The Green Bay Packers have some glaring holes on the offensive line, and not the kind Josh Jacobs would like to run through. Center Elgton Jenkins will likely be released (or traded?). Tackle Rasheed Walker is expected to depart in free agency. That leaves Aaron Banks at left guard, Zach Tom at right tackle, and a whole lot of question marks after that.
Accordingly, the offensive line should be a priority in the draft. The Packers don't have a first-round pick, so they will have to be creative, but there is still talent to be had in later rounds.
One source of talent they can't afford to ignore is the O-line machine that is the Iowa football program. In the 2026 NFL Draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst should have his eye on not one but two recent Hawkeyes, in the form of tackle Gennings Dunker and center Logan Jones. They're not first-rounders, but they could become cogs in Green Bay's future core.
The Packers drafting Gennings Dunker at No. 52 could be a slam dunk for versatility
For all intents and purposes, drafting Dunker would mean spending the Packers' first pick, the 52nd overall, to get him. He lands right around there on consensus big boards; certainly his wild orange locks caught the attention of viewers during the NFL Scouting Combine. The strength and toughness packed into his 6-foot-5, 315-pound frame make Dunker a force in run blocking, especially.
There are concerns about his positional fit at tackle. He isn't as shifty or athletic as teams would like, causing some scouts to wonder whether he makes more sense at guard. For the Packers, this is not as problematic as it could be. They already have Jordan Morgan, who can play both positions and, barring an external replacement for Walker, could fill his shoes as Green Bay's starting left tackle. That might not be ideal, but it's an option.
On the other hand, if Dunker proves capable of filling in at tackle, that would make Morgan available to step in at guard for sophomore Anthony Belton. While Belton held his own as a rookie, he wasn't starting-caliber. Maybe he takes a leap in 2026, or maybe not.
What Dunker would bring, aside from his massive size and strength, is flexibility. His Pro Football Focus grade of 80.6 ranked 18th among tackles last season, making him a high-level offensive line prospect regardless of position.
Logan Jones' draft stock continues rising thanks to overall athleticism
Jones won't require elite skill in games, but his 4.90 40-time at the combine, best among offensive linemen, had scouts' heads swiveling. He is projected to fall somewhere in the fourth round (could he be available for Green Bay at No. 116 overall?), but ESPN's Jordan Reid believes Jones will be off the board in the top 100 after witnessing the combine.
The one thing that could hold Jones back in the pros is his lack of length. In theory, short arms could interfere with his ability to keep NFL pass-rushers at bay. It didn't at Iowa, at least, as PFF awarded him the top pass-blocking grade, 90.2, at his position. Jones' overall PFF score of 79.0 ranked ninth, a top-three percent grade in the nation.
Would Gutekunst use two of his first three picks on the offensive line? The Packers still need to address the cornerback room, as well as a thin depth chart on the edge and possibly at linebacker. Maybe he wouldn't, in which case another Iowa offensive lineman, guard Beau Stephens, could be on his radar.Â
In any case, it would be hard to fault him for going with at least one of Dunker and Jones, the latter of whom is expected to compete for a starting job early on. With a Jenkins-sized hole at center, Green Bay should be searching for immediate answers.