Packers act early and get ahead of the market to handle the most important move of their entire 2025 offseason
No task in the 2025 offseason was more important than taking care of right tackle Zach Tom for the Green Bay Packers. The team has just done it, finalizing a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the former fourth-round pick, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL. The deal can go up to […]
No task in the 2025 offseason was more important than taking care of right tackle Zach Tom for the Green Bay Packers. The team has just done it, finalizing a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the former fourth-round pick, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL. The deal can go up to $92 million with incentives.
The timing is telling. Tom played three seasons in the league and had just become eligible to receive an extension. Instead of waiting to see another year of production on the field, general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball went ahead and decided to lock the tackle up for the future.
Zach Tom was a fourth-rounder in 2022, and he earned the proven performance escalator for his salary in 2025, which would be $3.532 million. With the new extension, Tom can make a total of $95.532 million and is now under contract with the Packers through 2029.
From versatile piece to elite right tackle
When the Packers selected Zach Tom, versatility was his calling card. However, the front office saw him as a center, primarily. At the time, though, the Packers had just invested a second-round pick on Josh Myers and he was playing at a decent level. Back in 2022, David Bakhtiari was also able to play 11 games, the only season where the left tackle got fairly healthy since the knee injury.
Therefore, as a rookie, Tom played 295 snaps at left tackle, 96 at left guard, 14 at right guard, and 84 at right tackle, mostly as an all-around backup. His performance, especially in pass protection, led the Packers to establish him at right tackle over Yosh Nijman in 2023.
Over the past two years, despite talks that they could consider moving Tom inside, he became too good and important at tackle — which is also a more valuable position. Last season, he was third in All-Pro votes at right tackle, just behind Detroit Lions' Penei Sewell and Philadelphia Eagles' Lane Johnson.
"I think that's the plan, absolutely. That's where he's found his home," head coach Matt LaFleur recently said when asked if Tom would stay at right tackle. "But what's great about him is if you do have something that happens, he gives you flexibility up front."
From Wake Forest to a big NFL contract, Zach Tom has gone a long way for who was perceived as an undersized offensive lineman. But he has established what he can do, and the Packers rewarded him for that.
More offensive line questions
The Packers have three linemen from the 2022 class as projected starters. So although the Packers have now extended Zach Tom, there are still remaining questions with the other two. Left tackle Rasheed Walker and right guard Sean Rhyan are both slated to hit free agency next offseason.
Walker is certainly the more important piece of the two based on his above average performance at the most valuable position on the line — however, that also means more expensive. Rhyan has also been a solid starter, but he plays a more easily-replaceable spot.
Over the past two years, the Packers have drafted two tackle/guard hybrids in the first two rounds, Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton. Their performances in 2025 will be the ultimate factor for these decisions.
But Tom, the most important part of the puzzle, is a Packer for years to come.
Packers must now handle a concern tied to one of their most unique recent success stories on the roster
Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan are entering the final year of their deals
