By all appearances, the Green Bay Packers' offensive line is set for next season. Jordan Morgan will replace Rasheed Walker at left tackle. Sean Rhyan will slide in at center for Elgton Jenkins. Zach Tom and Aaron Banks are the resident veterans. Anthony Belton is penciled in as the starting right guard.
While that group could actually improve over last year's, Belton is a serious question mark and the obvious weak link after struggling mightily as a rookie. Elsewhere, in a classic case of addition by subtraction, the Packers should benefit from "losing" Jenkins and Walker. Having Tom and Banks healthy would make an enormous difference.
Moreover, Morgan and Rhyan showed signs of progress at their new positions, a trend that should continue in 2026. Forced into a starting role due to injuries, however, Belton did not show that same growth. He was only a rookie, but still, that's not a great sign.
The Packers' offseason approach suggests they aren't concerned. Despite depth being an issue along the O-line, they did not make an addition on the front lines, unless you count re-signing Rhyan.
Effectively, general manager Brian Gukekunst has committed to the projected starters already in place, a stance that sends an especially loud message about his belief in Belton.
Packers are seemingly all-in on Anthony Belton in year two
Let's face it, Belton was a rough watch as a rookie. He graded out among the worst guards in the league, ranking 71st out of 81 per Pro Football Focus, and struggled in both run and pass blocking. Those grades aren't everything, but in Belton's case, they mostly match the eye test.
In declining to add veteran depth during the initial wave of signings, the Packers have effectively established their trust in Belton as a starter. Remaining free agents are either cheap for a reason or expensive enough to interfere with the team's compensatory pick calculus. Gutekunst is in a bind.
Earlier in the free agency cycle, signing Browns guard Teven Jenkins could have made sense. Instead, Cleveland re-signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. That's a bargain for a guy who, as a reserve and some-time starter, graded out as one of the NFL's best run blockers.
A guy like Jenkins could come in and start if Belton did not prove up to snuff in training camp. As a backup, he would provide depth if Belton's rookie struggles resurfaced, or in case of injury across the offensive line. Spending $4-5 million for flexibility and insurance on the O-line would have been a reasonable investment.
Clearly, however, the Packers believe Belton is up to the task. To address their depth needs, perhaps they will look to the draft or the free-agency free bin - players who will make $1-2 million and likely wouldn't be an upgrade over last year's Belton, anyway.
Gutekunst has already invested in the NC State product, drafting him 54th overall last season. That context makes his faith in Belton a bit more understandable, but the Packers have left themselves without a passable Plan B if he fails to make major strides.
Hopefully, the vote of confidence is due more to tangible promise than an organizational blind spot or the front office doubling down on its draft ego. We'll see how it all works out.