Jager Burton Might Let Sean Rhyan Play His Best Position

The Green Bay Packers will likely open the 2026 season with Sean Rhyan at center. Meanwhile, Aaron Banks and Anthony Belton should start at guard. However, it’s fair to have some concerns about how poorly Belton and Banks played in 2025. If those struggles continue, Jager Burton could step in at center and allow Rhyan to slide back to guard, where he has played for most of his NFL career.

Banks and Belton ranked in the top five for the highest pressure rate allowed last season among starting guards. Moreover, Belton also gave up the highest pressure rate among right guards.

Belton’s situation is particularly interesting because he has the size of a prototypical left tackle. However, with Jordan Morgan and Zach Tom set as the tackle duo for the foreseeable future, he’ll most likely stay inside. At least he’ll have a full offseason to adjust to the position and clean things up.

Going into the draft, the Packers didn’t have a clear backup plan at center, but that changed when they selected Jager Burton in the fifth round. His college résumé shows real versatility, with extensive experience at all three interior spots and a full-time move to center in his final season, which gives Green Bay a much more defined option behind the starter.

"Whatever is going to help the Packers win games," Burton said about potentially moving back guard or continuing to develop at center. "Coach Zach Yenser and coach Eric Wolford at Kentucky did a great job of making sure guys were ready to play numerous positions and putting us in a good situation for trying to get to the point that I'm at right now, and just knowing how important that is at the next level."

Burton has logged plenty of snaps at guard over the years. However, his transition to center in 2025 suggests that’s where the team will likely prioritize him, especially since Rhyan has already shown he can be a serviceable guard at the NFL level. Meanwhile, Burton is an unknown on the interior at the pro level.

Rhyan’s contract situation shouldn’t really dictate how the Packers handle the interior. He signed a three-year, $33 million extension this offseason; the average annual value puts him in the top 10 among centers, which is starter-level money.

However, if the Packers move Rhyan back to guard, that same figure would rank closer to the high-20s at the position, which is a much more accurate reflection of his on-field impact. In that scenario, his deal would align much more naturally with his level of play, rather than standing out as an overpay.

Ryan has shown he can function within the offense's structure and isn’t a liability. However, he also hasn’t consistently played at an above-average level, regardless of whether he lines up at center or guard. Therefore, the contract shouldn’t prevent Green Bay from making a change if it improves overall efficiency on the interior.

I don’t expect Green Bay to give their fifth-round rookie much responsibility in his first year, but the value of the pick goes beyond immediate playing time. Simply having a backup option at center gives the coaching staff the flexibility they didn’t have before, especially if Banks and Belton don’t improve. It opens the door to move Sean Rhyan back to guard, and that alone is a meaningful upgrade to how the Packers manage their offensive line.