INDIANAPOLIS – The Packers have some major decisions to make on their 2026 offensive line, and soon.
One is right in the middle, at center, where there's a lot to consider.
Veteran Elgton Jenkins' season last year was cut short in November due to a broken lower leg, Sean Rhyan filled in admirably the rest of the way, and General Manager Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL Scouting Combine he sees potential ready-made rookie starters at the position in the upcoming draft.
So which way will the Packers go?
The latter is a route Green Bay has traveled before with Corey Linsley (2014) and Josh Myers (2021), so it's certainly on the table.
As for the in-house options, in his comments from Indianapolis, Gutekunst lamented the leadership the Packers lost in Jenkins' absence but did not commit to his return.
A two-time Pro Bowler at guard before moving to center, Jenkins will turn 31 next season coming off that significant injury and carries a hefty cap charge for 2026. Gutekunst only said "we'll kind of see where that goes" regarding his future.
Meanwhile Rhyan, a 2022 third-round draft pick who started all of 2024 and half of 2025 at right guard before sliding over to take Jenkins' place, is a pending free agent who would need a new contract to stick around. Gutekunst suggested there was a lot to like about his stint at center.
"Sean, obviously pressed into that duty unexpectedly, but I thought he got better each game," Gutekunst said. "It was about Game 3 or 4 starting at center, he was playing at a very high level … Less experience, but more stout in there because he's just a really physical, strong guy."
That's the same trait he praised in Anthony Belton, a rookie second-round pick last year who played left tackle in college but worked at both tackle and guard before taking over as the starting right guard down the stretch.
The mammoth North Carolina State product (6-6, 336) adeptly made the adjustment after some rough moments in the preseason, and he may have found a new home. Though Gutekunst said he "wouldn't blink" if Belton needed to be moved back to tackle, he'd prefer to let him grow as an NFL guard for now.
"I'm really proud of him, how quickly he adapted to the inside and the physicality that he brought us," Gutekunst said. "In my mind, I would love to see him stay there for a little bit just because I do think he's so stout in there. He's so tough to get through, he can move people, which is hard to do in this league.
"I just think as his comfort level grows at that position, he has a chance to be really dominant."
At the other guard spot, Gutekunst confirmed in no uncertain terms that Aaron Banks, a free-agent acquisition last season who battled injuries early on before settling into consistent playing time, would be back as the starter on the left side.
The other spot not in question is right tackle, though Gutekunst gave no update on Zach Tom, who missed the final month of the season with a knee injury for which he was considering offseason surgery.
That leaves left tackle, where three-year starter Rasheed Walker is a pending free agent and 2024 first-round draft pick Jordan Morgan is waiting in the wings.
Walker is projected to be the top left tackle on the market, and as such will command a huge price tag. It's easy to see the Packers declining to make that commitment, particularly with Gutekunst saying he felt Morgan was potentially ready to play left tackle last year after a strong training camp.
In his first two pro seasons, Morgan has moved around to different spots, starting a total of 13 games at four positions (left and right guard, left and right tackle), but he was a left tackle only in college at Arizona. His chance to settle back in there could be on the horizon.
"I thought he was ready to go and if we were to need him at any point in the season to play left tackle, we were very confident he could go there and play winning football," Gutekunst said. "So yeah, certainly if Rasheed's not here – even if Rasheed is here – I think he'd have a pretty good crack at that."
