We can sweat the details of roster cuts and practice squad juggling. Something we’re not talking about this week is our starting tackles. Two of the lowest profile, highest impact moves, that affect the Packers chances are the draft selections of Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker.
GM Brian Gutekunst’s dynamic, and rapid rebuild of the Packer roster is impressive. But besides the ascension of Jordan Love, what’s been more critical than the low key 4th and 7th round 2022 draft picks?
Let the Trading begin
The tear down and rebuild began when Gutey acquired several draft picks by trading Davante Adams. One year later, moving future HOF QB Aaron Rodgers left no doubt the roster would be stripped to the studs and rebuilt. Then, Gutey stayed with the youth movement. He swapped age and risk in favor of youth and talent, signing Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs to get younger and better at safety and running back.
Trading Adams, Rodgers and Rasul Douglas brought a bounty of draft picks that are now the nucleus of the Packer roster. Yet, without the 4th and 7th round draft picks solidifying the Packers right and left tackle spots, no one would be calling the Packers a Super Bowl contender.
Best picks aren’t always first
Zach Tom is quickly establishing himself as a top lineman in the NFL. The 140th player selected in 2022, a 4th round pick is entrenched at right tackle. Tom has the athleticism to play virtually any position on the line. In just his third season, he’s a top 10 right tackle in the NFL.
Gutekunst found Walker in the 7th round of that same draft. Walker fell to pick 258, a spot where the odds are against a player winning a roster spot, much less a key starting job. Instead, Walker enters his 3rd season as the clear starter at left tackle after mostly redshirting as a rookie. Never mind top draft pick Jordan Morgan, Walker didn’t leave a flicker of doubt about who the starting left tackle is in Green Bay.
It’s called compensatory for a reason
Ironically, both Tom and Walker were picked with compensatory picks. Those, the picks awarded to teams for free agent losses from the year before. These picks were rewarded for the losses of running back Jamaal Williams and former All-Pro center Corey Linsley.
Remember the Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker lesson the next time the Packers pass on paying one of their free agents. Swapping aging expensive players for younger, cheaper talent can inject lifeblood into a roster. Especially when the picks are bullseyes like Tom and Walker.