What the Josh Myers Decision Should (and Shouldn’t) Mean For Zach Tom

The Green Bay Packers have a big decision to make about Josh Myers this offseason as the durable center, who has played at least 99% of the offensive snaps the last three seasons, enters free agency.

Myers is coming off arguably his best year after serving as a punching bag of sorts for some Packers fans in his first two seasons.

One consideration that shouldn't be in play if Myers goes elsewhere regards Zach Tom. Specifically, Tom needs to stay at right tackle.

Tom was the prototypical lineman Green Bay prefers to draft in that he was versatile in college. At Wake Forest, Tom started 23 games at left tackle and 14 at center while bouncing around the line for spot duty elsewhere.

Green Bay loves linemen who can play multiple positions, and Tom fell into that category. With the Packers, things shook out where Tom ended up at right tackle. He's dominated. Ask emerging star defensive end Will Anderson of the Houston Texans.

Anderson appeared on ESPN's This is Football with Kevin Clark. When asked who the best offensive lineman Anderson has faced in the NFL was, he didn't hesitate.

High praise from someone who is flourishing at his own position.

Back to the Myers situation.

Losing the Ohio State product would be less than ideal, but the Packers have options. Moving Tom from his current spot shouldn’t be one.

It's not easy finding a cornerstone piece at offensive tackle, but Green Bay has done so with Tom. There's no doubt that Tom can be the guy at right tackle for the next seven or eight years. It's a crucial spot on the roster that doesn't have to be a question mark for the foreseeable future once the Packers and Tom hopefully reach terms on a contract extension.

The contract extension is an important caveat.

Tom is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after next season. Green Bay would be foolish to let it play out that way. Inking Tom to an extension should be near the top of their priority list this offseason.

Tom is going to want offensive tackle money, and he deserves offensive tackle money. Would Brian Gutekunst and the front office really dish out a massive extension on par with what top-tier offensive tackles are getting just to slide Tom inside to center?

You can make a case that Tom would be great at center when leaving out what he already is as a right tackle. However, it doesn't make sense schematically or financially when he's already regarded as a premier right tackle and will get paid as one.

Bringing back Myers solves all of this, but the money has to be reasonable.

Gutekunst had an

There's a stark difference between what Gutekunst said about Myers and, oh, I don't know, cornerback Jaire Alexander.

When speaking about Myers, Gutekunst sounds like a general manager who wants to see his center return for a bevy of reasons. Among them is Love trusting Myers, which holds significant weight for this front office.

The Myers decision will set into motion a ripple effect one way or another for Green Bay. The Packers undoubtedly want to give 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan a chance to shine somewhere on the offensive line. His best fit would be at tackle.

Sliding Tom to center if Myers leaves to give Morgan a chance at tackle isn't a thought that should be entertained. Again, the Packers have their right tackle etched in stone for the next handful of years once a contract extension is worked out. There's no reason to mess with that.

Keeping Tom at right tackle should be automatic regardless of what takes place elsewhere on the offensive line for Green Bay.