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No Love Without Protection: Packers OL Breakdown
2 Playsin 1 hour
The Packers’ success starts in the trenches — and this week we’re diving deep into the Green Bay offensive line.
In this episode of the Ohana Packers Edition Podcast, we break down the current state of the Packers OL, including the strengths, the question marks, and the players who could make or break the season.
We discuss:
- Jordan Love’s protection and pocket comfort
- The future of the tackle positions
- Interior line depth and competition
- Potential draft targets and offseason upgrades
- What the Packers must do to build a dominant wall in front of the franchise QB
If the Packers are going to contend, it starts up front — and we’re talking all things trenches.
Go Pack Go 🧀
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Transcript
Intro
Introduction of Guest and Topic
00:00:56
Speaker
Hi, aloha and welcome back to another episode of the Ohana Packers Edition podcast. Today we continue our pre-draft, 2026 pre-draft, pre-positional preview pods with the O-line and today we have Brian Mafion. Brian, thank you for joining us again for our annual go-around. Unfortunately, we've got you're not corners this year, you're doing O-line, but a position of flux for the Packers this season. Thanks for coming on the show again.
00:01:25
Speaker
Yeah, course. You had a lot of get a lot of peas there had to say a minute ago. lot of pe too many peepees. So we'll go through our usual format for
Packers' O-line Performance Issues
00:01:37
Speaker
this one. So review, the Packers O-line, which was looked at as...
00:01:43
Speaker
probably should have been a position of strength or what was hoped to be a position of strength ended up being a massive disappointment. You know, some people say massive is over putting it, but I think honestly with how much they invested in the group, you know, the, the both in terms of draft capital and money spent in the 2025 offseason.
00:02:05
Speaker
It was pretty big letdown, you know, partly due to injuries, partly due to poor performance. You can the the list goes on. and honestly, i believe it was one of the things that sank the Packers in the playoff game. But.
00:02:19
Speaker
You know, it's time to refresh.
Future of Packers' O-line
00:02:22
Speaker
There's going to be at least two new faces in the starting group, possibly three, depending on when Zach Tom is going to be back to open the 2026 season. You know, it's a little iffy on if he'll be ready for week one following the confirmation that he had a patellar tendon injury, a terror that needed surgery in the offseason. So right off the bat, you know,
00:02:46
Speaker
Almost certainly, but i would be absolutely gobstopped if he is back. But I believe that Rashid Walker will be out the door as a free agent. Please go get us that.
00:02:59
Speaker
third round comp pick. that is your That is your penance for absolutely wetting the bed in the second half of the playoff game against the Bears. And Huber just posted a story, on believe it was on Monday, so Monday the 23rd, or maybe a couple days before that, that the expectation is that Elton Jenkins' time as a Packer is done.
00:03:21
Speaker
And, you know, we can, this isn't going to be the episode, but, you know, So many people are going to beat the dead horse of should he, you know, should good have just left him at left guard, signed Dolman or another center, all that kind of stuff.
00:03:36
Speaker
Who knows? i do think right or wrong, they wanted to get younger at the guard spot. And, you know, we can debate on and on if Banks is the right guy for that, but yeah,
00:03:50
Speaker
If the intent was to get younger on the interior, they are absolutely going to be younger on the interior because you have Banks, you have Belton, who is not that much younger than Banks, but still both younger than Jenkins. And you will have...
00:04:04
Speaker
whether it is Sean Ryan on a short-term second contract, whether it is Monk getting his chance to, you know, whether organically or but by default getting his opportunity to start at center or a draft pick, you will have a new center next season.
Impact of Injuries on O-line
00:04:23
Speaker
And like I said, the big question mark and really what is going to drive, I think, how important this position is, is How healthy is Zach Tom? Will he be Zach Tom when he comes back? Because correct me if I'm wrong, but patellar tendon injuries are one where...
00:04:39
Speaker
it's not a great success rate coming off that surgery for for bigger guys, for linemen especially. And I know that the Packers, my wife's Chargers, there's a lot of bated breath on how, you know, their top really their top offensive lineman on each roster is going to come back from a teller tendon issue. And for Packers fans, I do...
00:05:02
Speaker
recommend you keep an eye on how Rashawn Slater looks because that, you know, I don't remember which knee his is in, but he suffered the same. i think his is his left knee, but he's coming off patellar surgery.
00:05:14
Speaker
So, you know, no two injuries are the same. No two players are the same. But in terms of two guys who use who leverage their athleticism to elevate the rest of their game.
00:05:24
Speaker
i do think it's a good one to keep an eye on to see, you know, how Slater comes back from his surgery. And, you know, because he tore his at the end of preseason, whereas,
00:05:35
Speaker
you know Tom tore his, what is that, week 14, 15, whatever the hell it was. So you know the new 17 game slate is throwing my off my counting. and but you know So you know a Slater obviously has a much longer runway to get back for week one than Tom will, but it is a good barometer nonetheless.
O-line Depth and Draft Strategy
00:05:54
Speaker
But all that table setting aside, Brian, how big of a need do you see O-line being for the Packers heading into this draft?
00:06:05
Speaker
it's always a big need. I mean, it's, they they haven't really addressed it too much recently other than you know, like Belton last year, of course, and it's not like that. And, you of course, it's it's the NFL. It's always going to be a need. You know, there's never enough good O-line. olline is never enough good you know, tackles, guards, you know, depth. Every team is always looking for, you know, at least the very least more depth and stuff. So yeah it's going to every draft. it's it's It's a need every year, basically, one one way or another.
00:06:38
Speaker
Yeah. And what makes this one really interesting is like, like I said, I know a lot of people will kind of twitch their eye, like, but they've just drafted Morgan. They just drafted Belton. Well, Belton's playing guard.
00:06:51
Speaker
more It was promising for Morgan in the preseason. And I know a lot of people ragged on him for how he played down the stretch at right tackle. But again, I say, I've never been a big fan of the Morgan pick. You and I were both Guyton guys back in 2024.
00:07:07
Speaker
And at the same time, I do have to back Morgan a little bit in how he played at right tackle down the stretch this season. Because it's like, that's... He is a... Basically, for him in the NFL, he's got to either hack it at left tackle or he's got to learn how to play center. Like, that's the the... His frame, his arm length, that's basically what it's going to be for his play style.
00:07:31
Speaker
He's got to be a left tackle or he's going to have to figure out how to play center. I do have to give him credit for he's out of position at right tackle. It's a position that he's not built for. He's never played before.
00:07:43
Speaker
Everyone puts the microscope on the play that got Malik Willis injured at the end of the the first this the first Chicago Bears game. But it's like...
00:07:53
Speaker
He was always going to have problems with guys like Sweat. And there's always going to be the chance where if he's not on time, on target with his technique and hand punch, he's going to get embarrassed by guys like that. And unfortunately, it happened kind of thing. But otherwise, I'm like, hey, the effort level was that high. Compete was high. And I honestly, like i was tweeting it the whole from the first play of the second half of the playoff game.
00:08:23
Speaker
Walker was so bad. LeFleur calls a shot play out of halftime, and Love can't even get to the check down because Walker can't read a cornerback cat blitz.
00:08:35
Speaker
And he like biffs it so bad. And then the whole second half, he's just just a disaster out there. And I was like, you're at the point where, and I hate doing musical chairs during a game, but i was like, Walker was so bad that you
Need for a Swing Tackle
00:08:49
Speaker
had to do it. Like you just had to do it. and And so I'm ready to see what happens.
00:08:57
Speaker
But suffice it to say, even without the Tom injury, they needed a swing tackle anyway. Because as of this point, it's Brent Banks, Dalton Cooper, and... Kennard.
00:09:11
Speaker
Yeah. Well, Kennard's a free agent, yeah, so... Well, yeah, but he's restricted, so... But yeah, yeah. Do you think they put... what which Do you think they put the... I guess the same round tender on him, right? Even though he was a like What do you think they do with him on that one?
00:09:29
Speaker
Oh, yeah, they're going to keep him for sure. they Yeah, yeah, yeah. you know even though like he's not great, you know, and he's, he's not a starter. You don't, you don't let like decent offensive lineman walk away. So yeah. yeah so okay could play And especially with like the, I know this is going into a little bit of a different position, but would like Tucker a little uncertain and you did have success with that six old lineman look late down the season.
