The Green Bay Packers are trying anything to be better in 2023 than they were in 2022. Of course, this meant trading a very disgruntled Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets to pave the way for 2020 first round draft pick Jordan Love. It also meant letting aged veterans depart via free agency and replacing them with younger players. For some of these younger players, it also means that they will be changing what position they play in 2023.
Green Bay Packers 2022 7th Round Pick Tariq Carpenter Is Moving to Linebacker
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There were some rumblings earlier this offseason that Tariq Carpenter would be moving to linebacker from the safety position, but now it is official on the Packers’ depth chart. In fact, Carpenter thought that he was going to play linebacker last season, so he showed up to the team weighing 230 pounds. However, they decided to use him as a safety, so Carpenter had to drop 15 pounds during the season. Once he got down to 215, he was used on special teams and finished with eight tackles in the team’s last six games.
Of Carpenter, general manager Brian Gutekunst has previously stated:
“He’s a little bit of a tweener because he’s got the size of a linebacker but he plays safety and he has that kind of speed. He’s really, really physical. I think we’ll kind of figure out exactly where he fits, whether he goes to that safety room or the linebacker room at different times and what packages he plays in on defense and certainly on special teams. That was one of the big reasons we took him.”
The move to linebacker, in theory, should open up more opportunities for Carpenter. The safety room, while lacking in high-profile talent, is quite crowded. The linebacker room, with fewer players, will give him more of an opportunity to make an impact.
Green Bay Packers 2022 3rd Round Pick Sean Rhyan Is Moving Inside
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The Packers selected offensive tackle Sean Rhyan in the third round last season hoping he would break their third round curse. It was not to be as Rhyan played just one snap all season before getting suspended for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drugs policy.
In order to give themselves more flexibility on the offensive line, the Packers are working Rhyan at guard and center this offseason, per Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated. This decision, like the decision to move Carpenter, is surely meant to give Rhyan more of an opportunity to earn playing time. Green Bay coaches have stated that the only jobs spoken for on the offensive line are left guard (Elgton Jenkins) and left tackle (David Bakhtiari). Right tackle, right guard, and center are all up for grabs.
If Rhyan can displace Josh Myers or Jon Runyan Jr at center or right guard, he would provide a long-term answer at those positions as both Myers and Runyan are nearing the end of their contracts. Myers is under contract through 2024 and Runyan is a free agent after this upcoming season ends.
While Zach Tom has garnered a lot of praise and attention this offseason, the Packers deviated from their usual draft approach and took no offensive linemen. In addition to Runyan, Yosh Nijman will be an unrestricted free agent next season. David Bakhtiari could end up being cut to save money on the salary cap as well. In short, there will be a lot of jobs up for grabs next season, and the 2022 draft class will be relied upon to fill them. Rhyan can really help himself and the team by displaying high-level play on the interior of the offensive line.
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