Who can provide vertical presence in Packers’ offense while Christian Watson is out?

Paul Bretl | 4/7/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As the Packers search for consistency in the passing game this offseason, accomplishing that come the start of the 2025 season becomes more difficult without Christian Watson’s presence for a portion of the season.

Watson suffered an ACL tear in the Packers’ Week 18 loss to the Chicago Bears. There hasn’t been a reported timeline for his return, but he is expected to miss a portion of the upcoming season.

“I wouldn’t count him out just because I know his work ethic and how he approaches things,” said GM Brian Gutekunst at the NFL league meetings. “Certainly it won’t shock me at all if he’s a big factor for us this season, but at the same time, as you said, we have to make sure we’re protecting him in case that doesn’t happen.”

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In what is a deep wide receiver room, there still aren’t any other pass-catchers on this Packers’ roster who can bring the combination of size and speed to the equation like Watson can.

The obvious loss for the offense is the lack of big-play ability that will now be missing with Watson’s ability to stretch the field. Last season, Watson had caught 29 passes for 620 yards and two touchdowns.

This included a four-game stretch from Weeks 11-14, where Watson hauled in 10-of-16 passes for 331 yards at a whopping 33.1 yards per reception. Watson was targeted downfield on 37.5% of the passes thrown his way–the eighth-highest rate among receivers–and his 21.4 yards per catch is the third-most in football this season.

“Christian’s a pretty dynamic guy,” Gutekunst said. “There’s not many guys like him in our league, so when he’s out there, it certainly changes things. Getting him healthy down the stretch I think will be a really important part of that.”

This field-stretching element within the offense will have to be replaced. However, while there aren’t any other players on the roster who are 6-4, 208 pounds, and ran a 4.28-second 40, the Packers do believe that there are players already on the roster who can provide this vertical presence.

“You always want that, and I think we’ve got that,” said Matt LaFleur at the league meetings about having a deep threat. “I think we’ve got guys that can do that, whether it’s Jayden Reed or Bo Melton. And I don’t want to limit Wicks and Rome and Malik and those guys either. Those guys can certainly do some of that stuff.”

LaFleur would also mention using tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave in certain situations to stretch the field. Gutekunst, when asked a similar question, would bring up free agent signee Mecole Hardman, who ran a 4.33 coming out of Georgia.

“It’s on us as a staff to kind of get creative and find different ways to open up some of those shots down the field in the pass game,” LaFleur added.

Last season, according to PFF’s metrics, Dontayvion Wicks was second on the team with 18 targets of at least 20-plus yards downfield. Compared to the rest of the NFL, this ranked 34th. Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed each had 15 downfield targets, which was tied for 47th among wide receivers, and Bo Melton had seven. At tight end, meanwhile, Kraft’s five targets of 20 or more yards ranked 16th.

So the Packers asking the players mentioned by Gutekunst and LaFleur to step into this role more often won’t be new to them by any means, but circumstances are also quite different when defenses know that you’re the go-to downfield option on a route versus there being attention elsewhere–like on Watson–as we saw in Green Bay’s playoff loss to Philadelphia.

Having that downfield threat is a critical component for an offense. Beyond the big plays that player can generate, and as LaFleur often says, explosive plays lead to points, having that presence within an offense can open up opportunities for others. To limit those downfield throws, defenses may play a heavy-dose of Cover-2, which is then a prime opportunity for the offense to run the ball.

When a defense respects an offense’s ability to stretch the field, it can create better spacing over the middle and on underneath routes for other pass-catchers to attack.

On the flip side, when that element isn’t present, second and third level defenders can begin creeping closer to the line of scrimmage, taking away space to operate in on those other routes, which in turn, makes moving the ball more challenging. And to a degree, even the run game can be impacted with more defenders closer to the ball.

“I do think the more explosive players that you have, the chances are that you can [be more explosive], whether they’re running somebody out of there or they’re the primary read. It’s all dependent upon what coverages you’re getting, but yeah, you definitely want speed on the perimeter,” LaFleur said.

Whether the downfield element exists or not, either way, there is a massive trickle-down effect–positive or negative–that impacts the rest of the passing game and even the running game as well.

The Packers believe they have several players who can impact the game in that fashion, and they could also still add someone in the NFL draft. There may not be one designated downfield presence without Watson, but rather it could be a by-committee approach depending on the in-game situation, who the opponent is, and what LaFleur wants to go after schematically.

If the Packers’ passing game is going to be more consistent this season, beyond improved play, the attention to detail, and numerous other factors, the vertical component has to be a part of the equation. If so, there is a lot of good that comes with that and makes the jobs of everyone on offense easier. But without it, it could be tough sledding through the air.

