Supporting Jordan Love is an offseason priority.
The Green Bay Packers fixed their defense by hiring Jeff Hafley and adding playmakers like Xavier McKinney and Edgerrin Cooper. That unit still has work to do, but the Packers' focus must shift to identifying and fixing issues on offense.
Love is the face of the franchise, and the Packers need him at his best to help this team reach its potential.
Upgrading the wide receiver corps is one way Green Bay could support its young quarterback. Another pressing concern is the offensive line play. Good, but not great. We've heard that a lot regarding the Packers' performances this season — they won a lot of games but couldn't beat the elite teams.
It's also a perfect way to evaluate the offensive line play. The Packers have a rock-solid starting right tackle in Zach Tom, while Rasheed Walker is a steady starter on the other side. Elgton Jenkins still provides Pro Bowl-level play at left guard.
However, Josh Myers' inconsistency remains an issue, and he hits free agency in the spring. Sean Rhyan was fine at right guard, while first-round pick Jordan Morgan couldn't break into the starting lineup when healthy.
Myers could depart in free agency, and the Packers must look for an upgrade at center or guard this offseason. Fortunately, the perfect replacement could await them early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Packers should target North Dakota State's Grey Zabel after a dominant week at the Senior Bowl
Remember the name Grey Zabel. Several potential Packers targets stepped up at the Senior Bowl, but none more than the North Dakota State offensive lineman.
Zabel produced several highlight-reel moments in Mobile, Alabama, including this one.
Grey Zabel. OL from North Dakota St absolutely crushed the first practice here in Mobile. Get to know him because he’s only going to rise from here. pic.twitter.com/aYvCPOUQaC
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) January 28, 2025
The Packers love versatility from their offensive linemen.
Elgton Jenkins played tackle, guard, and center in college and has done the same in Green Bay. Jordan Morgan played left tackle at Arizona State before moving to guard in his rookie season. Sean Rhyan? He played left tackle at UCLA and moved inside in the NFL. Zach Tom can play all five positions. Rasheed Walker can play at both tackle spots.
The list goes on.
Zabel can do the same. He played primarily at the two tackle positions in college but also took snaps at all three interior spots. He will likely move inside at the pro level, where the North Dakota State product lined up at the Senior Bowl.
The early signs? Yeah, Zabel is going to be a star.
"From start-to-finish, Grey Zabel dominated the week. He was outstanding in 1-on-1s at both guard spots and center," writes ESPN's Field Yates. "His hands and feet were always in sync and he finished with an edge. Leaving this week, Zabel felt like a guy who will hear his name called late in Round 1."
Zabel will likely play at an interior position in the NFL, and he could become a Pro Bowl center in Green Bay.
The Packers consistently lost in the trenches against the NFC's elite teams, making it an offseason priority to add an interior lineman this offseason. Zabel would help open up the run game for Josh Jacobs while providing Love all the time he needs. According to Pro Football Focus, Zabel played 453 pass-block snaps in 2024, allowing just one sack and two quarterback hits.
Zabel increased his draft stock at the Senior Bowl, and the Packers should consider selecting him on Day 1.