00:09:53
Speaker
Yeah. I, it would behoove them to bring back Kennard in that regard, but How do you feel like, so I know that we're doing O-line, but within this position group, there are really like you know three mini three subgroups within this position room.
00:10:11
Speaker
How do you rate where, how hot is each subgroup for you in terms of need for the Packers? uh well i mean obviously center uh but that's kind of more depending on like what are they going to do in the are they going to bring back sean ryan are they going to a free agent you know uh are they going to move somebody over are they going to move oh well chance of a happening basically zero but are they going to say for example move zach tom over like you know it's so it depends on what their plan is what they want to do
00:10:43
Speaker
If everything's relatively same, of course, though'll they they need a starter. So, I mean, that's that. It's need number one, basically, at center. After that, of course, would be tackle because you need at least you need a swing tackle that's more important than anything else.
Center and Tackle Depth Analysis
00:11:01
Speaker
Especially how the Packers cross-training their guys, your swing tackle is... probably going to be your first guy off the bench regardless. So, i mean, going to want like a swinging tackle who could chip in a guard too as well, at least, preferably.
00:11:15
Speaker
So, yeah I would say like center, of course, is number one need. the course Of course, like I said, depending what they do, if they sign in free agent or if they move somebody over or something like that. And then after that, we tackle.
00:11:29
Speaker
And then they just need some they just need some depth of guard as well because there's... there's not There's not much that's that much there on the roster as far as guard after the starters. Yeah, and I do think Banks was a lot better after he got healthy. You know, like he was dragged down by like the the perception of what his contract was versus the player he was prior to Green Bay and stuff. And it didn't help that he was dealing like four injuries by the time week three came around and stuff. But I did think his play came up after as he got healthy as the season went along.
00:12:00
Speaker
And the advanced stats don't like Belton, but... They did get movement created on the interior once he was inserted into the starting lineup.
00:12:10
Speaker
And it's one of those where it's like, you You can have the stats and stuff, but I feel like interior O-line play, it's such it's such a collective item that, you know, whereas with tackle, it's like you can you can isolate more easily, like, how a left tackle or a right tackle is playing. Like, it's very easy to say, like, Zach Tom is an elite player when he's at his best kind of thing, and Bakhtiari was an elite, elite player when he was at his best.
00:12:37
Speaker
With interior play, there's so much exchanging, handing off assignments, things like that, that it's like how much of it is – and the grading systems, some of them are getting better. PFF is not. But they still haven't – it's hard to identify, like, how much of a stunter is getting through to the quarterback is one guy's fault as opposed to and not the second guy's fault because it's like did the first guy – handoff too soon did this the the second guy pick him up quick enough did you know like who it's the whole like who who hung who out to dry kind of thing and stuff so yeah it's really hard to identify that but you're right like you just pop open what the packers depth chart looks like and it's it's the how much do you believe in john williams and
00:13:30
Speaker
Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings. Like, so i agree. But as far as, you know, like hot pressing items, I do think that the swing tackle and then, like you said, what are they going to do with center?
00:13:48
Speaker
You know, do they sign someone in free agency? Do they draft someone high? And it's a little hard to tell what center because like, you know, what's it?
00:13:59
Speaker
Linsley was a fifth round pick. And I know he wasn't expected to start as as a rookie, but you can get if the if you've got the guy with it with who's got it between the ears, they can come in and play center well as a rookie. like it's yeah Because you can help, because you can get a lot of help from the guards, from from backs and blitz pickup and things like that, you can succeed with a rookie center.
00:14:27
Speaker
It's the tackle spot where i don't know. you know this this This draft has been described by a lot as a There's a lot of talent if you're willing to look, but that like those guys who are ready to like contribute right away, they're a little far
Potential Draft Picks for O-line
00:14:45
Speaker
and few between. And especially with no first round pick, it's a little tough for the Packers this year, but at 52, who are the guys that entice you as realistic options for the Packers?
00:14:58
Speaker
Uh, nobody. Uh, no, just kidding. Oops. I was trying to pull my board. Oops.
00:15:12
Speaker
Sorry. Well, anyway. So, yeah. So, I mean, it's hard to say. i don't know about there being a center's worth 52. fifty two Obviously, Connor Liu kind of singing as like the top guy, but he's coming off the ACL tear, of course.
00:15:31
Speaker
I don't see the Packers... Going to season with a rookie starting center who's coming off an ACL tear who's, you know, he may miss the first few weeks or whatever the season. mean, he tore his ACL like week eight, I think it was. So, I mean, he's had some time, but it just, I don't think, like I said, I don't think they're going to season with a rookie coming off an ACL tear who's going to miss the first weeks. It kind doesn't, they're going want somebody going in there can hit the ground running, so to speak, if they do drop someone high. So, yeah.
00:16:04
Speaker
I don't think they would take Lou. And then I don't think, I don't really think there's anybody else worth the pick at 52. So I think, i don't, i don't think they'll take off as a lineman that early.
00:16:16
Speaker
Unless like a tackle drops them and then they want to move to center or something like that. It doesn't seem like they want to do that. I mean, they're going to want him to so prove he can't play tackle before they move him back. It it it really does feel like it.
00:16:31
Speaker
Yeah, and I mean, like since they drafted him, I've been a Tom should be playing center guy anyway, but obviously Goody's had all his time and LeFleur and they've had they've never moved him over. They even said, no, we're not moving him to tackle. They're moving him to a gut center. he's He's attacker. He's our target tackler or whatever. So, I mean, you know, there's that. So we know that's not happening. So, yeah, they're kind of basically stuck there.
00:16:56
Speaker
So, I mean, could they take a tackle at 52? I don't think so either I mean there could there be a guy worth a pick there possibly like if say like a Blake Miller from Clemson fell there would be I would be okay them taking him there
00:17:13
Speaker
you know, or if you magically fell there, I mean, would he be worth it? Yeah, i don't know if he'll be there either, though, because tackles always get that extra, what do you call boost to their stock, because if they're ta if you're tackling, you go play in your athletic, you go usually like, you know, half round earlier than you should have gone, or or your grade is, or an hour ground earlier, or whatever, and there's always a run of tackles and stuff, so Especially in a yeah in a draft class that's kind of lacking at the other premier spots. Like, this is a weird corner draft. This is a weird receiver draft kind of thing. So it's like...
00:17:49
Speaker
You're right. Like tackle is always no matter what, everyone needs tackles. And so that's a position that gets sort of artificially elevated throughout the process because it's like, oh, like, I don't know about this corner or that receiver or this edge rusher. But, you know, we'll just take this off offensive lineman. We'll see if we can make it work within our system kind of thing.
00:18:11
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, yeah, I just, just cause like I said and earlier, there's, there's just always a need for, good offensive linemen in the NFL. So, you know, and and especially recently the offensive line classes in general haven't, I mean, last year's was pretty good, but like in general, just they haven't been great, like the tackles and so to speak. So, yeah, like I said i that would be the only offensive linemen I would think that would they would draft. Um, draft.
00:18:35
Speaker
on date, second round, sorry. So I think 52, it's just like I said, it's, it's yeah, just look at my boards. it's It's pretty unlikely they take an off the line at 52 unless, like I said, unless somebody falls to them, something weird happens or whatever, or they have some like plan that like us as fans, we don't know that they're going to move somebody here, move somebody there, do something like that, or make some sort of trade or something like trade somebody away or something weird like that.
00:19:02
Speaker
or trade up in the draft or something like that, but i even then I don't think that's going happen either. So I think likeliest, we're looking at like third round or the earliest for any sort of offensive line pick.
Day Two Draft Center Prospects
00:19:14
Speaker
And leading us there, who are who would you have your eye on or who are you hoping weighs in a little funky or doesn't run super well that will last a little longer into that third round window?
00:19:26
Speaker
Uh, as far as that, probably nobody, uh, as far as like, you know, that's cause the, you know, the 45 alignment is not really important. especially when it comes to green Bay, of course they, you know, they're not going somebody runs off like a five, five 40, but, you know, of course we've talked about it before the Packers, they like agility and stuff like that, the jelly drills. And then, you know, decent explosive drills, of course, and stuff like that.
00:19:50
Speaker
so, I mean, but still, you're looking, if you're like talking about day two guys, You're talking like there's looking for a starting center. A guy that can be looking at is Matt Goldman from Michigan State. Probably of better centers. He's probably more of a What's the word? We're kind of more of like a Ted Thompson center. he's not He's not huge. He's like just under 316. A little bigger, but not humongous. But like just that athletic mover guy, you know, not humongous.