“I think it’s just a little bit, it was our offense in general was a little bit inconsistent at times in the passing game,” said Gutekunst of the wide receiver play last season. “We worked through some injuries as well, which always affects that.

“They’re very experienced players now, but they’re entering kind of that third year where you usually see these guys get into a comfort zone when their ability really comes out. So hopefully we can stay healthy in there, see what those guys give us this year.”

Still time for Packers to boost pass rush with deep DL draft class but internal growth remains key

Paul Bretl | 4/4/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ pass rush has to improve and become more consistent in the 2025 NFL season. However, in order to accomplish that, an addition may not be a must, at least according to GM Brian Gutekunst. Instead, the opportunity for growth and improved play can come from those already on the roster.

“I think we can do everything we need to do with the players we have on our roster right now,” Gutekunst said at the NFL league meetings. “I think there’s a significant amount of improvement for those guys, not only in Year 2 of a scheme but just individually as well.”

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On the stat sheet, the Packers finished the 2024 season ranked top 10 in sacks and around the middle of the pack in terms of pressures–not bad. But those figures don’t tell the entire story either.

This was a Packers’ pass rush that was either feast or famine, often posting some big days against lesser opponents, but going quiet against the NFC’s best, like Minnesota, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley also helped manufacture some of that pass rush production through blitzes and simulated pressures.

So perhaps a more accurate portrayal of the success that the Packers’ front four had rushing the passer is ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric, which measures how often a defender is winning his matchup against the offensive lineman. In that category, the Packers ranked 26th.

“We had some pretty good moments with the pass rush last year,” Gutekunst added. “It just wasn’t consistent enough. I think when you’ve shown it, the ability to pass rush at a high level, you know you can do it. It’s just a matter of, at that point, being able to do it week in and week out.”

Regardless of whether or not the Packers add to this unit in the NFL draft, internal improvement is still going to be a must. Individually, by PFF’s pass rush win rate metric, only two Packers defensive linemen, Devonte Wyatt and Rashan Gary, ranked in the top 100 in that category, and only Wyatt was inside the top 50, ranking 48th.

A second year in Hafley’s defensive scheme can hopefully help facilitate that growth, but as Gutekunst said at the NFL combine, the pass rush has “gotta be better,” adding that the Packers have to find ways to more consistently affect the quarterback with only four rushers.

Despite there being a need for improved play, it’s not a surprise that this position wasn’t addressed in free agency. For one, this is a position group that the Packers have already invested heavily into from a salary cap perspective. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are both top-four on the team in salary cap hits this season, not to mention a decision about Devonte Wyatt’s future has to be made soon as well.

That important factor, to some degree at least, probably had some sort of impact on Gutekunst’s willingness to spend on the defensive line in free agency. This is also an incredibly deep defensive line draft class. So when it comes to adding to the roster at this position, if the choice is between a veteran with a hefty cap hit or a high-upside draft pick on a rookie deal, we all know what Gutekunst would prefer.

“We’ve invested in that quite a bit already and I’m excited to see the growth that those guys will have,” Gutekunst said. “If the draft happens to bring us some more ammunition in that caliber great but I don’t think it’s something that’s necessarily that we’ll have to go chase.”

Perhaps an added challenge that the Packers face when deciding if or how to add to this position group is that they have a strong foundation along the defensive front already on the roster. I’m not sure how much help they get from signing a middle-tier veteran in free agency or drafting a player on Day 2 or Day 3. The Packers don’t need rotational depth–they have that. They need a higher-impact presence, and there are only so many of those players out there.

As we saw in the Super Bowl, when the defensive line is able to create steady havoc on its own, the entire defense benefits and everything becomes much more difficult for the offense. On the flip side, without consistent pressure, the quarterback has time in the pocket and now the job of the second and third level defenders has become a lot more challenging.

The ceiling for what this Packers’ defense can be is ultimately going to be determined by the play of the defensive line because the potential impact that position group can have on a game is staggering. But one other potential, not to be overlooked perk of more steady play up front, is that we may then see more of what Hafley’s defense can truly be.

“I think we all came in with a vision of being one thing and it transitioned to something totally different,” said Matt LaFleur at the NFL league meeting about Hafley’s defense. “Initially we were gonna jet off the football with our front and try to create havoc that way and then we started to play a lot more technique, playing with our hands and doing a better job in that regard and then from a coverage standpoint.

“I think the basis was gonna be more your 3-deep and we played a ton of split safety, but I think that’s — you gotta constantly evolve and adjust to the pieces that you have and I think that’s what coaching is, is trying to maximize each individual, put ’em in the best position possible to help the team win.”

