Ranking the Packers Draft Needs Post-Free Agency

Green Bay Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith (62) blocks Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90). Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

5) OFFENSIVE LINE

The Packers offensive line made strides last season in the run game. Having Eddie Lacy in the backfield certainly didn’t hurt either. However, the Packers line still struggled all season protecting the quarterback.

Part of this can be attributed to injuries and starting a rookie and a first-year starter at both tackle positions. The hope is that with a healthy Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod the competition and depth at tackle will improve as David Bakhtiari and Don Barclay enter next season one year more experienced.

Guard seems set with Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang, but losing Evan Dietrich-Smith this offseason in free agency may hurt.

The Packers are starting over at the center position for the fourth straight year, and it seems right now J.C. Tretter is their only option to take over for EDS, unless the Packers decide to give Barclay one more stab at snapping the ball in camp.

Southern California Trojans center Marcus Martin (66). Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

DRAFT OUTLOOK

The Packers just lack interior depth in general and would be wise to draft a guard or center in May.

USC’s Marcus Martin, Colorado State’s Weston Richburg, and Arkansas’s Travis Swanson are often regarded as the top three center prospects in this year’s draft. Utah State’s Tyler Larsen could also be in the conversation. All four players may be found beyond the second round come draft day.

The Packers may just use an early-round pick and take a guy like Xavier Su’a-Filo out of UCLA and move him from guard to center.

Traditionally, the Packers like to draft tackles and play them at guard or center, so they may draft a guy like Clemson’s Brandon Thomas and play him at one of the three interior spots.