00:20:20
Speaker
Again, like I said, a tiny bit bigger, but like not... you know is He has 316. He was verified 316. you know Arms are 32 and a quarter inch arms, so kind of average-ish center arm length.
00:20:32
Speaker
But he's he's a pretty good center, and he has experience at guard, too. i played at Wake Forest, too, course, before at Michigan State. so And I like to spend a lot, too, winning especially a lot better at center at guard. So, again, like i said, that's that's a guy that hasn't been getting much talk as far as what comes to Packers and drafting a center.
00:20:52
Speaker
you know, other kind players in a lot talk like Brian Parker and stuff like that. know, from Duke whose tackle is going to move to and inside the center who, uh, it's not as good as, the last Duke tackle that, that was predicted center.
00:21:07
Speaker
not going to as high, not as physically talented, not as strong, stuff like that, but, still another guy to keep an eye on. so, but if you look in day two, like I said, yeah, probably Goldman,
00:21:17
Speaker
Uh, maybe Brian Parker again, like I said, Brian Parker, second from Duke. not much else as far as centers that i think that were day two picks, that would fit with the Packers.
00:21:30
Speaker
Uh, I know some people talked about like, Parker's Brailsford, but his weight, he's probably way too small for them. He's going to be, mean, he was listed at 6'2", 290, but he's probably going come out to be like 6'1", 280 or something like that. 285 is way too small for Green Bay.
00:21:51
Speaker
Of course, I already mentioned Lou, probably not going to be a Packer just because the injury and stuff like that. They're going to right away. but yeah, as far as day two guys, that's mostly it. Most of the, it's a deep get center class, but it's not strong at the top. So I feel like you're going see most of them go on day three or late day two.
00:22:10
Speaker
So it's basically, So if you're talking about like third round, you're looking at Goulburn, Parker the second. I think the rest of the centers, you're going to see like, yeah, like it day three. Yeah,
00:22:25
Speaker
yeah so day three, like those type of guys, you know, and but then if you're looking for like a tackle for like a swing tackle, third round, a guy i like who hasn't got much press that,
00:22:37
Speaker
I think should have we'll have a good combine and we'll start probably getting talked about more you know through the week and through the office season and stuff like that. Corey Robbins II from Arkansas State, he was their left to tackle. He transferred over for Georgia Tech. So he went from like you knows a team that basically never passed the ball, was like lot of RPO, to another team that kind of kind of ran somewhat similar offense. but Excuse me. There was a more of a true NFL style passing game, at at least at Arkansas. So he's a pretty good player.
00:23:08
Speaker
Like I said I think he just playing Arkansas and they had a bad year. So he he's basically got no talk. You know, he's he's kind of like an old school Packers tackle, just under six, five, 300 pounds, but he has 34 inch arms. He should test pretty well athletically. Yeah.
00:23:25
Speaker
not a freak, but should tell us pretty well, theoretically. And he could probably play some tackle. could probably do some guard, too, as well. He's not super powerful, super strong, but he's really a really good pass blocker. He's a decent positional type blocker as far as a run blocker. So,
00:23:42
Speaker
you know, if the thing is true as far as the Packers want to go bigger, he's probably not, might not be their type, per se, because he is barely 300 pounds. But, you know, that's that's at least the the The theory of them wanting to go bigger is still just kind of a theory right now just because you know the only bigger guy that drafted recently that was a bigger guy is is Belton. So it's kind of like a just a theory right now. But another tackle they could take on day two, Jude Bowery from Boston College.
00:24:10
Speaker
Again, another little bit bigger guy, just under 6'5", 315. no Not particularly at super athletic, but he's athletic enough. 34-inch arms, of course. Could play some that tackle the next level.
00:24:23
Speaker
uh probably gonna be more of a right tackle but could probably fill in like swing tackle type of stuff jc davis another type of player that they could dig a draft he's gotten talk about playing guard as well or probably having to move inside to play guard uh but he played pretty well at the practices at least the senior role stuff that you know he And he had a better year, especially towards the end of this year versus 2024 and earlier in the year. So, again, another guy who could play tackle, could play play some guard, too.
00:24:59
Speaker
He has a lot of experience, too. was six-year senior, so he's a bigger tackle, but has the length again another guy with uh 34 inch over 34 inch arms so he's got the length as well that the packers like but as far as day two guys that's i mean uh it's probably about it uh i don't think they draft a guard on day two unless unless they move on from banks but i don't see that happening so i think you're looking for day three for any sort of guards that they draft
00:25:33
Speaker
Yeah, and like I see people throw around the like move on from Banks. We've already pointed out, you're definitely replacing two starting O-linemen. You don't know the status of Tom, so that's potentially three.
00:25:45
Speaker
And no matter how disappointing or not disappointing you want to argue Banks' 2025 season was, If you're expecting to contend for a Super Bowl, you're not replacing three to four starters week one of of that season, especially when Love established that he is an elite starting quarterback and I think was still second in playoff touchdown passes despite playing like one game or something. there was It was that absurd stat where he was tied for the lead going into the Super Bowl and it's like,
00:26:17
Speaker
Jordan played one game kind of thing and stuff. Right. Right. Yeah. It's like they're they're just not going to you know, you're not going to open holes in the side of the ship at this point that you don't need to. They they have enough questions that need to be answered. you know, it'd be one thing if like it would be one thing if morgan was rotating in at left tackle and if tom was healthy but because you don't have that many answers or previewed answers to the test like you need as many know some people are going to roll their eyes but like banks is a sure thing like you know the base of what you're going to get out of him right and
00:26:58
Speaker
you know, do you want better play from him? Obviously, yes, we do. You know, if you're a fan of the Packers, you want him to play better. And at the same time, it's like, if you're getting league averages play from your starting left guard, you can live with that as you figure out the rest of your O-line and so yeah it is a matter of i think you know banks is a 2027 conversation any conversation now would have to be something off field for them to get rid of him at this point but moving on to day three which i always kind of felt like like you you've kind of touched on loosely based on how this draft class is structured based on the fact that the packers have no first round pick
00:27:37
Speaker
It always felt like it was going to be a Gutekunz day three, like, reloading at the offensive line position unless, a like you said, unless one of the, like, top – like you said, like a Blake Miller just slipped through the cracks and happened to fall to 52. He would be, like, the one guy that I'm, like – If he fell to 52, I could definitely see him being the pick. If he even makes it to 45, he's one of the few guys that I could see them being like, maybe we move something around to like go up and get him kind of thing. Just because they're...
00:28:12
Speaker
therere aren't, like I said, there aren't many tackles. And this is also like if Zach Tom was healthy, i don't think I wouldn't have an inkling that would they would move up for a tackle that's in range. But because Tom is something of an unknown, they are going to be a little more aggressive in terms of looking for a third, possibly second tackle, just because you just don't know what Tom is going to be coming off that injury.
Day Three Draft O-line Prospects
00:28:41
Speaker
Day three. to Diamonds in the rough. We are yeah are shaking away. are we shaking away for, Mafi? Yeah, we're we're shaking the tree trying to find something something to fall out, right?
00:28:52
Speaker
sort of Some sort of ripe fruit falling of the tree. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's it's like we mentioned we mentioned before and other other podcasts I mentioned before, just, if you know, follow the draft if you've been watching, you know, just the podcast, just not even, not even obviously ours specifically, but just any of them talking about the, the, the,
00:29:13
Speaker
online draft class this year. It's at the top. It's pretty weak for the for the most part as far as for like those blue chip guys. There's like maybe two blue chip tackles in this class. Maybe if if you kind of squint a little bit.
00:29:28
Speaker
You know, and then even after that, the the kind of mid... How do I cut it? The... The day two depth isn't not great either. But once you get to day three, there's some guys. I mean, you're not looking at like guys to be starters or rookies, but guys who have at least some size, some talent, some length and stuff you can play in the NFL. I mean, there's going to bunch of tackles that are going to project to move inside. as This happens like every year, of course, every draft class. There's gonna be a bunch of college tackles that project to move inside. so
00:29:57
Speaker
Just on on a quick aside, it's a pretty decent guard class, just again, because there's a bunch of tackles that projecting slide. But as far as day three tackles that kind of fit the Packers thresholds and kind of fit like a need and stuff like that, kind of fit what they look for,
00:30:13
Speaker
Kind of generally as far as what we know, because obviously the combine is just starting. there's Workouts are will start tomorrow, but tomorrow will be like D-line, specialists, and I think one other position. i think tight ends.
