Green Bay spent most of last season trying to figure out what to do with Anthony Belton. They tried him at swing tackle. That didn’t work. Now he’s settled in at right guard, and there’s real reason to think this could be the thing that unlocks something for the entire offense.
The Packers lost to the Bears in last year’s Wild Card round, and moving on from that stings. But the roster is loaded. Jordan Love is the guy on offense. Micah Parsons is the headline on defense, though he’s expected to miss the start of the season and return around October, according to reports. When healthy, this is one of the most complete teams in the league.
But the offensive line has been a question mark. And that’s where Belton comes in.
The switch from tackle to guard
ESPN’s Ben Solak broke down why Belton’s move inside matters so much. He said the Packers “desperately need” what Belton can bring now that the experiment at tackle is over. Belton was a college left tackle and barely practiced inside until the regular season started. So his rookie year was all over the place. Solak is willing to throw most of that out.
“Belton has the size, flexibility and power to be a defining force in the running game — something the Packers desperately need, as they typically run the ball from shotgun and need big-time vertical displacement,” Solak said. “Aaron Banks, who was a free agent disappointment in Year 1, was supposed to be that linchpin player. With a full offseason of prep, I believe it can be Belton instead.”
Solak’s confidence stands out because nobody was talking about Belton this way six months ago. He was the guy who got shuffled around and looked shaky at times. But a full offseason at one position changes things.
What the Packers are building up front
Belton should join a starting group that includes Zach Tom, Sean Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Jordan Morgan. That’s not a bad core if Belton actually becomes the run-blocking anchor Solak thinks he can be. Green Bay loves to run from shotgun, and they need a guard who can move a defensive tackle off the spot. Banks didn’t do that last year. Belton might.
It’s not often you see a team salvage a failed tackle experiment into a promising guard situation, but that’s exactly where the Packers are right now. If Belton hits, this line goes from a question mark to a strength. And if the line is a strength, Jordan Love has a real shot at taking another step forward.
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