While the Green Bay Packers did a good job of addressing key needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, you could also make the case that they didn't do enough to beef up the offensive line. Granted, they were working with a finite number of selections, so they couldn't fill every single roster void. That said, they did use a fifth-round pick to select center Jager Burton.
Burton won't single-handedly fix all the Packers' issues in the offensive trenches, but he could be part of the solution.
Already, the former Kentucky Wildcat is getting praise and is dubbed a potential sleeper. Heck, he's in a position to seize a starting role sooner rather than later.
The Packers have a sleeper in fifth-round pick Jager Burton
Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated drew up a list of five fifth-round picks who could turn out to be sleepers. He included Burton, arguing that his athleticism and experience could allow him to challenge incumbent Sean Ryan for the starting job at center.
"The Green Bay Packers value athleticism, experience, and versatility across the offensive line," Melo wrote. "That's precisely why they targeted Kentucky blocker Jager Burton in the fifth round at No. 153 overall. The seasoned interior lineman made 47 consecutive starts for the Wildcats."
"Burton was among the more athletic big boys at the NFL Combine, running a 4.94 at 312 pounds. Burton possesses guard-center flexibility (with 10-inch hands), but he best projects at center, where the Packers starter Sean Rhyan signed to a multi-year extension."
On top of being one of the most athletic centers of the 2026 class, Burton also possesses top-notch strength, having posted a bench press grade of 7.78 (28 reps). This is a long-winded way to say that he does have the tools to potentially flourish at 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
Earlier this year, Green Bay gave Rhyan a three-year deal worth $30 million. He fared well in relief of Elgton Jenkins last year. However, the former UCLA Bruin had never played center before 2025, so it will be interesting to see if he can hold the job on a full-time basis. It's also worth noting that he's mostly played right guard throughout his career, so there are already questions about whether the Packers overpaid him.
Rightly, Rhyan is now under pressure to deliver with Jenkins out of the picture. If he falters, the Packers could give Burton a chance at center.
But if Rhyan holds his ground, Burton could also push right guard Anthony Belton, arguably the weakest link on the offensive line. Either way, the Lexington, Kentucky native gives the Packers flexibility up front.
Regardless of what you think of the Packers' offseason strategy to fortify the offensive trenches, there's no doubt that Burton has the talent to earn a role at some point in his rookie season.
Granted, Burton will have to work his way up the depth chart, but that may not be that difficult a task when you take into account that the Green Bay offensive line is facing several questions.
The truth is that the Packers' offensive line as a whole could turn out to be an issue in 2026. The silver lining is that Burton could somewhat soften the blow if he can contribute as a rookie.
Add us as a preferred source on Google