00:30:26
Speaker
But as far as guys, as for that, we have official measurements on, verify whether over the summer from like Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl or whatever. Guys, you know, day three guys to keep an eye on.
00:30:36
Speaker
A guy that I kind of like, he might have to play some guard, but I think at the very least, if he can show you can stick a tackle, at least he can give you some depth of guard, sorry.
00:30:49
Speaker
You can teach some guard. Is Alan Heron from Maryland. He's a player that doesn't know people don't really know very much about. he got an invite to the Combine, but you know he he played at shorter university if i don't most people don't know where that is or ever heard of that school uh he played it shorter a couple years ago but they transferred maryland last 2024 for the 24-4 season and so he's been there right tackle the last two seasons this year was his best season of course his final season he he's
00:31:23
Speaker
Sorry, I lost my spot. other So yeah, so he's just under 6'5". He's 321 with their over 34-inch arms. Interesting background. He went to high school in Jamaica. jamaica He was born in Jamaica, sorry, and then over to the U.S., went to high school and in Georgia.
00:31:36
Speaker
So he's still kind of learning. He's he's still kind of new to football to an extent. So there's there's obviously going to be some growing pains there with him, of course, and some learning and some growing and stuff like that. And he could be a swing tackle type of guy to keep an eye on.
00:31:51
Speaker
But again, mostly by tackle experience. So it's i we'll see if he can play left tackle or at least learn left tackle to be swing tackle if type of guy. Another guy who's kind of... Probably not going to be a Packer, but at least guy who'll get some some talk. How do put it?
00:32:07
Speaker
Who'll probably get... put with the Packers by fans and some podcasts and stuff like that, just because he's probably going to test super well. And sometimes people are to automatically just assume, oh, that's a Packer, is Dimitrios Cronover from Texas A&M.
00:32:19
Speaker
He's just like a former tight end in high school. and i think he when his first year at Texas A&M, he might have place some played some tight end. But yeah, but he's a former tight end, but he's like 331. So he's... lot bigger than the packers like so he's probably not gonna be their type but still gonna have 35 inch arms but he's still he's gonna get some talk but probably not really a one of their types Another guy, peoples probably he's not he's a name guy, but he's his NFL upside is probably not as high as people will think it is just because he's a name guy. Austin Barber from Florida.
00:32:55
Speaker
He's been there left tackle for a while, but you know there's still some some technical flaws in there, and there's some... athletic limitations there, but he's a guy who probably can come in and probably be a swing tackle, you know, give you some reps.
00:33:08
Speaker
You know, if you have an injury goes down, come in and start for a game or two at left tackle or right tackle. you know, six, six, three 18 with 33 and a three quarter inch arms, decent athlete, but again, a little stiff and stuff like that, but, could come in and give you some snaps and give you some depth and stuff like that. of course has a lot of playing experience, obviously.
00:33:29
Speaker
Some more guys like a another guy, Tristan Lee from Clemson. Another guy might have to move inside. But again, could potentially give you some some tackle depth. He was their last tackle the last number of years.
00:33:44
Speaker
He was actually the kind of cause to, for so whatever reason, made Blake Miller the right tackle. don't know Blake Miller was a better athlete. longer he's longer he's better i think for whatever reason they put tristan lee a left tackle but uh lee probably should have been the right tackle but again like six four and a half 300 pounds 34 inch arms former five star but again not not uh probably didn't play up to that not athletically or what's the word for his upside is not not what you normal like a five-star people see a five-star and they think a super free gathering he's at least not but
00:34:19
Speaker
You can play some, you know, again, and probably we have to learn some guard and stuff. Some other guys, let's see who they could be looking at for tackle depth. JD Williams from Ole Miss, he's been their right tackle for the last number of years. Six, four and a half, three, ten, 33 and a quarter inch arms.
00:34:37
Speaker
Good athlete, but playing that kind of weird, funky Ole Miss offense where there's a lot of RPOs and stuff. So didn't have a super lot of true pass sets where you really, like, dig into the mean bone beaten and bones in the summer watch him you know 45 degrees set and sit there and and take a normal pass nfl style pass pro rep uh but he's still got some talent so like a guy you can you can look at So another good day three guy.
00:35:06
Speaker
Some more day three guys I like. I actually like, think there's potential there again. Another guy. He's going to need a lot of work. Technically, athletically, he's I think he's okay.
00:35:17
Speaker
I think he should test within the Packers threshold range. But James Neal III from Iowa State. He's definitely one of those first off-the-bus type guys you see.
00:35:29
Speaker
he's huge, well not I shouldn't say he's huge but he's a little under 6'5", 322 with almost 34 inch arms and if you look at him he's got this huge dude with these huge muscular arms he just looks like a he looks like a like a WWE wrestler almost kind of coming off the bus, one of those type of guys again not not but not like, again there's a reason he's going to be day 3 guy, tech a lot of bunch tech goal flaws you see on film he's going to need some work of course like I said He's athletically, he's
00:36:02
Speaker
sort he's not great. He's not going test freaky. There's some a athleical athletic limitations there on film. You're probably to have to teach him some guard. He may long-term be better at guard, but I think
Drafting Bigger Offensive Linemen
00:36:15
Speaker
he can play some tackles. So another guy that I think to keep an eye on him, day three, developmental type guy that I think the Packers tend to like, those developmental type guys that they take, the dart throw, you know, okay, well, he's athletic. Let's see if maybe and we can develop him. And and if he can't play tackle, at least we can kick him inside the garden.
00:36:33
Speaker
He can at least be a de decent guard. So, yeah, there's still just a lot of guys who probably are, like, more guards or, like, not really fitting their Packers thresholds. Or they're, like, you know, because, again, the Packers don't like their guys really tall. You know, six six is based based on the limit.
00:36:53
Speaker
And like for people who ask why you don't want to tackle to be too tall because like, yes, it's good to be like big so it's more like you take up more space and stuff but just think of it this way like the taller you are the harder it is for you to change direction, mirror, match opponents and stuff and You know, the Packers like taller edge rushers, but a lot of teams are okay or like the 6'1 to 6'2 edge rushers who dip, rip, and get under offensive linemen.
00:37:20
Speaker
And if, you know, there's one Joe Ault who functions well at 6'8 and can move like a 6'4 guy kind of thing.
00:37:32
Speaker
Just because there's one Joe Ault doesn't mean every 6'8 guy is there. for the Bengals kind of thing. So that's, you know, that's the Packers philosophy.
00:37:43
Speaker
Doesn't mean that they ignore every six foot eight guy. It's just that if you're going to be on that extreme of the threshold, it's like they've got to see the other movement or technique skills to sort of mask you being an outlier in that build. And then, you know, you've kind of you've kind of hinted at it. You know, there's all all this talk about them getting bigger on the offensive line, yada, yada, yada. But Yes, they've drafted guys that they've announced as tackles it during the draft, but none of them have stuck at tackles so far. Like Glover's gone inside, Belton's gone inside. you know, he he was okay when they like absolutely needed him to play some tackle this year, but it it it didn't take long for them to be like, yeah, he's a guard kind of thing. And it it's just because...
00:38:32
Speaker
It always sounds so good in theory, like we're going to put this 330 pound mauler out there who's just going to be able to, you know, just eat up a defensive end and run blocking and be stuck not stout, but be athletic and big enough to just like make them run the court, run the arc wide enough that Jordan has enough time. But it's like the problem is, is that they still do some West Coast stuff, but.
00:38:55
Speaker
All year you hear how this offense wants to be a deep shot offense, big play offense. you know Love takes the deepest drops per average. JT O'Sullivan always comments how like, if you think a certain route is a five step drop, the Packers are going to do it at seven. If you think it's a seven, they're going to do it at nine kind of thing. and it's It's part of the reason why Love like leads the league in like yards lost per sack is just because he likes to take extra deep drops. And what you artificially create there is more natural pass rush angles for the defensive ends, and therefore your tackles have to be able to hold up on an island.
