Let's be honest, we're all thinking it. The Green Bay Packers sure have rolled the dice along the offensive line.
Former Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga has been vocal about it all offseason, and he's right. Green Bay's front five massively underperformed by just about any metric last year, and the team's decision was to, well, almost run it back entirely. That included re-signing Sean Rhyan and only making one offensive line move between free agency and the draft.
Appearing on ESPN Milwaukee, Bulaga spelled out the concern facing the Packers' offense. It all starts with the line.
"The offensive line, in my opinion, closely watching them play, it was a down year. You can't tell me from the year prior to this last year, that it wasn't a step backwards for this group. Now, I get different pieces moved in. I get it," said Bulaga. "That's why, to me, there's a lot of attention on this group, because you're returning essentially everyone but (Rasheed Walker), but you're moving in your first-round pick to left tackle."
Will they improve in 2026?
"I can only judge it based on what I saw last year. It was closer to being a cluster... than a major success," Bulaga added.
Bryan Bulaga calls out the potential offensive line problem facing the Packers this season
Bulaga is 100 percent right.
The Packers' offensive line got pushed around last season, particularly ln the run game. The team's PFF run-blocking grade ranked 22nd, and they also ranked 22nd in pass blocking.
Josh Jacobs rarely had open rushing lanes to exploit, instead running into a brick wall almost any time he carried the ball. Thankfully, he's one of the best at forcing missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Jacobs tallied 758 yards after contact, the 14th-most in the NFL.
It reflects poorly on the offensive line. They put Jordan Love in too many tough positions, too, which included him taking a hit in the Week 16 loss to the Chicago Bears that forced him out of the game.
Rasheed Walker had an inconsistent year and struggled badly in the playoff loss, allowing six pressures and drawing two penalties. He departed in free agency. But the Packers have otherwise run it back.
Aaron Banks, whose overall PFF grade ranked 66th among 81 guards? He's back. The Packers passed on the opportunity to move on and instead doubled down by restructuring his contract, a move that almost guarantees him a roster spot for two more seasons.
Sean Rhyan, whose PFF pass-blocking grade ranked last among 40 centers? He's back and signed a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid centers in football.
The Packers drafted Jager Burton, who could push Rhyan for a starting job sooner rather than later, but that's the only significant incoming move.
Green Bay will rely on Jordan Morgan to finally live up to first-round expectations as the new starting left tackle. For Banks' play to drastically improve. For Rhyan to step up. And for Anthony Belton to show more consistency. Zach Tom is the only star along the starting five, and he's coming off a significant knee injury.
If the Packers need to make a change at tackle, Darian Kinnard is the only realistic option on the bench. At the interior spots, it's Burton, a fifth-round rookie, and... Travis Glover?!
The Packers finally made investments at cornerback. They upgraded the defensive line. But they are gambling along the offensive line, a unit that let them down big-time last season.
Hopefully, Brian Gutekunst's trust in the starting five doesn't prove to be overconfidence. That's the concern, and Bulaga hit the nail on the head.
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