"Bryan Bulaga, Iowa."
Don't you just miss hearing that on Sundays? The Green Bay Packers have hit several home runs when drafting players out of Iowa. Bulaga is one of them. So, too, are Mike Daniels and Micah Hyde.
The Hawkeyes are also known for producing elite offensive linemen. Brandon Scherff came from Iowa. Tristan Wirfs came from Iowa. Tyler Linderbaum came from Iowa. That trio has 13 Pro Bowls between them.
Did the Packers' next great offensive linemen also come from Iowa? Bulaga believes so. Appearing on ESPN Milwaukee, Bulaga spoke with Packers insider Rob Demovsky about the team's offseason needs. Addressing the offensive line is among them, and Bulaga believes Green Bay could target Iowa center Logan Jones with its top selection.
"I think if the center from Iowa is there, they're taking the center from Iowa in the second round. That's just my opinion," said Bulaga.
Why Bryan Bulaga is 100 percent correct with his Packers-Logan Jones prediction
Bulaga may be slightly biased, given his Iowa connection, but he's not wrong. Jones could be an outstanding long-term starter in the NFL, and the Packers' offense would level up dramatically with top-tier center play. While Bulaga may not have inside information, he knows the Packers and what they like in offensive linemen.
And he emphatically predicted that the Packers will draft Jones if he falls to the second round. It's worth paying attention to, as the Iowa center undoubtedly checks every box.
Green Bay could lose as many as four starting offensive linemen this spring. Elgton Jenkins is as good as gone, as is Rasheed Walker. That's two. Sean Rhyan is a free agent and hardly guaranteed to return, and the Packers face a massive decision on Aaron Banks.
If Jenkins and Rhyan depart, the Packers will have a huge void at center. Jacob Monk could compete for the job, but the former fifth-round pick endured a nightmare preseason and has shown no evidence that he can become a starter in the NFL.
Logan Jones sure could, though.
The Iowa product is one of the best players at his position in college football, drawing comparisons to Tyler Linderbaum, the three-time Pro Bowler who he succeeded at center for the Hawkeyes.
Jones received Pro Football Focus' sixth-highest grade among 164 qualifying centers this past season. Better still, his 90.2 pass-blocking grade ranked first. Per PFF, Jones surrendered only one sack, two QB hits, and three pressures across 12 games – truly elite numbers.
The million-dollar question: Will he fall to the Packers in the second round?
At this early stage, nobody seems to have any true indication of where he will land. Some mock drafts have Jones going as early as Round 1, while others believe he's a late Day 3 pick. For now, the consensus draft board has him 106th, a fourth-rounder, which seems bizarrely low. That suits the Packers, though, as they don't own a first-round pick this year and will need to find starting-caliber prospects on Days 2 and 3.
The concern is that the Packers have other pressing needs at important positions. Brian Gutekunst must add multiple cornerbacks and another pass-rusher, especially if Green Bay releases Rashan Gary and if Kinsley Enagbare leaves in free agency.
That's far from the only priority, though. Bulaga highlighted the concerns at the interior defensive line positions, which might be the most urgent need in the offseason. Then there is the offensive line, which Gutekunst must address multiple times in the months ahead.
Addressing the interior positions on both lines should be a priority. The Packers need to strengthen the defensive line, both inside and on the edge, but adding multiple offensive linemen is also a must-have.
Whether it's in Round 2 or later, Jones would be a home-run pick. It's about time the Packers added another offensive lineman from Iowa, and Gutekunst should take Bulaga's advice.