The Green Bay Packers could be putting one of their starting offensive linemen on thin ice before we even get to the 2025 NFL Draft. Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker is one of a pair of players on the offensive line (Zach Tom) entering a contract year in 2025, and the Packers may already be planning on moving on from him.
According to head coach Matt LaFleur, Walker is set to compete with 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan for his starting left tackle position in 2025, a job that was his without contest in 2024. Even with the talented first-round pick Morgan coming in after starting at left tackle for Arizona, the Packers quickly moved him to the guard position due to his sub-33-inch arm length.
It appears as though they are going to give the former first-rounder a chance to play his college position after all.
Jordan Morgan competing with Rasheed Walker for Packers starting LT job?
Also, Matt LaFleur said Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan will compete to be the Packers' starting left tackle.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) April 1, 2025
As disappointing as it would be to see the Packers move on from Rasheed Walker, a player who developed so well as a former 7th-round draft pick, any positive news regarding Jordan Morgan is welcomed at this point.
Morgan played in just six games last year as a first-round pick with less than 200 snaps. The Packers will continue to give Morgan reps at multiple spots because they obviously believe in his ability to be an effective starter at multiple spots, but they are going to give themselves every bit of leverage when it comes to guys hitting contract years as well.
Especially when it comes to paying a premium for the left tackle position, the Packers don't want to handcuff themselves to a long-term deal with a lot of guaranteed money for a player they maybe don't believe is the best possible solution at that position.
Even if his arm length isn't ideal, Jordan Morgan is going to get a crack at that starting left tackle job and the Packers will undoubtedly want to see him take a leap in his second season, regardless of what position he's playing. Morgan will continue to work some at guard as well where he developed behind the scenes as a rookie, but this decision might ultimately come down to the Packers only wanting/being able to pay one of Walker or Zach Tom.
And if it's Walker getting competition from Morgan, then Tom seems to be the player being prioritized.
Some have theorized that Walker could be a sneaky trade candidate for the Packers this offseason, and if they end up going with Jordan Morgan at left tackle, that would be firmly on the table. Does this competition wipe offensive line off the board for the Packers early in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Not necessarily. We know the Packers will always be looking for cost-effective options in the trenches and certainly there will be players in this class with guard/tackle versatility, similar to Jordan Morgan last year. They could pair someone like Morgan with a player like Texas prospect Kelvin Banks if he falls to their pick in round one and assemble the best five up front the way they see fit.
As solid as Walker has been for Green Bay, especially grading on a curve for a former 7th-round pick, his days could be numbered.