Rasheed Walker comments on possibility of Packers drafting his replacement

The Green Bay Packers may not need to find an immediate starter at offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft, but upgrading the depth is a priority.

Last year's starters, Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, played admirably. According to ESPN, they finished No. 2 and No. 16 in pass block win rate among tackles, respectively.

Walker bounced back from an up-and-down start. Per PFF, he allowed six sacks and 36 pressures last season but only two sacks and 15 pressures in the final nine games (including two playoff contests). Tom only allowed two sacks all season, including zero in the final seven games.

Tom is almost guaranteed to start at right tackle moving forward after a Pro Bowl-level season (barring a move to center). However, despite Walker's strong finish to the year, there's less certainty about whether he will remain the starter in 2024. He is the clear frontrunner to win the job, but with the Packers needing to add multiple linemen in the draft, Walker may face competition.

Due to the Packers' lack of depth across the offensive line, they may consider using an early pick at tackle, especially if a top prospect like Duke's Graham Barton or Arizona's Jordan Morgan is available. Barton and Morgan played left tackle in college but could move inside at the NFL level. However, they would likely get an opportunity to prove themselves at the most important position along the line.

Rasheed Walker isn't concerned about Packers adding competition at left tackle

Walker isn't concerned about any potential competition the Packers could add in the draft.

"That's one thing about me, I'm always going to compete regardless of the odds against me or my side," Walker said, according to Mike Spofford of the Packers' website. "That's why I'm really not worried. Just come compete."

It's why the Packers may prefer to add a tackle who can move inside, giving them maximum versatility. A prospect like Barton could compete with Walker for the left tackle job, but Green Bay may prefer to move him inside. If Walker or Tom got hurt, Barton could cover at either tackle spot.

However, things will get interesting if they draft a tackle like Georgia's Amarius Mims or Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton in the first round. They are out-and-out tackles, and it's unlikely the Packers would spend premium draft capital on them with zero chance of winning a starting job.

It wouldn't be a bad problem to have. You can never have enough good offensive linemen, and if the Packers have competition for the starting tackle jobs, it will only help everyone improve.

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