Packers’ Offensive Line Shuffle Sends a Clear Message About Jordan Morgan’s Future
When the Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Morgan in the 2024 NFL Draft, they talked up his versatility like it was a bonus feature on a new gadget. GM Brian Gutekunst even said Morgan could “probably play four positions for us.” That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s NFL-especially for a team that’s had its fair share of injury shuffles up front.
But fast forward to December, and that promise of versatility hasn’t translated into playing time. If anything, every opportunity that’s come Morgan’s way has been met with a quick pivot in another direction.
The Door Opens, Then Slams Shut
Morgan came into the league as a college left tackle, and that’s where he looked the most natural. Still, the Packers tried to test his adaptability.
When he didn’t win the left tackle job over Rasheed Walker or edge out Sean Rhyan at right guard, it wasn’t a huge surprise. But the real turning point came when Elgton Jenkins went down with a season-ending injury.
That injury forced Rhyan to move to center, opening up right guard-seemingly the perfect shot for Morgan to stake his claim. He got the start in Week 11 against the Giants. But one game was all it took for the coaching staff to change course.
Enter Anthony Belton
The following week against the Vikings, rookie Anthony Belton began rotating in at right guard. By the third quarter, it wasn’t a rotation anymore-it was a benching.
Morgan was out, and Belton was in. Then came Thanksgiving, and Belton played every snap in the win over Detroit.
Morgan didn’t see the field.
That decision sent a loud message. Belton had never played guard in college.
He was a pure tackle at NC State, logging over 2,100 snaps at left tackle and just a handful at right. In fact, during his first training camp in Green Bay, Belton worked exclusively at tackle.
But a few weeks before his debut at guard, the Packers quietly started giving him reps inside.
And here’s the kicker: Belton might actually be a better fit at guard long-term. He showed flashes of potential during Senior Bowl practices last offseason, and the Packers clearly saw enough to give him a real shot.
Where Does That Leave Morgan?
Right now, it’s tackle-or-bust for Jordan Morgan. The guard experiment didn’t just fail-it exposed a mismatch between his skill set and the demands of the interior line.
Morgan’s footwork, praised by Gutekunst after the draft as “left tackle feet,” is still his best asset. And it’s that same trait that could keep him in the mix for the long haul.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich isn’t giving up on him yet. “He’s going to keep competing,” Stenavich said last week.
“Just like any young player going through your ups and downs, just trying to find your best spot. But he’s going to keep competing.
We’re going to keep working him in there and he’s going to be a good player for us.”
That’s the kind of coach-speak that signals belief, but also urgency. Because the clock is ticking.
A Glimpse at 2026
The best-case scenario for Morgan? He becomes Rasheed Walker’s successor at left tackle.
Walker is set to hit free agency this offseason, and there’s a growing sense that the Packers may let him walk. If that happens, Morgan could get a clean shot at his natural position-where he’s most comfortable, and where the Packers originally envisioned him making an impact.
The question is: will he be ready?
The Packers have made it clear that Morgan isn’t part of their interior line plans. But the left tackle door may open in 2026-and if it does, it might be Morgan’s last shot to prove he belongs in Green Bay’s long-term blueprint.
He’s got the tools. Now it’s about timing, confidence, and seizing the opportunity when it finally comes.