Did Brian Gutekunst’s offseason approach match level of urgency that Packers needed?

Paul Bretl | 4/3/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — During GM Brian Gutekunst’s season-ending press conference following the Packers’ loss to Philadelphia, he brought up the need for greater “urgency” and “not getting complacent.”

Creating and maintaining the sense of urgency throughout the year will be an important element when it comes to competing for championships, which Gutekunst also said is time to start doing.

But what did Gutekunst mean by more urgency? And who does it apply to?

“I think the urgency comment is really more for our team, our organization to understand what the expectations are,” said Gutekunst at the annual NFL league meetings on Monday.

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During the second half of the 2024 season, it looked like this Packers team was trending in the right direction. They had won five of six games coming out of the bye week and had scored 30 or more points in five straight outings.

However, with the flip of a switch, things went cold, especially on the offensive side of the football. The Packers entered their Week 17 matchup with Minnesota still fighting for better playoff positioning. But a loss that week, followed by another to Chicago at home in Week 18, left the Packers as the NFC’s seventh seed and fortunate that the league expanded the playoffs a few years ago.

Green Bay’s season then ended one week later in the NFC’s wildcard round with a loss to the aforementioned Eagles. Rather than winning their last three games of the regular season, as they did in 2023, and riding a wave of momentum into the playoffs, the Packers sputtered down the stretch, losing their last three games of 2024.

“I think the one thing especially for younger players is you don’t necessarily, it goes by really fast,” said Matt LaFleur on Tuesday at the league meetings. “And before you blink, it seems like you’re at the end of your career.

“So it’s just maximizing those moments and taking advantage on a day-to-day basis of really putting your best foot forward and — because I am a believer, you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse every single day. You’re never staying the same. And that’s something we preach to ’em, but ultimately, each individual has to take that to heart and maximize our time together.”

So the Packers expect more urgency from their players to help get this team to being a championship-level contender, but how does that urgency apply to Gutekunst and his roster-building approach?

I’m going to guess that for most, if not all, free agency didn’t play out as expected. Wide receiver and pass rusher were the two big needs the outside world pontificated on for two months between the Packers’ season ending and free agency starting. However, the only addition made at either spot was Green Bay bringing in Mecole Hardman, a receiver and primary return man, on a prove-it deal.

Even the additions that the Packers did make, bringing in cornerback Nate Hobbs and guard Aaron Banks, I’m going to guess weren’t on the radars of many.

However, in terms of spending, the Packers still ranked quite high compared to the rest of the NFL. In terms of total dollars spent, Green Bay ranks 11th, according to Over the Cap. By average annual contract value, they rank fifth.

Now, in guarantee dollars, the Packers rank in the bottom half of the NFL, and that can be a factor for a free agent in deciding where to go if the Packers found themselves competing with other teams for someone, but there haven’t been any reports to suggest that happened.

“I think we were very urgent in free agency,” added Gutekunst. “Obviously, we went after a couple top targets; we were able to acquire them and I think that really is going to help our football team. The urgency comment is across the board. I think it’s for our players, it’s for our organization in how we’re going to approach things.”

A factor that cannot be overlooked in all of this, either, was the strength of this year’s free agent class. Overall, this was a so-so group, and what every team wants to avoid is throwing money at a need just because there is cap space available. It still comes down to whether it’s the right player and whether or not the cost to acquire them makes sense.

“Every free agent class is different,” Gutekunst said. “You have to be honest with yourselves about it; you can’t just go chasing after things and try to create stuff. We very much felt the targets that we targeted were the ones worth targeting.

“So I thought we were pretty aggressive and were able to acquire guys pretty early. But every year is unique with the free agency class, and I think it’s just a matter of how you evaluate that.”

Urgency comes in different forms. What the outside world views as an urgent need may not be what Gutekunst views as an urgent need. Green Bay clearly thought that improving the offensive line needed to be a priority.

In addition to that, I think we can all agree that given the roster outlook at cornerback, receiver, and pass rusher prior to free agency, especially with the uncertainty around Jaire Alexander, that cornerback was the biggest need of the three. That factor was a primary reason why I predicted that cornerback was where the Packers would spend in free agency.

There are also levels of urgency. Think about our own day-to-day lives, not everything that we come across is a level 10 issue that we have to address.

With that said, the big question is, did the Packers do enough this offseason? However, we don’t have that answer yet. We first have to see how the draft plays out and ultimately what takes place on the football field.

I wouldn’t say that the Packers haven’t been urgent up to this point in the offseason, but what urgent looks like to them is different than how the outside world may view it. Now it’s up to Gutekunst to be proven right, otherwise those questions around his approach–and the urgency that comes with that–will only grow.