00:39:33
Speaker
And that's why, like I said, if you can find the unicorn at 330 plus who moves like a ballerina dancer, cool. the problem is those kind of guys are usually gone by the time the packers are drafting in an average draft with a first round pick and then especially in a year where they're down to 52 kind of thing so it's that's the one side of it and then as brian's been mentioning like these day three guys guys who need technique work bodies need an nfl strength and conditioning program you know questions about positional fit
00:40:07
Speaker
You look at some of the guys, like, I know I've been bragging on Rasheed, but, like, Rasheed was a seventh-round pick because it was like, is he really an NFL tackle? His technique needs a lot of work and stuff. but He's coming off injury, too.
00:40:20
Speaker
Was that? He was coming off an injury, too. He had like a foot injury. Yeah. Yeah. yeah that was all So he didn't even test at the combine. That's right. But like you look at what the way they just redshirted him for all intents and purposes as a rookie.
00:40:33
Speaker
And he became a you know, basically a three year starter that, you know, like I said, I don't want them to bring him back because you've seen the limits of his ceiling. But if he goes and earns the Packers a third round comp pick, you just turned a seventh round pick into a third round pick. Like, and that's, that's making money as an NFL GM these days.
00:40:52
Speaker
Even with Bach, it was like, OK, you drafted this. you know He went to the fourth round because it was like he moves like a tackle, but is he really going to stick a tackle in the pros because he's at the combine at 299. And you know he joked all the time that it's like, if I was 6'5", everyone would have been fine with me being a tackle. But because I was 6'4 and 1⁄2", everyone was like, oh, he's a guard. And he's like, oh, yeah.
00:41:18
Speaker
Yeah, or center and stuff. And I'll admit I was guilty of that at times and stuff. But like, it is those sort of like island of misfit toys. And, you know, with the Packers, like, that's why Groot and Thompson would just take up a boatload of them. Because, you know, within a singular draft, sometimes you get, sometimes you find John, John,
00:41:43
Speaker
Sometimes you find John Runyon Jr. who becomes like a four-year starter for you. And other times you get – oh, shucks. What's his – the former Oregon center who just never could hack it at the NFL level. The one that they took the draft.
00:42:00
Speaker
i' The name is just absolutely the same. Yeah, I know. Yeah, he was a really bad athlete too. Yeah, or you take a chance on the Iowa, the Indiana guard who was coming off the torn ACL and he just never could get back from the injury and stuff.
00:42:15
Speaker
And along the way, you know, like everyone would be like, okay, they're really only hitting 500 on these O-linemen. But I'm like, yeah, he's only hitting 500, but like that's really fucking good. Like you, you're getting, you know, in the span, you've...
00:42:28
Speaker
you filled out four out of your five starting spots with non-first round pick linemen. You know, that's what Thompson did. And then Gudekunst, to a lesser extent, you know, he he found Rasheed. Jenkins wasn't a first round pick. yeah Meyers return on investment, all that kind of stuff. But I mean, Tom, Tom is a shining his shining star out of all of his draft classes at all line.
00:42:52
Speaker
But it's just why, like you said, The Packers have their thresholds because they believe with their coaching and we're not even going to get into that debate today, but they believe within their system, within their coaching structure, that if you get this slew of talent, they'll be able to crank out a professional offensive lineman who's a starting caliber with more upside than meet met the eye in the draft process.
Packers' Draft Philosophy
00:43:19
Speaker
So that's always been their theory and more times than not, it has worked in their favor. And you know like i said that's part of why it was a bit of a disappointment in terms of you know how this past season worked out and stuff but injuries really did just bite the team harder than anyone could have expected them to and then on top of it you know you had the we'll never get the full story on why the determining factor was to move jenkins inside was it the get bigger on the offensive line was it getting younger at the guard spots you know
00:43:53
Speaker
You know, those are, I joke i joke all all the time, Charles Barkley quote, all good until the book comes out one day. We'll never know. but But it really is going to be an interesting draft. I do agree. Like, overall, I wish there was like,
00:44:10
Speaker
You know, there there always could be a for a universe in this draft where Miller falls to them at 52 and it's like, okay, cool. Like they've got like, he probably wouldn't start this season, but I mean, if he just pushes Morgan in training camp, that's a win. Like you you just have a full on training camp battle between the two of them.
00:44:31
Speaker
That's a win in my book. Or if one of the top center prospects just happens to fall in their lap in the third round, that's a win for them too. Or those of us who still have our Jacob Monk lottery picks, and if it all just happens to come together in year three, like so be it kind of thing. So,
00:44:52
Speaker
you know there's i know that they've started to like bend their threshold you know belton's older and bigger morgan had the short arms and things like that but for the most part they've tended to stay within their thresholds and like i said the bigger tackles have all moved to guard after you know within a year after they drafted them they've all ended up at guard so you know We'll see how it continues. You know, if they keep trying to take bites at that apple in the future, we'll see how that goes. But I think
00:45:26
Speaker
the the proof is in the pudding that based on how they play, what they ask of their tackles, LaFleur does come up with really good pass rush or pass blocking schemes in terms of how he assists his tackles. But there is always a point where it's like, I need you to man up and block your guy. i Like he can come up with the perfect help between like so putting a tight end to one side, the back helps to the other, whatever kind of thing, you know, having Chris Brooks is a cheat code and all that kind of stuff. But at some point,
00:45:55
Speaker
your tackles have to be able to block man on man. And there's no ifs, ands, or buts about that. We're going bring back an old favorite.
00:46:06
Speaker
Anyone that you would just throw your hat in the air and disgust if Packers took them at 52, Katie Proctor. But anyone yeah That would be the ultimate in they are going bigger at the position. And to which I would be like,
Concerns About Proctor's Fit
00:46:23
Speaker
I've seen speed bumps do more, but wouldn like outside like who would be your I-can't-believe-they-took-that-guy pick? Yeah, it would be Proctor because it just...
00:46:35
Speaker
he I mean, it's not even just the sizing, it's just like his film wasn't very good this year either. So it's like... He just doesn't move. Like, that's the thing. Like, the technique is bad and he he just... Like, there's, you know, like, what's it called? Like, Flozel Adams, he knew how to leverage his size and length to become, like, harder to get around. Like, you see guys who are who know how to properly leverage that.
00:46:59
Speaker
But then, like, you see guys like Proctor who are like, yeah, I'm big. And it's like, you're going to jump set? You're going to, like, take more than two steps out of your stance kind of thing on on a play that's not where you're catching the ball? Like, to yeah, it's like the only plays he moved more than, like, two yards off of his his inline blocking position was when he was a target in the pass game. So, yeah, it's like – Yeah, there I mean, and there's rumors all over the place about his weight. There's rumors he's played close to 400 pounds. There's rumors that, i mean, if at least in previous seasons, not this season, but, you know, in the there's rumors at least this season he played like in the 370s. There was rumors he played in the 360s.
00:47:41
Speaker
there are some rumors that ended season he was in the 330s you know there's just like weird these weird rumors that are coming all over places about weight but like you just watch his film this year it just wasn't very good he didn't he wasn't he got work he played worse this year the first last year and even last year he was probably hit playing heavier than he should have been playing Yeah, it's just he needs to lose a lot of weight.
00:48:02
Speaker
I've been saying he needs to be playing he needs to be playing in like the low 330s, high 320s. And I mean, the funny thing too that you that reminds me of what you just said when you just said about the the jump sets, this something even some people think he's just going to be a guard in the NFL. He should the guard. I mean, he's listed at six seven so he may be 6'6", and you're just kind of like a tall guard. I mean,
00:48:26
Speaker
I just yeah, I just his his films is not great. I mean, this year. I think he can play tackle, I mean, for sure. But just like I said, he just needs to get down his weight down to the the high 320s and stuff like that. And and he needs like yeah are basically quote unquote redshirt year, get the weight down, work on his technique and stuff like that, get a really good O-line coach. And you can probably be a solid the right tackle. I think that's what you'd be able to get out of him. But yeah, that him and then if they drafted Markel Bell, I'd be able to i was throw my hands up and be like, what are we doing here?
00:49:01
Speaker
What are we doing? Yeah, like my whole thing with with Proctor is like if you got him round five or later, which I think some team is going to just take him in day two because the physical name tools and the name and where he went to school and all that kind stuff. Like, if you could... so If he somehow slip-slid... Even to four, I would be okay with it because it's like there's no pressure on him to, like, be a day one starter or anything like that. And like you said, like, he just needs...
