Paul Bretl | 1/24/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Among the free agent decisions that the Packers will have to make this offseason will be whether or not to re-sign center Josh Myers.
“I would love to be here,” said Myers. “I love it here. I love the people. It’s a wonderful team, a wonderful organization. I’d absolutely love to be here.”
After Myers was responsible for giving up eight combined sacks during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he allowed only one this past year. In the run game, Josh Jacobs would average 4.3 yards per rush when running directly to Myers’ right or left, according to PFF’s metrics.
“I thought he had his best year. I thought he dealt with some things during this year that were tough, and I thought he fought through it like a champion, and certain an asset to our football team,” said Brian Gutekunst. “I know Jordan trusts him very much as his center.”
How a player performs once the ball is snapped is ultimately what matters most and, admittedly, if you search through the stat sheet, Myers isn’t going to be among the best in pressures allowed, win rate, or run-blocking grade.
However, there is a stabilizing force his presence provides in the middle of the offense and on this Packers’ team as a whole. During the season, Matt LaFleur would say that Myers is the guy “driving the ship up front,” and added that he is a “heart and soul of the team” type of player. Those players are not easily replaced.
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When it comes to playing the center position, there is also a lot more that goes into it than just after the ball is snapped. The center’s job begins pre-snap with identifying defensive personnel, alignments, along with any potential blitzers and then communicating that effectively to the rest of the blockers so everyone is on the same page with their responsibilities. A mix up here, and the play can have almost no chance of success before it even begins.
Myers has rarely missed a snap in his NFL career, let alone a game. This past season, he fought through several injuries to make sure he was on the field on Sundays. That availability and reliability are key components to the continuity of the offensive line unit and has helped build trust, as Gutekunst mentioned, and a rapport with Jordan Love.
“I can’t say enough good things about Josh Myers, not only as a player but as a leader,” added Gutekunst. “He really does embody kind of a Green Bay Packer and what we’re looking for and how they’re wired. Again, I thought he had a really good year, fought through some things. . . “I look back at that one, and I’m really glad we’ve had him for the last four years.”
When it comes to Myers’ future with the team, Gutekunst mentioned that he wished the roster was 150 players so he could bring back everyone, adding about Myers specifically that, “we’ll see where all that goes.”
In my opinion, for many of the reasons mentioned, I do think the Packers would like to have Myers back–but at the right price. This feels like one of those situations, not unlike last offseason with Jon Runyan, where the Packers have their line in the sand on what they’ll offer contract-wise.
Myers will hit free agency and see what’s out there for him and if the Packers can match, I think they attempt to do that. But if Myers can earn more elsewhere, my thought is that Green Bay lets him walk.
If that’s the case, the question then becomes, who will be the Packers’ starting center?
Perhaps the obvious choice is 2024 rookie Jacob Monk–although it’s worth mentioning that Monk was a healthy scratch in numerous games last season, showing that growth and development are still very much needed.
One other name I’ll throw out there is Sean Rhyan. The Packers had Rhyan taking snaps at center during training camp and the preseason, and in the few instances when Myers had to exit a game this season, Rhyan took over at center. Elgton Jenkins could be an option as well, and in either instance, it would allow Jenkins, Rhyan, and Jordan Morgan to all get on the field.
Regardless of whether or not Myers is returns, the Packers will address the offensive line, whether that be in free agency, the draft or both, as they do every offseason. That is just in Gutekunst’s DNA as a roster-builder, with oftentimes multiple draft picks being devoted to the trenches.
“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Gutekunst. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.
“And so, we’ve got some decisions to make as we move forward on the offensive line, and as we go through that, there could be some shuffling around.”
On the Packers to-do list is deciding whether to pick up Walker and Wyatt’s 5th year options for 2026. But Gutekunst didn’t seem to leave much mystery to what his plans are.
“We’re super fired about both those guys seasons”
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— Paul Bretl (@Paul_Bretl) January 23, 2025