Offseason OL moves have Packers positioned to be even better rushing offense

Paul Bretl | 4/2/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — On paper anyway, the Packers’ offensive line unit, particularly in the running game, looks like an improved unit following free agency.

“Certainly,” said GM Brian Gutekunst on Monday when asked if Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins can make the for a better run-blocking unit. “I think we have the potential to be. At the same time, those five guys got to work in concert and there’s a lot of work that has to be done before you ever get to that point.”

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The play of the Packers’ offensive line unit last season was good, especially in pass protection. This was a unit that ranked seventh in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric, while Jordan Love ranked 23rd in pressure rate despite being the most blitzed quarterback in football.

In the run game, the Packers leaned heavily on that facet, and it was often the catalyst for overall success on offense, along with helping Green Bay to put games away late. Including the playoffs, Josh Jacobs would rush for 1,410 yards at 4.4 yards per rush with 16 touchdowns.

This was a unit that was really good at churning out four, five, and six-yard carries. However, what was missing were the big, explosive runs. PFF’s breakaway percentage metric measures how often a running back has a carry of 15 or more yards. In that category, Jacobs ranked 32nd.

That isn’t a Jacobs stat either. To me, that’s about the offensive line. With help from PFF, nearly 80% of Jacobs’ total rushing yards came after contact. For some context, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry were in the 50%-55% range.

So how do you get more big runs? The offensive line helps Jacobs get to the second level more cleanly and more often. Along the interior, the Packers seem to be in a better position to accomplish that.

Free agent signee Aaron Banks will take over at left guard for the Packers. The strength of his game during his career has been as a run-blocker, specifically, as ESPN’s Matt Bowen pointed out, in the gap run scheme, which the Packers leaned heavily on last season with Jacobs.

While not the be-all, end-all, Banks would rank 27th out of 81 eligible guards last season in PFF’s run-blocking metric.

“A really large man that can do all the things that Matt (LaFleur) asks those guys to do in our scheme as far as our ability to get off the ball quickly, get out in space and really run,” Gutekunst said of Banks.

“Again, this isn’t a 295-pound man. This is a 330-pound man. His ability to play physical in the run game and anchor down in the pass pro is something where he’s played at a high level for a few years now, and to get a guy like that really in the prime of his career is something I thought would really benefit us.”

With Banks at left guard, Jenkins will be moving to center. By comparison, while no new addition to the roster was made, having Jenkins at center instead of Josh Myers should provide the Packers with an upgrade.

Out of 42 eligible centers during the 2024 season, Myers would rank 41st in run-blocking grade.

“We were pretty good last year,” LaFleur said of the Packers’ running game on Tuesday. “You try to avoid the comparisons on a year-to-year basis, but I’m excited about the group that we have coming in. It’s going to take a lot of work, that’s the bottom line. Every season’s a new season, and you can’t take anything for granted.

“We’re excited about Banks coming in and then moving Elgton back to center. We feel like we have a lot of pieces. There’s going to be some good competition at a lot of spots, but you got to re-create it each and every year, and the only way you do that is you get to work.”

As Gutekunst said, you have to have the ability to both run and throw the ball depending on the opponent and the situation at hand. With that said, there was a more run-centric approach that this Packers’ offense took last season, and if Green Bay is going to continue leaning into that element–which it appears they are–then the ability to create more chunk runs has to be a part of the equation.

And while it is only early April, it would appear that the Packers are in a better position to do just that.

Packers’ 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan will compete with Rasheed Walker at LT

Paul Bretl | 4/1/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — After competing and playing at right guard during his rookie season, Jordan Morgan will now have the opportunity to compete with Rasheed Walker this year for the Packers’ starting left tackle role.

“It’s going to be a great competition,” Matt LaFleur said at the annual NFL league meetings. “Him and Sheed are going to battle it out and hopefully push each other to be that much better.”

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Left tackle is Morgan’s natural position. Of the 2,404 snaps he played in college at Arizona, 2,392 of them came at left tackle, according to PFF. However, very quickly upon his arrival to Green Bay, Morgan found himself at right guard, where he competed with Sean Rhyan for playing time.

The learning curve that Morgan experienced last season was two-fold. Along with adjusting to the play speed and strength of the NFL, he was also moving from tackle to guard, where there is less time to react.

“You’ve got to be in a three-point stance a lot more,” said Morgan during training camp about the move from tackle to guard. “Everything happens quicker. You’ve got to get your hands on people quicker.”

But in addition to that, Morgan also went from playing on the left side of the offensive line to the right side, which comes with adjustments as well. In short, every movement that Morgan had grown accustomed to making had to be reversed.

