge of zone blocking schemes.
His versatility may help him stick around although he is considered a long shot to make the team.
Three Key Questions
Packers offensive line Question Number 1: Who wins the RT position?
The Packers coaching staff stresses they want the best five players starting but who wins the RT job? Tom has a slight edge heading into training camp but don’t count out Nijman who worked long and hard to become an NFL starter.
Because of Tom’s ability to play all along the line, injuries elsewhere may determine who wins the right tackle spot, but this will be a battle to watch throughout training camp.
Question Number 2: Will Josh Myers take a step forward?
The left side of the line is elite with two Pro Bowl-caliber starters but there are questions elsewhere including center where Myers has yet to live up to expectations.
The Packers are hoping Myers and Runyan can continue their development to solidify the quality of the offensive line this season and help protect quarterback Jordan Love.
Packers offensive line Question 3: Can David Bakhtiari stay healthy?
The knee injury may limit Bakhtiari’s practice time, and he may miss an occasional game on artificial turf, but underestimate Bakhtiari’s toughness at your own risk.
If he remains healthy this season, the Packers can be confident that Love’s blindside is protected. Bakhtiari also provides leadership to the line and the entire team.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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