00:49:38
Speaker
like an NFL program. And I don't know if you can do the old school, like fine you for like every like five pounds you're over the the contract weight and stuff like that. i don't I don't know if you can do that anymore. But yeah, like, and then like if you can get Lodeholt out of, you know what the Vikings got out of Phil Lodeholt for like three seasons, that would be an absolute win. And so that would be one. And yeah, like you said, Bell, I just...
00:50:06
Speaker
like not an We're not an NBA team. like Yeah. And I mean, yeah And it's like, what's it called? the If it can't get his...
00:50:20
Speaker
for lack a better word, S s together a college program like Alabama, where, you know, and especially even college in general, where these these coaches are constantly on top these guys all
Challenges with Weight Management
00:50:30
Speaker
day. they're with you They have they're know where these guys are at every minute or every day, basically. When you're going to the NFL, where they don't, where basically everything's on you,
00:50:40
Speaker
Is he going to be able to get the weight down? I mean, some guys, for whatever reason, it works out. They go to the NFL and they figure it out and they get their stuff together and and they they do google good. you know But the the odds are not good as far as like looking at the history of guys that come into the league with weight problems.
00:50:57
Speaker
getting their Like I said, getting their ass together and and getting the weight down and and getting in shape and staying in shape. that's you know You'll see guys, they'll drop the weight for the combine, and they'll get in shape when they come to NFL draft. And even as they're like a rookie, they'll be in a decent shape.
00:51:11
Speaker
And then after that, they just balloon, and then then they disappear. you know So it's you know you see all the time. I mean, my – what was his name? I'm bringing his name. My favorite example is – oh, God. the Team. Team.
00:51:26
Speaker
Aaron Gibson. I know I had his name in my tongue. Aaron Gibson. He came into the league at the combine. I remember when he took the combine. don't have the numbers on me exactly, but I remember that he was like in the, I want to say like 370, 375, something like that the combine.
00:51:39
Speaker
Maybe it was a little bit less, you know, and then he ballooned up and he couldn't, keep he couldn't keep his weight down and he was out of the league within, don't know, going to say three years. So, I mean, it's just one of those.
00:51:50
Speaker
Yeah. So, It's just just one of the things you got to worry about those guys that are that big that, you know, and, and like, again, that goes to also something you mentioned earlier about tall tackles is, you know, it's the knee bend and being able to sink their hips and stuff like that.
00:52:06
Speaker
It's, it's, you know, those guys tend to be kind of leggy. And so it's hard. It's even harder for them to, to get that weight down. to That's the thing with alt is like alt alt is six, eight, but it's because he has like a he has one of the weirdest builds.
00:52:19
Speaker
He does. He has a long torso. He has like the legs of a six foot four guy and which is why he can move kind of thing and stuff. But and yeah, his torso. And that's why I was always it was hard for me to watch film because I could never like I don't want to take him serious, but he looked cartoonish because his torso looked so like it it it's it was the whole meme of like every 50 likes the hat gets bigger kind of thing.
00:52:44
Speaker
But you just like every time someone's like, oh, yeah, look at this tall tackle, I'm like, just put his tape next to Joel Alt's, and it's not going to be the same. like you You cannot say because Joel Alt is the unicorn that all those other guys are chasing kind of thing and stuff. so Yeah.
00:53:01
Speaker
joe all like the Joel's like the offensive lineman of, what's his name? the I'm forgetting his name. the The swimmer that won all the gold medals. Oh, Phelps. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's like the Phelps of off offensive line because the Phelps had that really long torso.
00:53:15
Speaker
He's like the Phelps off of the line. Yeah, with the funky wingspan too and stuff like that. So, yeah. Oh, let's do this one. Who is, you gonna you know, you kind of brought it up. Who is going to be on your all combine Ozempic squad?
00:53:33
Speaker
you mean You mean needs to go on Ozempic? No, no, no. Who's going to just do it for the, who's going to do it for like the. Yeah. yeah I mean, well, like I said, Proctor probably is one of them. Because like I said. If he shows up at 337, I'll be, that everyone's going to be like, what did you take?
00:53:51
Speaker
from some of the Some of the chat groups I'm in there's guys who've heard rumors, but again, it's rumors that he's he's down in in the 330s. So again, that we'll see. He could be one of those ones. I'm just trying to look at my board, okay, think who I could do it. I mean...
00:54:10
Speaker
I think Markel Bell could be one of those guys, but yeah at the, I think it was Schreinball, the Senior Bowl he was at, you know, he he dropped some weight he from the summer. The summer, he I think he was in the 360s.
00:54:21
Speaker
He was 358 recently. So, you know, he could be a guy that could show up at like 335 or something like that, you know. i don't think it's going to help his athleticism or whatever, but he could be the one of those epic guys.
00:54:34
Speaker
I just look my board here real quick trying to see who think who else. Michael Petas could be a guy. Michael Petas from Florida State. you originally at oleus He was He I wouldn't be surprised I'm showing up lighter weight.
00:54:50
Speaker
I'm just looking over real quick here. Yeah, i think those are kind of the oh Oh, actually, that's going to pro day. An interesting one. Well, won't be combined. It's kind of a funny one. Interesting one.
00:55:03
Speaker
Ole Miss has a tackle. he He actually lost his starting job this year, but we had NFS measurements on him as Percy Lewis from Ole Miss. NFS had measured him this summer or or spring or whatever at six foot seven but 402 pounds.
00:55:20
Speaker
So what he shows up at his pro day is going to be very, very interesting. as someone who is under tall, I will not comment, but wow. like Yeah, so that kind of tells you why he lot he lost his job. Because I remember actually going further back last year, I think NFS had well weight on him in the 370s, I want to say, something that. even then, he was a pretty big dude.
00:55:45
Speaker
But he gained even more weight, so that kind of tells you why he lost his his starting job. so But yeah, it'll be interesting to see if he he just goes on a Zepic and loses tons of weight for the pro day or something like that. And like and it does go back to also like...
00:56:00
Speaker
so like Like we said, we're both not Markel Bell people, but like it's different when a 6'9 guy is 360 to win like a 6'3 guy is 360 too. So like, yeah, there's there's, there's elements to this. You know, some guys are just big boned, but, but otherwise, you know, most of them, yeah.
00:56:22
Speaker
Like, that's the thing is like, I understand wanting to be bigger on the O-line, but it's like, the average fan has to understand that bigger doesn't mean you're gonna be a better run blocker necessarily either. Like, you know. Usually it doesn't mean slower.
00:56:38
Speaker
Yeah, unfortunately. Like I said, there's very few 330 plus guys who can move. And that's the thing is like, I know LeFleur mixes in like power, you know, he mixes in gap and power schemes and stuff, but the basis of this offense is still off of zone, whether it's inside zone or outside zone. Right. And that's all about getting to second level, hitting moving targets, all that kind of stuff. And, know,
00:57:08
Speaker
You've got to be able to, whether it's, and you know, the the thought theory is that like, okay, you get a bigger guy, so he has a bigger wingspan, so he takes up more space kind of thing. But it's like, you're out of position, that's where holding calls come into play, because you just reach out and you're caught grabbing a guy. kind You're just clotheslining people on the second level. But...
00:57:28
Speaker
that's you know That's the beauty of the mystery, and that's why we that's why we do all of this in terms of like looking into scouting options and you know position the the position players because we're like you know we we understand historically who the Packers have picked.
00:57:44
Speaker
Gutekunst has been around. you know This will be his ninth draft at this point, which is just wild to see already. So there's a heap of data in terms of who he's been as as a drafter, what he has taken.
00:57:58
Speaker
And I know he's made, so you know, going back to the 22 draft in terms of just taking an inside linebacker in the first round, taking an older guy in the first round. But like the times that he's gone against trends have been amazing.
00:58:16
Speaker
I know that he's done a more, but they've been isolated incidents where it's like he's taken one old guy early. He's taken one inside linebacker on day one. You know, he took and then he took Cooper the next year in Brown, too. But it's like it's not like he's just constantly done it over and over and over again every season. It's like they've they've been like swing.
00:58:39
Speaker
like, okay, I guess we'll do it again now kind of thing. and's so It's not like he's just repeatedly beat the door in and like, oh yeah, we we totally draft differently. So it'll be really interesting to see how they approach it this go-around. But Suffice it to say, Brian, another fun one.
