Packers 2021 pre-draft preview: Uncertainty at center

The Green Bay Packers will be making changes to the interior of the offensive line following the departure of Corey Linsley in free agency.

Whether they replace Linsley with another center not in the starting five last season, or whether one of Lucas Patrick or Elgton Jenkins moves inside remains to be seen.

Should the Packers address the interior offensive line positions in the draft next week?

Free agency recap

All-Pro Linsley signed a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, joining Bryan Bulaga, his former teammate in Green Bay. Last week, veteran guard Lane Taylor signed with the Houston Texans. He was a starter in Week 1 before tearing his ACL.

Need in the draft?

It depends.

In short, the Packers do need to add an offensive lineman in the draft, but the actual position is less clear. If the plan isn’t to move Elgton Jenkins to tackle and either Jenkins or Lucas Patrick will play center, the interior spots become less important to address.

Second-year Jon Runyan Jr. can step into a starting role, and the Packers drafted three interior linemen a year ago.

Draft outlook

Again, it all comes down to the Packers’ plan for the starting five. If Jenkins is a tackle long term, guard and center moves higher on the list of draft priorities. If either Jenkins or Patrick will play center with the other staying at guard, tackle is a bigger need.

It wouldn’t be all that surprising if Green Bay drafted both a guard or tackle, or a lineman with the versatility to play multiple positions like Billy Turner.

The fact the Packers have a few players who can play multiple spots is good, but it also makes it harder to determine where they need the most help along the offensive line.

The Packers should add more depth to the offensive line this month. Rather than determining a position to target, a better idea would be to just draft the best lineman on the board.