The Green Bay Packers tend to invest heavily in their offensive line almost every year in the NFL Draft, but their 2026 rookie class only features one player from that unit in Kentucky fifth-rounder Jager Burton.
Despite his Day 3 draft status, Burton has been gassed up by Kentucky experts and draftniks alike as a possible steal. Burton came into his own in 2025 as the Wildcats' center. That said, he has legit versatility to play anywhere on the interior o-line and lots of college snaps under his belt at 2,551.
Not your typical wide-eyed NFL frosh, eh? If there's any sleeper from Green Bay's draft class who could climb the depth chart in a hurry, Burton feels like the prime candidate.
Jager Burton has the experience, physical tools, and lack of competition to ascend Packers depth chart in short order
I've mentioned before in this space that Sean Rhyan is overpaid and hasn't really settled on a position on the offensive line. Rhyan is a jack of all trades, master of none, and Green Bay's second-round pick from last year, Anthony Belton, is a college tackle to pro guard convert.
Among 77 qualifying guards in PFF's grades, Belton was 69th in pass protection and didn't fare much better as a run blocker (62nd out of 75). Not a high bar set there.
Burton's college snap counts at left guard (1,097), center (976) and right guard (477) give him plenty of reps to fill in wherever the Packers might need him.
Packers Wire's Mark Oldacres had this to say about Burton and what his future could look like:
"Overall, regardless of what happened before 2025, the tape from this season shows a potential starting center with rare movement skills, plus intelligence, solid technique and the ability to scrap and claw that is needed on the interior. He could easily have been drafted a round or two earlier and may prove to be a big hit for the Packers in the future.”
If I were Matt LaFleur, I'd stick Rhyan where he's had the most time on task in the NFL (right guard), plop Burton at center, and place Belton at left guard. Belton was a left tackle at NC State, so moving to his more familiar side of the line makes a lot of sense.
Only problem is, expensive veteran Aaron Banks is entrenched as the left guard. Thus, for Burton to ascend to a starting role, it'd take either the benching of a freshly paid incumbent in Rhyan, or the higher-drafted Belton.
And oh by the way, Burton has functional strength (evident in his bench press score and game film) and pure athleticism to burn, which suggest a quick adjustment to the NFL level.
Jager Burton is a OC prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.87 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 10 out of 684 OC from 1987 to 2026.
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 17, 2026
Combine splits still pending, but after pro day will have a full card.https://t.co/c8eNLCUiJA pic.twitter.com/E4v0vdHfCw
RD 5 | PK #153 - Packers: Jager Burton C, Kentucky
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 25, 2026
At 6-4, 312 pounds, Burton ran a 4.94 40 and posted a 9-3 broad jump at the Combine, then recorded a 4.52 short shuttle at his pro day. His 96 NGS athleticism score led all OL in this year’s class. pic.twitter.com/bgAU25xRpx
Much of Burton's outlook actually hinges on whether 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan can fill in at his natural left tackle position after bouncing around the line to begin his NFL career. If Morgan can't hack it at left tackle, he'd likely kick inside and push Burton down the depth chart.
As long as Morgan can uphold his end of the bargain, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Burton legitimately challenge for at least some decent playing time in 2026. If nothing else, he's quality depth who can fill in anywhere on the inside in a pinch.
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