00:58:56
Speaker
And sure to invite you back for the day two live stream as we always do. So if someone can be on to keep me company. Joe will be there this year because he won't be at the draft like he was when we're we were We were trying hopelessly to get in get internet contact with him last season, but we'll definitely be around to invite you back. Please tell everyone we can find all your excellent work on the draft and even just in your in-season work as well.
00:59:25
Speaker
yeah actually we didn't get to really centers too much but let me just do quick mention of some day three centers real quick don't know if you have you have you have to go go or something but but okay oh okay cool sorry just quick mention before we get to my my uh bio or whatever you to call it uh so yeah da so day three centers people keep eye on because that's probably where pack will draft one we got uh jordan white from vanderbilt this is no order specific order but uh jordan white vanderbilt uh he's got guard experience uh he's a little short just under 6'2 so and a little under 300 pounds so it might not be their type anymore but still got to keep eye on has guard experience started at vanderbilt for a number of years started at liberty but before that too so some pretty talented athletic guys so got to keep an eye on
01:00:09
Speaker
I'm sorry, uh, uh, Jagger Burton from Kentucky and other guy who's kind of actually fits their profile in a way of what they're trying to do. Uh, he's not humongous guy. He's just under six, four, three 11, but he has that physical Mahler mentality, uh, style play to him.
01:00:24
Speaker
And he's got, again, another guy who's got guard, uh, experiences starting, starting games of guard, but his center is probably his better, best position. So it could be a potential Packer type guy to keep eye on. A couple of name guys, of course, Jake Slaughter, but of course, six, four, three Oh five, i'm not super skill or not super athletically talented athletic, but just a solid guy who will come in probably be a eight year starter in NFL. He would be solid. He's not gonna be great, but he'll be a solid guy to, you know, NFL.
01:00:54
Speaker
Sam Hecht from Kansas State, again, kind of like they're our old school kind of Ted Thompson type of guy. six four just under 300 pounds, 32-inch arms.
01:01:03
Speaker
Really athletic, though. Kansas State is using a puller. And not even just like a puller coming around from the center to like the B-gap, like all the way to the outside. Like on outside zone runs, they're pulling it from center all the way to like outside the C-gap running up. Sorry, blocking up like the outside. Like on a sweep kind of thing, yeah. Yeah, I was trying to gather my thoughts there for a second there. But yeah, so he's really, he's almost like a better example actually would be he's almost like a Mike Flanagan, more athletically.
01:01:33
Speaker
So he's not going playing any snaps at tackle like Flanagan could, but that type of athlete I'm talking about. So even, and he actually has, His anchor is actually for a guy who's just under 300 pounds. It's not bad, actually. It's pretty good. There's a few times here and there he'll give up some ground and stuff and get pushed, but he's actually not bad.
01:01:53
Speaker
his frame looks pretty filled out, but he could probably add some weight, add some bulk to help him with that. But 305, get to 305. Yeah. Another guy kind of like might not, probably not a Packer because his arms a little little bit short for their style, but it's close.
01:02:09
Speaker
Bryce Foster from Kansas. Again, not super athletic, but a bigger dude, six, four, three, 17, just under 32 inch arms. Another guy who has guard experience. And I think I have to double check. I think he has some tackle experience, but I think it's mostly guard and center.
01:02:22
Speaker
Played at Texas A&M, then came to Kansas. Another guy to keep an eye on day three. James Brockemeier, another kind of smaller center, 297, almost exact same size as Hecht.
01:02:34
Speaker
Probably on like a slightly tier below Hecht, but not as especially, like at least as far as athletically. But again, another guy who could come to league. At the very least, he should be a decent backup, but if he becomes starter, he'd be like an okay starter or some type of thing.
01:02:48
Speaker
a kind of sleeper center i kind of like uh nick dawkins from penn state uh his dad his dad is uh daryl dawkins the former nba player yeah so interesting kind of background there and then like his cousin his i'm looking at my notes here real quick uh oh yeah and brian dawkins is his cousin now Hall of Famer. So he's got the he's got he's got the the the the family thing there. so But 309, 33-inch arms. he made he could I think there's potential there develop into a starter. We'll see.
01:03:23
Speaker
Another kind of sleeper I really like, actually. sure he's He's a Hawaiian kid, so I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing this right, but it's K-N DeCambra? It's K-A apostrophe E-N. I'm not sure if that's the way to pronounce it.
01:03:38
Speaker
oh K-A, Kaposur, E-N, DeCampo. He actually played at Hawaii, then he transferred over to Arizona. He originally was a guard. He might have some tackle experience. I can't even have to double-check, look further into my notes.
01:03:51
Speaker
But again, a guy who was kind of a sleeper. He was... coming into when he was at when he transferred from hawaii to arizona he's kind of seen as like probably like a udfa type guy but they've moved to the center and he because he kind of took off as a center diana yeah kaynna yeah okay kinda there you go okay i wasn't sure pronunciation of that but yeah so yeah i got to keep an eye on day three could be a potential center starting center and down the line Yeah, so yeah that's a guy to keep an eye on. I think that's i think that's that's a decent list of guys, a center keep an eye on for his Packers. Yeah, DeCambra, again, like I said, a day three guy you could bring in and you know could sit for a year and Major B has started by year two, year three.
01:04:33
Speaker
Yeah. He's a guy to keep an eye on. And actually, i did want to mention real quick, too, so a couple of tackles that we didn't get a chance to talk about. Yeah. Yeah. that uh are uh what would you call it there they would be uh redshirt type guys uh named guys of course but redshirts for different reasons uh Drew Shelton from Penn State coming into the year he was seen as probably like a day two pick maybe a day one pick but just had a really bad year this year as most of Penn State did Yeah, the whole all Penn State basically, right?
01:05:07
Speaker
But he still the measurables. He still has the athleticism, but it's the guy who probably just needs to get put into a better system. Let him sit for a year. Let him relearn. Probably atd needs a bull at a few pounds. He's 303, so probably as a friend add a few pounds. But again, guy you bring in, let him sit for a year, let him relearn stuff.
01:05:27
Speaker
Could develop into develop into a starter, of course. Isaiah World. Oregon tackle just it didn't play well this year. Came over from and it was in Nevada, I think it was. played Played well in Nevada, but they came to Oregon and just it just didn't work for whatever reason. He couldn't get it out of his own way type of stuff. and Didn't play well and then blew out his ACL at the end of the season. So he's going to be if definitely a redshirt year.
01:05:55
Speaker
He's probably going to put him on the IR, but... Again, huge guy, 6'5", 321, 34-inch arms, and he's and he's a good athlete. We're not probably not going to get any testing numbers from him again because you he tore his ACL back in January, I think it was.
01:06:08
Speaker
so we're not going to have any testing numbers for him per se, but he's a really good athlete. Again, you're going to bring him in, put him the IR for as a rookie, and then see if maybe as a year two, year three. yeah Sorry, i've only laughed I only chuckled because I'm assuming that your measurement is verified by somebody. NFL.com's pre-combine has him at six eight Yeah, they're taking they're taking that off his list of weights at like Oregon or whatever. Yeah. but yeah does It's one of those he looks tall on film, but yeah, i don't think he's that tall. He doesn't stick out above the rest of their old linemen.
01:06:40
Speaker
No, no. NFS had him verified six, five and two eights, uh, three 21, uh, over the summer, uh, three, but 34 inch arms. so he's got the law arm length, but again, like I said, he's not going to work out. He's he'll probably measure and that's about it.
01:06:54
Speaker
to put them in the You're putting a space. He's spending his rookie year in the IR and then year two, hopefully see if he can develop. And then maybe year three at the worst.
01:07:05
Speaker
But yeah, those are some some dart throws, day three developmental potential guys, like, you know, register sure like youing I said. And I think that's what you're going to get at both positions. I think, and that's the thing is, like, the tackles are the more dart throw, you know, like, you're trying to get a Rasheed Walker, you're trying to get, a oh my God, what's what's my dude's name?
01:07:24
Speaker
Plays for the Panthers now. Yeah.
01:07:30
Speaker
Why can't I think of our 10 Raz UDFA that should have started the 2021 playoff game? Oh, shoot.
01:07:42
Speaker
I'm not sure, O'Khan.
01:07:44
Speaker
But yeah, so you're you're trying to get guys like that who like have the upside need, you know, whether it's recovery time, recovery time or whatever. And yeah, you're just trying to not get stepaniac. But sometimes you get stepaniac.
