The Green Bay Packers added a trio of offensive linemen in the 2025 offseason that indicated a significant change in how the franchise viewed the unit, and general manager Brian Gutekunst revealed at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine that it was an intentional decision.
Gutekunst and his staff made a handful of moves to bolster their offensive line last year. Along with signing offensive guard Aaron Banks and trading for a swing tackle/sixth OL in Darian Kinnard, the Packers also used their second-round pick on Anthony Belton, who eventually slotted into a starting role at right guard.
The noticeable trend with all three of those players? Each of them weighs as least 322 pounds.
That’s on the bigger end for an offensive line that has thrived with “undersized” guys over the years. David Bakhtiari was a significantly smaller tackle prospect out of Colorado at just 6’4” and 299 pounds. Zach Tom wasn’t much bigger at 6’4” and 304 pounds. A number of starting OL in Green Bay have hovered around that 300-310 pound range, with the Packers typically favoring more agile prospects up front.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Gutekunst revealed that there was real intention behind the decision to get bigger in the trenches.
“I wouldn’t say we changed our evaluation process [for offensive linemen], but it was intentional,” Gutekunst shared when asked about the move to bigger offensive linemen. “We did want to get bigger, a little bit more stout up front to be able to move people in the run game if we can.”
Those kind of bigger bodies make sense with Green Bay’s offensive personnel and identity, most notably with Josh Jacobs starting at running back. Bigger bodies should be able to generate more push for a power-focused back like Jacobs, while also helping maintain more of a pocket for Jordan Love in the passing game, particularly on play-action concepts.
“Coming out of 2024 I just thought we were getting pushed around more than I wanted to,” Gutekunst revealed. “I think all 32 teams here covet big guys who can move because they’re the hardest guys to find, so it’s natural that we added that.”
While the Packers got bigger, the transition wasn’t without some growing pains. Banks struggled to live up to being one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL, while Belton went through some rookie lumps of his own, bouncing between right tackle and kicking inside to right guard despite his experience outside in college at NC State.
In more positive news, Kinnard provided some positive flashes filling in at right tackle for Zach Tom, and helped generate some successful running concepts out of 6-OL personnel.
There’s still time for Banks to get acclimated to Green Bay and for Belton to develop into a starting-caliber guard. Still, Gutekunst isn’t done getting bigger up front, and told reporters on Tuesday that it will continue to be a priority going forward.