“I’d say just technique,” Morgan added last the summer about playing on the right side. “I mean, the footwork and the hand placement. I’m used to punching with my left then getting out there and having to punch with my right. It’s so different and you’ve got to get used to the timing and pick up everything quicker.”

In addition to making a position change, Morgan dealt with a lingering shoulder injury as well. That injury sidelined him during training camp and kept him out of the preseason. It then eventually landed him on injured reserve.

Morgan would end up playing 186 snaps as a rookie, which included one start in Week 9. Otherwise, he was in a right guard rotation with Rhyan, who dominated much of the playing time.

If there was any doubt following last year’s draft about whether or not Walker would start at left tackle, those notions were put to bed quickly, with Walker seizing control of that job almost immediately last offseason.

On the season, Walker would surrender just three sacks and four quarterback hits, but he did give up 35 pressures. While not the be-all, end-all, Walker ranked 45th out of 87 tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric, and he was 69th in run-blocking grade.

Also, not to be overlooked is the long-term component of all this. Walker is a free agent next offseason. Zach Tom is in line for a big payday, and Elgton Jenkins could be due for an extension in the next year, and Aaron Banks just got a big deal in free agency. Not everyone up front can be paid, so there is a lot of value in having a starter on a rookie deal, whether that be this year or beyond.

Competition, often along the offensive line but throughout the roster, has been a catalyst for this Packers’ team as a whole over the last two seasons, and LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst want to continue leaning into that element. Naturally, the focus is on Jordan Love and the passing game, but success starts up front with time in the pocket and having a run game to lean on.

While Walker has given the Packers stability at left tackle, there is room for improvement as well, and whether it’s fair or not, as a first-round pick, Morgan is going to get every opportunity to prove that he can start somewhere along the offensive line.

“I think Rasheed’s done a lot of really, really good things for us,” Gutekunst said. “I don’t think he necessarily needs to show anything. Like anything, you’ve got to continue to play at a high level. We’re going to have a lot of competition there. Not just at his spot, but all across the offensive line.”

Packers’ Brian Gutekunst doesn’t close door on Jaire Alexander’s return; conversations ongoing

Paul Bretl | 3/31/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — During the NFL combine, it was reported by Ian Rapoport that the Packers were having trade conversations centered around cornerback Jaire Alexander. However, with April nearly here and the NFL draft on the horizon, Alexander remains a part of the team.

“I think we’re still working through that,” said GM Brian Gutekunst on Monday at the NFL league meeting. Obviously, a very, very good player for us, and we have some time here to figure that out. See what’s best for him and the organization.”

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Alexander suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee during the Packers’ Week 8 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Alexander attempted to return in Week 11 against Chicago, but would exit the game early on.

During the second half of the season, Alexander appeared to be trending in the right direction as he returned to the practice field and his workload seemed to steadily increase. However, Alexander was never able to get to the point where he was able to play on Sundays, and he ultimately ended up undergoing surgery prior to the Packers’ Week 18 finale, which officially ended his season.

When players were cleaning out their lockers following the season-ending loss to Philadelphia, Alexander was asked by local media members to speak, but he declined, adding that he doesn’t know if he will be in Green Bay next season and that he didn’t have anything good to say.

When on the field, Alexander continues to operate at a high level. This includes this past season, allowing a completion rate of just 56% on 25 targets with a pick-six and three pass breakups. Unfortunately, due to injuries, Alexander often hasn’t been available–a “frustrating” reality for both Alexander and the Packers, as Gutekunst put it after the season.

Since the 2021 season, he has appeared in only 34 out of a possible 68 games. This includes playing only four games in 2021, and seven games in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. During the 2022 season, when he made 16 starts, Alexander was a second-team All-Pro.

On Monday, Gutekunst didn’t rule out Alexander remaining with the Packers for the 2025 season, saying “There could be a possibility, absolutely,” but those conversations around what’s next are still being had.

Of course, this is one of those questions where we ask ourselves, how else is Gutekunst supposed to respond? But if the opportunity to run things back for at least one more season exists, keeping that door open does make sense, given the unknowns that the Packers currently have at the cornerback position.

With that said, ultimately, whatever things end up going, Gutekunst wants to find the best solution for everyone involved.

“John Thornton is his agent,” Gutekunst said, “we talk weekly about these things, working together on finding the best solution for everybody. Obviously, we invested a lot into Jaire, and we want to make sure that if he’s not going to be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment. So we’ll see where it goes, but again, working with him weekly and trying to figure out what’s best for both Jaire and the Packers.”

There doesn’t seem to be a hard deadline anytime soon when it comes to finding a resolution, whatever that may be, although Gutekunst did acknowledge that finding a solution before the NFL draft would be helpful.

