Packers’ offensive line moves reveal the trait connecting three veteran additions brought in to fix a major problem
Green Bay added Cordell Volson, Laken Tomlinson, and Mekhi Becton to address the NFL’s worst pass-blocking unit, and all three share some critical traits.
The Green Bay Packers might not have found a definitive solution for their offensive line problem, but at least they are trying. General manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office should have addressed the offensive line earlier in the process. Entering the season with Jacob Monk as the Week 1 preferred starter was already an issue, and the injuries to Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks affected circumstances further. The initial process, though, was already flawed.
Now the Packers have added three veteran offensive linemen over the past 11 days, and the reasoning behind each signing points to a specific philosophy.
“I think it’s great. I mean, these guys have played a lot of football, they know how to play the game, and the game’s not too big for them,” Matt LaFleur said. “But certainly, there’s going to be a learning curve there.”
The system familiarity factor
Over that span, Green Bay added former Cincinnati Bengals starting guard Cordell Volson to the practice squad, signed Laken Tomlinson off the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad to the active 53-man roster, and added Mekhi Becton to the practice squad on Monday.
They all played under offensive play-callers who run similar styles of offense with similar terminology to what head coach Matt LaFleur runs in Green Bay. Tomlinson spent several years with Kyle Shanahan on the San Francisco 49ers and also played for Mike LaFleur on the New York Jets. Becton played for Mike LaFleur on the Jets as well.
Volson fits the same mold. On the Bengals, he played under Zac Taylor, who was an assistant coach behind Sean McVay on the Los Angeles Rams.
The fact that these players performed under these coaches means they know the terminology and understand the basics of the system. Even if LaFleur runs a slightly different version of that offense, it’s the same branch of offensive football. All three know the system, and theoretically they could play quicker for the Packers. Ultimately, Green Bay wants players who can contribute as soon as possible.
Experience the Packers desperately lack
The other major factor behind these three signings is volume of NFL experience. Volson, Tomlinson, and Becton have combined for 17,078 offensive snaps in the NFL. On the other hand, the players who have played guard for the Packers this season are severely inexperienced.
Aaron Banks ended up playing only 22 snaps over the first three weeks because of knee and toe injuries. Beyond him, Donovan Jennings entered the season with six offensive snaps throughout his NFL career. Jacob Monk entered the season with only 57 NFL snaps on offense, all of which came at center, not guard, in the meaningful game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 last season. Rookie Jager Burton, a fifth-round pick, obviously had no NFL experience as a first-year player.
The lack of experience has shown on the field. These players have lost one-on-ones, missed blocks, and struggled with assignment recognition. The Packers are 32nd in pass block win rate this season, winning only 16% of their pass sets by ESPN’s metric. It is simply impossible for quarterback Jordan Love to operate under those circumstances.
Building a baseline of NFL talent
For a team whose philosophy is rooted in drafting and developing, having to sign veterans after two and three games of the regular season because the developmental players haven’t reached the necessary level of competency is a difficult admission for the front office to make. What the Packers are trying to build now is an offensive line that, even if it isn’t a strength, at least functions at a baseline level of NFL competency. Veteran players who know what to do on the field and who have thousands of snaps of experience to provide that floor.
It is impossible to build a strong offensive line by signing players during the regular season. But at least Green Bay is trying to reach a baseline of viable performance to salvage what has been an uninspiring 2026 season for the Packers.
