After the Green Bay Packers let center Josh Myers walk away in free agency, they signed veteran left guard Aaron Banks, the consensus number-one guard on the market.
Adding a talented left guard while letting your starting center leave may be puzzling to many, but due to the Packers' versatility on the offensive line, they will shuffle things around.
Head coach Matt LaFleur stresses the importance of selecting the best five offensive linemen on the team and making sure they are all out there, no matter their natural position.
With some questions about the starting five arising after Myers' departure and Banks' arrival, here is how LaFleur should have his starters line up.
Projecting Packers' best starting offensive line (and it might surprise you)
Left tackle: Rasheed Walker
Just as in 2024, Rasheed Walker should start at left tackle. As a former seventh-round pick, it took Walker time to adapt to the NFL, struggling early in 2023 when he initially replaced David Bakhtiari. Since then, Walker has elevated his game to another level and has been a force to be reckoned with on the offensive line.
With over 1,000 snaps played at left tackle in 2024, PFF gave Walker a 79.6 pass-blocking grade, ranking 21st among all tackles (left and right) in the NFL. Walker did allow three sacks on the year and struggled with penalties at times, with nine, but he remained a solid piece of the offensive line. At just 25 years old, there is no reason why Walker should not continue developing while being Green Bay's starting left tackle for the near future.
Left guard: Aaron Banks
The Packers handed Banks a four-year, $77 million contract to play his best position. Banks is a talented run-blocker and an above-average pass-blocker, giving up just one sack in 2024. His arrival helps Josh Jacobs. Given Adam Stenavich's track record of developing offensive linemen, Banks could be in for his best season yet in 2025.
Adding a left guard of Banks' caliber may perplex some fans, considering the strength of star lineman Elgton Jenkins, whose natural position is also left guard. Given Jenkins' versatility, he will likely move elsewhere on the offensive line, while the less versatile lineman in Banks takes his natural left guard position. Jenkins has experience with the Packers as a guard, tackle, and center, so it will be interesting to see what they have in store for the Pro Bowler.
Center: Zach Tom
This may come as a surprise to some, but Zach Tom becoming Green Bay's center makes sense.
Many may think it is more natural to keep Tom at right tackle and move Jenkins over to center. However, last offseason, ESPN's Rob Demovsky stated that members of the Packers organization told him they think Zach Tom is a "Pro Bowl right tackle, an All-Pro guard, and a potential Hall-of-Fame center." If there is truth to this report, there is no better time than now for Tom to take over at center.
It is also important to note Tom's irregular size for a typical right tackle at the NFL level. Many have argued in the past that Tom is more built for the interior. Houston Texans pass-rusher Will Anderson recently praised Tom for being one of the best tackles he has gone up against despite his size, stating that he has fast hands and is quick off the ball.
Yes, Tom is clearly an excellent right tackle, but perhaps his quickness with both his hands and feet can be used more effectively at center.
Right guard: Jordan Morgan
It is still unclear what the future holds for Jordan Morgan entering his second season. Despite injuries limiting him as a rookie, the Packers' playoff loss proves why he is a valuable addition. Backup lineman Travis Glover had to come in the game in place of the injured Elgton Jenkins just to get dismantled by the Eagles' remarkable defensive line. Yes, Morgan was shut down for the year with an injury prior to this game, but having a sixth quality lineman available when needed has shown that it can be crucial down the stretch of a postseason run.
Morgan was impressive at Arizona in college, playing at left tackle. After what sounded like an up-and-down training camp in his rookie season in Green Bay, the Packers moved him around the offensive line. Throughout the season, Morgan was often in rotation at right guard with lineman Sean Rhyan.
Rhyan was by no means terrible in 2024, but there is certainly room for improvement. According to PFF, he allowed four sacks and had six penalties.
As a sophomore first-round draft choice, Morgan offers more promise and upside than Rhyan. After seeing practically none of Morgan as a rookie, it is time to see what the Packers have with their 2024 first-rounder.
Right tackle: Elgton Jenkins
Rather than having Jenkins at center, throwing the potential "Hall-of-Fame" Zach Tom there while using Jenkins' versatility at right tackle is the most beneficial use of the Packers' offensive line.
Jenkins has prior experience playing at right tackle for Green Bay, where he performed well. The Pro Bowler gave up one sack last year but struggled with 10 penalties throughout the season. Jenkins may be less prone to penalties at the tackle position, given his great ability to win one-on-one matchups against opponents.
As Jenkins has played snaps at all five positions on the offensive line, he will truly play at a high level wherever the Packers place him. They may prefer not to move both players out of their positions, but this switch could help the offensive line reach an even higher level in 2025.