“I think that would be nice,” said Gutekunst, “but I don’t think you can say that for sure. But I think that would be helpful.”

With two years left on his current deal, Alexander comes with a cap hit this season of $24.99 million. If traded or released, the Packers would save $6.87 million in cap space for the 2025 season, and Alexander’s contract would be off the books for the 2026 season, when Green Bay has some potentially expensive roster decisions to make.

However, if traded or released with a post-June 1st designation, the benefit in the short term is that the Packers’ cap savings in 2025 would sit at $17.11 million instead of $6.87 million. But the downside is that a portion of Alexander’s contract is still on the books in 2026 and would still be something that the Packers would have to continue to navigate around from a cap perspective.

Elgton Jenkins Packers’ new starting center, confirms GM Brian Gutekunst

Paul Bretl | 3/31/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Not surprisingly, Elgton Jenkins is going to be the Packers’ new starting center for the 2025 season, GM Brian Gutekunst confirmed on Monday at the NFL league meetings.

“We had plenty of conversations with Elgton leading up to it and obviously he played center in college,” Gutekunst said. “We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center.”

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The move from left guard to center is sparked by the addition of Aaron Banks in free agency. Banks played left guard during his time in San Francisco, and with Josh Myers signing with the New York Jets in free agency, Jenkins was a natural fit to fill the void at center.

During his time at Mississippi State, Jenkins was the starting center for his final two seasons, playing over 1,700 snaps at that position. In the NFL with the Packers, Jenkins has played 369 total snaps at center, 297 of which came in 2020, although he did start one game there last season when Myers was sidelined.

“We’ve talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line and having guys that can move to different spots, and Elgton’s one of those guys who can play all five spots, so he’s a luxury, but I’m excited to see what he can do at center, as well,” Gutekunst added.

Beyond what takes place after the ball is snapped as a run blocker and pass protector, there is additional work that is on the center’s plate pre-snap. This includes identifying how the defense is aligned and communicating any protection changes that have to be made.

There may be some adjustments when it comes to footwork and blocking responsibilities, but overall for Jenkins, as he described prior to the Packers’ Week 9 matchup last season against Detroit, he doesn’t see the move from guard to center as a difficult transition.

“I don’t think so,” said Jenkins last season about the transition from guard to center being a difficult one. “You’ve got to go out there and do your job. It’s not like something that I haven’t played before, so being able to go out there, communicate, get everybody on the same page. I’m familiar with the offense, so it’s really just the fundamentals and things like that.”

The Packers were one of the better pass-blocking units in the NFL last season, ranking seventh in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric. Jordan Love also ranked 23rd in pressure rate despite being blitzed at the highest rate during the regular season.

However, if there is an area of opportunity for the Packers’ offensive line to grow, it comes in the run game, specifically in the offense’s ability to generate explosive runs. Josh Jacobs would rank 32nd last season in PFF’s breakaway rate, which measures how often a back rushed for 15 or more yards. Helping Jacobs generate more big plays will be the offensive line getting him cleanly to the second level more often.

“I think we have the potential to be,” said Gutekunst about being a better running team. “At the same time, those five guys got to work in concert and there’s a lot of work that has to be done before you ever get to that point. Every year’s a different year. These guys have to put in the work and come together as a unit, but I think we have the potential to be that.”

The addition of Banks and Jenkins moving to center could also provide the Packers with more flexibility when it comes to where Jordan Morgan competes for playing time. He could, again, compete with Sean Rhyan at right guard or potentially, there is the flexibility to get him some left tackle snaps if that’s deemed necessary.

“I think just like last year, he’ll take reps in multiple spots, but he’ll certainly get a shot there,” Gutekunst said of Morgan.

OL depth unknowns still linger for Packers heading into NFL draft

Paul Bretl | 3/28/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Continuity was a critical element to the success that the Packers experienced last season along the offensive line. However, looking around at the rest of the NFL, that’s not something Green Bay should bank on happening again in 2025, which is why bolstering the depth up front still needs to be on GM Brian Gutekunst’s to-do list, even after spending big in free agency.

According to TruMedia, no offensive line unit in football during the 2024 season played more snaps together than the Packers. Green Bay’s starting combination of Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom were on the field for 80.82% of the team’s offensive snaps, which was the most in the NFL.

At a position where continuity is a vital factor to success, with the sum of the parts along the offensive line being greater than any one individual player, staying healthy helped foster that continuity element and an often high level of play up front, particularly in pass protection, where the Packers ranked seventh in ESPN’s pass-block win rate metric.

