Packers: Sean Rhyan’s rookie season couldn’t have gone much worse

Sean Rhyan showed no signs of ending the Green Bay Packers‘ third-round curse in his rookie season.

The third round of the NFL Draft has been nothing short of a disaster for the Packers in recent years.

The Packers’ 2019 third-rounder, tight end Jace Sternbegrer, was released early into his third year. Wide receiver Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick in 2021, was cut before the end of his second season.

Based on Rhyan’s rookie season, it would come as no surprise if he also doesn’t make it to the end of his rookie deal.

Rhyan was only active for one game in 2022. According to Pro Football Reference, he only played one snap in that game, and it came on special teams.

According to Zach Kruse of Packers Wire, Rhyan was the only 2022 third-rounder in the NFL not to play a single offensive or defensive snap.

In other words, Rhyan was nowhere near the top of the depth chart along the offensive line.

Compare his rookie season to Zach Tom’s, who was selected a round later than Rhyan. Tom stepped in multiple times when the Packers suffered injuries along the offensive line, and he even made five starts.

Tom impressed when he got on the field and could be a future starter at tackle or guard.

Rhyan was inactive for all but one game this year. In November, he received a suspension for the final six games of the regular season.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has shown he won’t stick with players just because they were drafted in the early rounds. He moved on from Jace Sternberger and Amari Rodgers early into their rookie contracts.

It’s a crucial offseason for Rhyan.

He needs to show significant improvements to his game over the summer. There could be more competition for roster spots if the Packers add offensive linemen in the draft.

Just because he was picked in the third round, Rhyan’s roster spot is anything but guaranteed in 2023.