01:08:00
Speaker
and Yeah. so yes But that's the thing is like Hanson. That was the center. Jake Hanson. Jake Hanson. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like I always remember the name because the band, the band Hanson. But yeah. Yeah.
01:08:12
Speaker
But that's always been my thing. Like, I always ascribe to the just take the athletes when you get especially when you get into like round six or whatever, just take the best athletes at that point. Maybe they don't maybe they won't all learn how to play football, but take the athletes with the upside at least. And like if they flame out, it's a round six pick and whatever kind of thing. But at least take the guys who have a shot at contributing at some point kind of thing. So yeah, Hect is one that did like,
01:08:46
Speaker
that ability to pull on the move is something that like you know in twenty twenty and twenty late in 2019 and especially 2020 when they could run the ball on anyone, you know they were just deploying Lindsley out. like He was pulling like he's pulling over a gap and then he was pulling over two gaps and then like I do think that LeFleur would know exactly how to utilize that kind of movement skill out of his center.
01:09:12
Speaker
And like you said, one of the most the points you made that, you know, everyone's like, you got to be able to anchor. But like, I think sometimes anchor gets overblown out of centers because people are like, oh, my God, he lost the first step off the snap. But I'm like, he's snapping the ball like.
01:09:28
Speaker
Like, yes, you don't want your center just getting deposited easily in your quarterback's lap, but it's like centers, I always thought, should get an extra step to reset their anchor because it's like you're not looking at the guy. I know i know i know most teams do their different, you know, the Steelers kind of like pioneered the whole like the center doesn't look between their legs thing, but i feel like the Packers are like one of the last teams the center actually looks at the quarterback before they snap the ball. As opposed to a lot of other teams who do like the guard looks does the like stand up turn around and then they do the hand motion for the center kind of thing and stuff but right the Packers are one of the last teams that do even Ryan was doing the old school like butt up look between the legs and you know sit back down before starting the ball. they shocking Yeah, yeah. So,
01:10:16
Speaker
I do think that like, there's a little bit of grace that needs to be given to guys who, you know, you're doing, you're trying to do three things off the snap of the ball. It's like, I gotta first make a good snap and then I gotta to re-identify it off, you know, post that movement. And then I got a strike. And so it's like, you know, it's the other positions. It's like, they' it's easier to identify who you are, you know, unless your name is Royce Freeman. And so it's like, yeah, like, yeah,
01:10:42
Speaker
when they're like, oh, he loses the first step every time. I'm like, is he really? Like, it's one thing if he's just getting his ass handed to him every snap, or is it like he is resetting within the next two steps, and I'm like, that's a win for a center. So, yeah, there's a little bit more nuance than meets the average eye and stuff. But, yeah, you don't want –
01:11:03
Speaker
uh what's it called the the vikings former center that was just dog meat for kenny clark all the time i know you're talking about nc state kid yeah yeah yeah can't think his name now but i know you're talking about yeah yeah supposed to be like really athletic and he was but just he would just get bowled over by everybody he played like he was 260. yeah but No, Brian, thank you as always for having chock full list of names for everyone to keep an eye on. Only reason I was pushing it is because usually i like to keep your episodes down to an hour because I know that with your work schedule, we're coming off of your work shift and it's nighty night time for Brian, but we always appreciate when you're able to hang around with us for a little longer and talk
Iowa Players and Packers Fit
01:11:47
Speaker
story. yeah And now into the biography or into the where do we find your stuff?
01:11:54
Speaker
Well, actually, actually, one more quick mention though, just for Packers fans, because I know people, they love talking about Iowa guys. Get them out of your mind, at least for this class.
01:12:06
Speaker
Logan Jones, like the chance of him being Packer is like maybe 2%. He's is already smaller, and then he's got sub 31-inch arms. they don't They've never drafted an offensive lineman all the way through center tackle guard, any that were under 32-inch arms.
01:12:22
Speaker
Could they go slightly under? Maybe. But like you're talking about like he's a over full inch under. So it's it's not going to happen. Sorry, but it's not going to happen. And then Dunker, he's going to be a guard. He's kind of he's stiff.
01:12:34
Speaker
He's not really their type. I mean, maybe if he slips late, maybe. But he's going day two. I think because of how this class is, some team is going to take him day two. And it's going like two rounds higher than another team. He's going to go like two rounds higher than Goot would be comfortable drafting him. That's just my impression of it. Maybe, but I still think it goes early day three, like fourth round. goes some team that doesn't mind if their guard is stiff, but who's a mauler just like...
01:13:00
Speaker
Baltimore. He eats nails. Yeah, right. He eats nails and one of those type of guys. So I think get out of your mind of them, either them being Packers or either them basically going day two. It's not Joe. No, I think Joe, I think Joe already. He is. He has accepted a little bit of that reality. Like I threw the who's the Iowa tight end. He's like, there is none. i was like, oh, no, he shot it that thing down so fast. to next Next year, there might be. Next year, we'll we'll see. they got dig got they got a young They got a couple young tight ends. But yeah, this year now.
01:13:31
Speaker
Yep. So, like I said, always appreciate you
Closing and Social Media Engagement
01:13:35
Speaker
coming on. And now it's your spotlight moment. Tell us where we can find all your work. Third time's a charm. Yeah, of course, for those who are watching on YouTube, you can see my Twitter handle there, BMAFINFL.
01:13:48
Speaker
You'll be listening on just regular audio. I just said it there. So BMAFINFL. You can catch me there on Twitter, talking draft and talking Packers. I do both just general draft content and Packers. I'll do some Packers specific stuff. I do cut-ups. I put up clips on on my Twitter as well. Just today, I put up a bunch of mo Monroe Fleeling clips who might be the next, maybe not as good, but Joel Alt type of guy who is six foot seven, but like doesn't look like it because he has a long torso.
01:14:19
Speaker
He gets really good bend. He really gets leverage good leverage. So he's a guy that probably goes, he's not going to be a Packer because he's going to way too early. But Still fun player. Fun player to watch. He's he's a good player. He's a fun player. He adds depth to the class, so that helps, of course. But, yeah, then, of course, I have my sub stack.
01:14:36
Speaker
Just look for Brian Moffy. haven't read anything recently, but i' I'm getting there. I'm going to start doing my my final positional rankings for just the general whole draft for, you know, quarterback, running backs, tight ends, linebackers, so on and so forth.
01:14:49
Speaker
And I will do some Packers-specific stuff. I will have my... Packers specific board I'll put out there. i usually release it publicly probably about two weeks before the draft probably. So just follow me on Twitter there. I'll just release it publicly there. And that'll be list of all the guys who I think are on the Packers draft board, at least from an athletic standpoint.
01:15:12
Speaker
I'll usually put some notes in there for the guys who have off-field problems or injury issues that may take them off. But generally, it's just kind guys who at least athletically fit the Packers thresholds. I'll break it down by the positions and and break it down by specific testing as far as what stuff kind of fits, what stuff is like borderline and stuff like that.
01:15:30
Speaker
So I have that. and then of course my sub stack, like i said, and then I'm on draft professors. Just look up draft professor every Sunday night of 5 PM my time. So it's like 7 PM central time. If you're in Wisconsin, I guess every Sunday. And then I'll be doing some other podcasts appearances here and there leading up to the draft, but that's where I am on at least a consistent basis.
01:15:56
Speaker
Right on. And yep, like i said, I'm hoping have Brian back. We always try to reel him in for day two when we do the live stream. always did
01:16:08
Speaker
You'll have at least the two of us in your ear if you're following along for the four of you that do the live stream. So appreciate you having you on again, Brian. Always a good, fun talk. Yep. So check us out. Follow us on all our social medias at Ohana underscore Packers on Twitter. at ohana packers edition on instagram search ohana packers edition on facebook follow us there we're trying to hit our 100 subscribers so that you know when we do live streams like our day two we can live stream to facebook we hit that we're going to start doing drawings for all those followers on facebook sign uh paraphernalia from um from
01:16:44
Speaker
This great radio from joe that Joe has been able acquire. Yeah, that Joe has been able to acquire over the years. Please follow the podcast on your favorite podcasting apps. Give us a like and a subscribe. And Topics, throw them on, hit Joe, me, hit the social media for the show. We wanna create the content you're looking for. Once again, thank you, Brian Moffey for doing helping us with our O-line preview. This is another one of our 2026 draft preview positional previews.
01:17:16
Speaker
Go Pack Go and aloha.