The Green Bay Packers have a lot to be thrilled about in terms of their team’s future. Their young offensive core proved to be capable of competing with the best of the best not only in their conference, but throughout the league.
In fact, the Packers’ young core (and pay cap) may be a major reason why they may choose someone surprising in the first round.
Ross Uglem of The Packers Report detailed how two young studs can affect the Packers’ draft strategy in 2024:
Although this is not the most scientific study,
Green Bay’s starting tackles for the majority of 2023 were Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker. Their average overall PFFgrade of 73.0 ranks 11th out of 32 tackle tandems.
The Packers finished second in Pass Block Win Rate, with those two at OT for the most of the season.
Both players were part of Green Bay’s 2022 draft class. A “normal” development trajectory would indicate that both players would be better next year than they were in 2023.
Green Bay owes Tom $1 million in 2024 and $1.2 million in 2025. They owe Walker even less.
The Packers are paying nearly nothing for a decidedly better-than-league-average tackle combination, and I’m supposed to assume they’re locked into a tackle in round one because they’re releasing a player who barely played for them in 2023?
I am not buying.
Could they take a tackle? Sure. It’s totally possible.
The Packers must consider long-term about the tackle situation sooner rather than later. Even if David Bakhtiari returns in 2024, the 32-year-old is expected to retire soon.
While many have projected that the Packers will draft an offensive lineman (particularly a tackle) in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom may allow them to focus on something else.
The Packers must consider long-term about the tackle situation sooner rather than later. Even if David Bakhtiari returns in 2024, the 32-year-old is expected to retire soon.
While many have projected that the Packers will draft an offensive lineman (particularly a tackle) in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom may allow them to focus on something else.
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