“I thought our offensive line, particularly in pass pro, played really, really well all year for the most part, with the exception of a couple games,” Gutekunst said after the season. “But I think all those guys you know, had, you know, had really solid years and improved.”

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Behind the Packers in these rankings, the Buffalo Bills were in a close second at 79.12%, followed by Baltimore at 70.71%, but from there, we saw a steep dropoff. Among the 32 NFL teams, only 11 had their most-used offensive line combination play at least 50% of the offensive snaps. In fact, over one-third of the NFL’s most frequently used offensive line combinations were on the field together for fewer than 34% of their respective offensive snap totals.

The moral of this story is that injuries happen, and teams have to be prepared for them.

The Packers would, unfortunately, experience this in the playoffs when Jenkins exited with an injury against Philadelphia. Without Jenkins and with Jordan Morgan on injured reserve, the Packers turned to rookie Travis Glover–who was seeing his first significant NFL snaps–to fill in, and then eventually Green Bay leaned on second-year lineman Kadeem Telfort after Glover was penalized numerous times.

The Eagles’ ability to generate steady pressure on Jordan Love and to create a strong push in the run game while only rushing four made the already difficult task of breaking free from the Eagles’ two-high coverage shell all the more challenging for the Packers’ offense. Losing that line of scrimmage battle was a key factor to the Packers’ offensive woes in that game.

Now, with that said, the Eagles’ defensive front can make healthy offensive line units look silly, so as Gutekunst said after the season, you don’t want to overreact to one game, especially when, over the course of the season, the Packers’ play up front was mostly good. However, that performance did highlight the unknowns that the Packers have depth-wise along the offensive line at the moment.

“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Gutekunst after the season. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.”

With the addition of Aaron Banks in free agency, who will take over at left guard, which then moves Jenkins to center, the Packers do gain some added flexibility to either have 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan again compete at right guard with Rhyan or even at left tackle with Walker if that’s deemed necessary. But regardless of how that shakes out, one of those three players will be coming off the bench this season, giving the Packers a capable backup option if needed.

However, as the data above illustrates, having one reliable offensive lineman to step in when needed may not be enough. I’m sure the hope internally is that Jacob Monk–who was often inactive late last season–Telfort, and Glover all make strides heading into the 2025 season, allowing them to provide some stability if called upon. However, having said that, banking on that happening comes with obvious risks as well.

Competition throughout the roster has been a catalyst behind the Packers’ rapid ascension over the last two seasons with the youngest team in the NFL, and continuing to lean on that element within the offensive line room to improve the depth should be a part of the offseason equation.

This means that we should again see Gutekunst add to this position in the NFL draft, which is something that he has done a lot of during his tenure. In three of the last four draft classes, the Packers have selected three offensive linemen. Perhaps we don’t see that many additions in 2025 with the team only having eight draft picks, but the recipe for Gutekunst to add to this room very much exists.

“We’re going to continue to lean on versatility,” said Gutekunst in January. “We’ve got three or four guys on our line that could probably play five spots, and that’s, I believe in that. I think every coach that I’ve been around believes in that, and I think that’s an asset that we have that not all teams have.”

Naturally, all the focus is on how the Packers’ passing game can improve, but success for the offense as a whole starts in the trenches with a strong run game to keep Green Bay out of predictable passing situations and by providing Love time in the pocket to operate within the rhythm of the play. The starting five should put the Packers in a position to be successful, but going beyond that group, some unknowns linger.

Packers sign familiar face, bring back LB and special teams ace Kristian Welch

Paul Bretl | 3/28/2025

Green Bay, Wis. — The Packers are bringing back a familiar face. The team announced on Friday that they are signing linebacker Kristian Welch.

Welch spent the 2023 season with the Packers and was a core special teams contributor. That year, from Week 4 through the NFC divisional playoff round, Welch played 237 snaps, or nearly 49 percent of all the Packers’ special teams snaps–the fourth-highest rate on the team. Welch was a regular contributor across four different phases, finished third on the team in tackles, and among 188 eligible players across the NFL, Welch’s special teams grade from PFF ranked 39th.

“Special teams a lot of times is just being–like wanting it more than the other guy,” said Welch last summer. “So the fundamentals, the details are all part of that, the scheme. Really it starts with your effort. Your ability to out-technique your opponent basically.

“It comes down to me being able to block that guy more than he wants to go make the play. And  then beating them with technique within the umbrella of the scheme.”

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Welch was on the Packers’ 90-man roster through training camp and the preseason last summer before being released during roster cutdowns. Welch would initially land with Denver but also spent time with Baltimore in 2024 as well.

“It was tough,” said Matt LaFleur last summer about releasing Welch. “He did everything he could have possibly done. He was making plays. It showed up in every game and I thought he got better throughout the course, going into the OTAs, from where he started to where he is now. He is a much better football player.

