Winning Masked Some Of Green Bay's O-Line Shortcomings

Jordan Love was a test dummy for much of the afternoon on Sunday in Cleveland.

The reason for that was mainly due to the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line rolling out the red carpet for the Cleveland Browns’ defensive front. It was an alarming game for the big boys up front, but it's not a cause for panic.

Let's get the bad part out of the way first.

Per Pro Football Focus, Love has been pressured on over 40% of his dropbacks this year. That includes the wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. Winning can mask a lot of things. It's easier to dismiss issues when you're posting wins against good teams. But Sunday's loss to the Browns put those numbers into perspective.

Not many quarterbacks are going to thrive in an environment when they're pressured on four of every 10 dropbacks. On top of that, per PFF, Green Bay's five lowest-graded players on offense Sunday were all offensive linemen. Left tackle Rasheed Walker had the lowest grade (34.1), followed by Jordan Morgan (40.7), Aaron Banks (40.9), Anthony Belton (41.6), and Elgton Jenkins (44.6).

Point blank, it wasn't good Sunday, and that unit has also occasionally been a head-scratcher in the previous two games.

Here's why you shouldn't be concerned ... yet.

There's a case to be made that no team in the NFL continually invests in the offensive line more than Green Bay. Take this offseason, for example.

The Packers backed up a Brinks truck to bring in Aaron Banks at left guard. Why do that when you already have Elgton Jenkins at left guard? Because the Packers can never have too many offensive linemen. Jenkins scooted over to center, and Banks plugged in at left guard.

Then, the Packers doubled down by drafting North Carolina State offensive lineman Anthony Belton in the second round. It was a surprise, if only because many believed the Packers would go cornerback or edge rusher early in the draft after taking wide receiver Matthew Golden in on Day 1. Instead, they continued to add talent along the offensive line.

Finally, right before the season, sensing the depth wasn't where they had hoped, Green Bay traded a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Darian Kinnard.

If the struggles continue up front, the Packers likely believe they have enough depth to figure out an adequate combination that works best. If it doesn't work out that way, this front office has been proactive in tinkering with the O-line. However, an in-season addition wouldn't be surprising. What would be surprising is if the Packers continued to struggle up front and the decision-makers just sat back and let it play out.

Matt LaFleur

Still a little freaked out? Consider who the Packers have on their roster. The offensive line wasn't terrible last year by any stretch of the imagination, and they returned four of the five same pieces.

What's the more likely scenario? Walker, Jenkins, Tom, and Sean Rhyan completely forgot how to be a competent offensive linemen? Or is the group going through an injury-riddled and rough stretch?

I’ll place my bets on the latter.

Green Bay flat-out knows how to draft and develop offensive linemen. Tom was a fourth-round pick who turned into a gem. Walker was a seventh-round pick who's been the starting left tackle for three consecutive years. Rhyan was a third-round pick who's starting at right guard for the second year in a row. However, the Packers need to find some cohesion up front.

Tom playing one snap on Sunday and exiting without returning isn't helping anyone. Banks leaving and not returning later on created more chaos.

While you'd love to have both guys healthy and starting, they must find a consistent group of five who get reps together during the week and then work together with confidence on game day.

Green Bay has a history of investing in and developing an offensive line. This year hasn't been the prettiest, but the Packers recognize it and have earned the trust that they will figure it out. The track record speaks for itself.

Plus, a Week 4 date with the Dallas Cowboys certainly doesn't hurt after playing that Browns defense.