The Green Bay Packers do not have a great recent history of third round draft picks. While the organization and fans hope that tight end Tucker Kraft can change that in 2023, there is no denying that recent third round picks have been, to put it kindly, disappointing. Going back to 2018 (when Brian Gutekunst became the general manager), Green Bay’s third round picks have included Oren Burks, Jace Sternberger, Josiah Deguara, Amari Rodgers, and Sean Rhyan.
Related: The Green Bay Packers Awful Recent History of Third Round Picks
Of these third round picks, just Deguara and Rhyan remain on the team. Deguara is poised to, once again, be third on the depth chart, but this time behind a pair of rookies (Kraft and Luke Musgrave). Rhyan, well, he played an entire one snap last season and was suspended for violating the NFL’s anti-doping policy.
Could the Green Bay Packers Release Sean Rhyan?
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic has a weekly article in which he answers questions from readers. One reader asked him who could be a surprising cut candidate for the Packers. Schneidman responded:
“As for a surprise cut, it’s so hard to guess. But because you asked, I’ll go with offensive lineman Sean Rhyan since he’s not currently in the top seven and carries the unfortunate burden of being a third-round pick for a general manager whose track record in that round is horrible.”
“Not in the top seven,” of course, means that Rhyan is not one of the best seven offensive linemen on the team. David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins have locked up the starting positions on the left side of the line, Josh Myers is the starting center (for now), Jon Runyan Jr. has been solid at right guard, and Yosh Nijman is an above-average right tackle.
Beyond those five is Zach Tom, a second-year player who some believe could take any of the starting spots that are not spoken for by Jenkins and Bakhtiari. Some believe he may even be Bakhtiari’s successor at left tackle. After Tom, the Packers also have Caleb Jones, Rasheed Walker, and other exciting developmental players. Is Rhyan better than any of them?
The fact of the matter is that, while the line is projected to be solid this season, will likely lose a major piece next season when David Bakhtiari could become a cap casualty. Myers, too, will become a free agent and really has not played well enough to have earned a second contract. In other words, there will be jobs open next year.
Offensive line coach Luke Butkus revealed that Rhyan is taking snaps at guard and center during OTA’s in an effort to help him become a more versatile player. The fact of the matter is, though, that Rhyan is going to have to excel beyond anyone’s expectations at one of these positions to save his spot on the 53-man roster.
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