“Certainly he’s made his mark in this league on teams, and I’m sure he’ll continue to do that for a long time to come. But I thought he really showed his ability to go in there and play on the defensive side of the ball. That gave us a lot of confidence. He’s a very smart guy, very tough, competitive, everything that you want from a football player, in particular that position. A really good communicator. So, again, it’s tough.

Ultimately, last season’s linebacker room was too crowded for Welch to carve out a roster spot, even though he had the ability to contribute. However, as we take an early look at the state of the linebacker room, there is a more clear path for Welch to make the 53-man this season, with Eric Wilson—another core special teams player—now in Minnesota.

“I honestly love that part about special teams,” added Welch about playing multiple phases. “Each phase has it’s own challenges, right? It’s like a very unique thing in football. It’s just fun. I think it just presents a different challenge than kind of any other phase in the game and just being able to understand each little nuance and get the techniques of a punt set down. And then get the techniques of a punt coverage down. And then being able to tackle in open space. All these things kind of bring it together and that’s what I really just enjoy, honestly, especially in the NFL.”

Special teams is going to be Welch’s bread and butter, but defensively, last summer in Jeff Hafley’s defense, he got work as the middle linebacker with the third defense and made several plays in that role. This included coming away with two interceptions and a pass breakups in three preseason games.

“At the end of the day you just have to be you,” said Welch. “You can’t–you have to be confident in the player that you are. What you bring to the team and doing that best is what’s going to suit the team best.”

Significance of official 30 visits to Packers in pre-draft process

Paul Bretl | 3/27/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s that time of the year in the pre-draft process where reports of official 30 visits with NFL teams will be taking place. So what is a 30-visit, and what is the significance of them to the Green Bay Packers?

During each draft cycle, each team is permitted to have 30 draft prospects at the team facility for an official visit. While we often hear these meetings called “top 30 visits,” it does not mean that all of these players are at the top of the Packers’ draft board.

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Instead, these visits are often reserved for prospects who the team still has questions about, and these meetings provide an additional opportunity to get to know the prospect, go over film, and do medical checks if needed.

“With the exception of the subterfuge that Ted (Thompson) always taught us, it’s really just about answering a question maybe that we don’t have an answer to,” said GM Brian Gutekunst prior to the 2024 NFL draft. “Sometimes that’s a non-combine guy that we need to get medical information on. Sometimes that’s a Combine guy we have, whether it’s a football question, an off-the-field situation or maybe it’s just getting to know him better.”

Perhaps also a part of the equation when determining who to bring in, at least for those potentially picking near the top of the draft, there is some gamesmanship, or “subterfuge,” as Gutekunst put it, involved as well.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to pick a little later in the first round in most of the drafts I’ve been a part of here,” Gutekunst said last offseason. “I don’t know how much of that comes into play. I think certainly if you’re maybe picking higher in the top-10 and things like that, maybe that has more to do. It may have more value. Who knows?”

With some teams, there is actually very little connection between 30 visits and who they end up drafting. With the Packers, however, particularly in recent seasons, there has been a noteworthy connection between who they have in for visits and who they eventually end up selecting in the draft.

Over the last three pre-draft cycles from 2022 through 2024, the Packers have had 90 players in for 30 visits–like every other team has. Of those 90 visits, 21 have ended up on the Packers roster in some capacity–or nearly 25% of visits–whether that be as a draft pick or signing as an undrafted rookie.

“I’d say what stood out to me most about going in the visit, the 30-visit, was basically being in a meeting room with them and basically, instead of like being in the meeting room with just the linebacker coach,” said 2024 third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper. “It was all of us in a room at one time.

“So, basically it was the head coach, the defensive coordinator and the linebacker coach was basically in there going over film, and like doing plays and things like that. so, I’d say that’s one thing that stood out to me. That made me feel like they was like very interested in me.”

At this point, in the early stages of the 30-visit cycle, it’s been reported that the Packers will be hosting Washington State OL Esa Pole, Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr., Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart, and Texas WR Isaiah Bond.

So as we all try to decipher which prospects may be high up on the Packers’ draft board, while the 30 visits aren’t the be-all-end-all by any means, they are noteworthy, given Green Bay’s track record in recent years with either signing or selecting those prospects.

“You only have 30 and that’s not very many and they’re very valuable to us, so it’s usually just trying to answer something that you don’t feel you have answered most of the time,” Gutekunst said last offseason. “There’s a lot of guys, you go through the process and you just don’t feel you have a lot to learn from. So those guys are less likely to be on our 30 visit than some, so.”

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