Green Bay added three offensive linemen during the season to patch the guard spots, and only one of them is young enough to factor into the 2027 plans.
The Green Bay Packers have made three offensive line additions during the season to address their guard problems. Two of them, Laken Tomlinson
and Kevin Zeitler
, are short-term fixes. Tomlinson, who has been starting at left guard, is already 34. Zeitler is 36, and he was out of the league during training camp before returning to the practice field with Green Bay.
The third addition is different. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton
is more of a long-term plan for the Packers, and he could be a realistic option at right guard beyond this season.
Becton signed with the practice squad, not the active roster, and he hasn't played yet. He spent his 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers playing through a shoulder injury, had surgery during the offseason, and is now working his way back.
The big aspect is age. Becton is 27, so he has plenty of time to get his career back on track. At 6-foot-7 and 357 pounds, he has a lot of talent, and he brings a lot of experience too.
His career path has been unusual. The New York Jets drafted Becton in the first round in 2020, and he played 1,621 snaps at left tackle and 101 snaps at right tackle for them. In 2024, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, moved to right guard, and had a resurgence with 903 snaps at the position. He won the Super Bowl with Philadelphia and then landed a free agent contract with the Chargers.
Los Angeles was a step back. The circumstances weren't as positive as they were with the Eagles, and he was dealing with the shoulder injury. By most metrics, it was his worst NFL season.
Now, Becton is getting back to full health. If the Packers can get him comfortable in the system and with his body, they could have a player who is part of the offensive line's future.
Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked whether he could trust Becton if he was forced to go in that direction. The question wasn't necessarily about Becton starting, but about whether he was getting close to being able to contribute to the roster.
"Got a lot of confidence in what he's been able to display on the practice field. So 100%," LaFleur said
.
That's a strong endorsement for a player who is still on the practice squad. It also suggests the coaching staff sees more than a depth piece.
The guard spots are a long-term question for Green Bay. A look at who is under contract for next season makes the case for Becton even clearer:
Aaron Banks will most likely get released because of his health and financial situations. Kevin Zeitler
and Laken Tomlinson are both playing on one-year deals. Jacob Monk is under contract through 2027, but he's not the answer based on what he showed in the first three weeks of the season. Travis Glover is also under contract for 2027 and could be an option, but probably not a definitive one. Donovan Jennings will be an exclusive rights free agent, but he isn't the answer either. Jager Burton is a rookie on a longer deal, under contract through 2029.
That's a lot of uncertainty for a position group that has already needed three in-season additions. Outside of Burton and potentially Glover, no one on that list looks like a long-term piece right now.
Becton becomes a logical alternative for Green Bay. The Packers could re-sign him for next year and beyond and keep him on the roster as a potential long-term fit, especially at right guard, where he had his best stretch in Philadelphia.
The plan for this season is still to go with Tomlinson and Zeitler at both guard spots. But if the Packers bring Becton back next year and he's comfortable with the system, there's a realistic scenario in which he is the starting right guard for the future.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Packers quietly stashed intriguing long-term option along the offensive line on practice squad while aging veterans hold the fort
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