#PackersDaily: Offensive line help will be hard to ignore at 25
Fans like to cite the team's track record of success when it comes to finding offensive line talent later in the draft but that doesn't mean the Packers will ignore premium talent if its available on Day 1.
By PackerAaron
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Comments (7)
SicSemperTyrannis
March 28, 2024 at 08:58 pm
I don't think Gutey has to use the first two picks on O line. I don't even think he needs to use his first pick there. He sure can't afford to take one as a flier, unless it's his fourth O lineman taken. They need three that are good. However Gutey does it, I'm fine with that.
No pressure ...
Turophile
March 29, 2024 at 09:36 am
I have just done a draft where I was able to get OT Fashanu at #25 and C/G/OT Barton at #41.
It isn't what I'd normally draft but I'd be fine with the Packers doing this. There would still be time to get a decent ILB, S, RB, before the end of day 2. Sure this means they didn't get a top CB, but you can never get everything you need, even with 5 picks in the top 100.
PhantomII
March 28, 2024 at 09:23 pm
I used to despise OL draft picks especially early. We got used to Bak, Lindsley and Bulaga. We currently have none that are that level. Jenkins has not been the same since the ACL. Hopefully he returns to form. The OL keeps us in the game passing and running the ball. We have not ran the ball well without TE's being used to cover the OL in quite a few years against good teams. That is our teams weakest link. No less than 3-OL with 1-Starting level OT and 2-IOL who can start day 1....That's what we need to get past the best in the NFC in the playoffs this year while we have so many playmakers on offense at WR and TE. This is our year....BTW I don't want to hear Gute say I like what we have, cause it's not good enough for a Trophy...GPG
Oppy
March 29, 2024 at 10:03 am
Well, you shouldn't want to hear Gutekunst say, "I don't like what we have", either, because that tips your hand to the league in terms of the draft, erodes potential leverage in trade scenarios with other teams (or gives other teams leverage in trade scenarios, depending on how you want to look at it), and also serves as a slap in the face to the players already on the roster.
When a GM says "I like what we have", it is almost never a proclamation that they believe there is no need to improve, it is almost always a statement made to keep their motives close to the vest and to prevent just handing negotiation leverage to your potential trade partners.
PhantomII
March 29, 2024 at 06:26 pm
I would agree, but Gute has proven otherwise in liking Dean Lowry so much in the past....Sometimes Gute is aiming too low with his idea of what will work....GPG....Sometimes we are too enamored with our draft picks and then we slow roll...So many players it makes me iLL.
Leatherhead
March 29, 2024 at 06:57 pm
During his tenure in Green Bay, Lowry was #2 to Clark. We drafted several other Dlinemen who couldn't supplant him. He didn't miss practices or games. It's not Lowry's fault that nobody was beating him out, or that teams are willing to pay him. For example, Pittsburgh is giving him $8.50M for two years, mostly all guaranteed. He should say "I'm not worth it"???
Gutekunst has cut bait with guys on their rookie deals. Moore, Sternberger, Amari Rodgers all quickly come to mind. I think the Packers believe in using that rookie year to develop the player instead of just throwing him into the fire right away.
Leatherhead
March 29, 2024 at 07:11 pm
We should assume that everything the GM says at this point is misdirection. He's not going to tip his hand and he shouldn't.
I'm seeing the draft as getting guys around Love for the next four years, because those should be the peak years of his career. Love showed me last year that if he's protected, he'll protect the ball and run the play. He completes a high percentage of his passes and he has a good group of receivers around him. If he's given time, we're going to score points.
And that's why I want to put some Premium Beef on that line for the next four years. We lost three offensive linemen last year and next year we'll lose a couple more. IMO, it should be an organizational goal to put the best possible Oline around Love that they can, and that can start now, where we can draft two guys that could be plus players.
The only defensive player that I'm seeing us as having a good chance of getting is Cooper DeJean. If he's there at #25, we might take him, or trade down with somebody who is desperate for him. We have a long tradition in Green Bay about taking defensive players in the first round, but there have been exceptions. The last offensive lineman we took in the first round was Bulaga.
More likely, it'll be a massive OT. I don't think we'll spend #25 on a versatile interior lineman. I do think a trade down is very possible. I think Day 2 is when we'll take two offensive linemen.