Ross Uglem, from The Packers Report, pointed out how the emergence of two promising young players could alter the Packers’ draft strategy in 2024:

Though not a fully comprehensive analysis, consider this:

In 2023, Green Bay’s primary tackles were Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker. Their combined average PFF grade of 73.0 placed them 11th among all tackle duos.

Moreover, the Packers ranked 2nd in Pass Block Win Rate with this duo manning the offensive tackle positions for the majority of the season.

Both Tom and Walker were part of Green Bay’s 2022 draft class. Typically, players see development and improvement in subsequent years, suggesting that both could perform even better in 2024.

Financially, the Packers have minimal commitments to both players, with Tom owed $1.1M in 2024 and $1.2M in 2025, while Walker’s salary is even lower.

Considering the team’s negligible investment for a highly effective tackle pairing, the assumption that they’re locked into selecting a tackle in the first round, especially after releasing a player who saw minimal action in 2023, seems dubious to me.

Could they still opt for a tackle? Certainly. It’s within the realm of possibility.
However, Green Bay needs to adopt a forward-thinking approach to the tackle position, particularly with the potential retirement of 32-year-old David Bakhtiari looming.

While many anticipate the Packers selecting an offensive lineman, specifically a tackle, in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the emergence of Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom may allow them to explore other avenues.