Green Bay Packers: O-Line Best & Worst Case Scenarios
By Kenny Jilek
Returners on the bubble
It really speaks to the Green Bay Packers’ lack of tackle depth that multiple returning guards are basically locks for the roster, but all their backup tackles have a chance to be cut.
Alex Light
The picture at the top of this slide is there for a reason. That is Alex Light clearly losing a pass-blocking rep to Robert McCray III. I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard of Robert McCray III. That’s because this is a preseason game, and he didn’t make the team.
Light was the Packers swing tackle last season, playing in eight games, and he heavily struggled any time he was called upon. He just was not cutting it on the edge and getting beaten snap after snap.
His best-case scenario is coming to camp better than he was last season and keeping that swing tackle spot. However, there’s a very real chance he gets cut because there are other young, hungry guys like Bruffy chomping at the bit for their shot.
Yosh Nijman
Yosh Nijman is huge; no Yosh Nijman is a mountain. At 6’7″ 314 pounds, and with speed and explosiveness through the roof for a lineman, with speed score in the 97th percentile and burst score in the 86th, he has all the physical tools to be an All-Pro lineman.
Unfortunately, he’s still extremely raw and probably still doesn’t have the refined skills needed to see playing time this year. He could surprise everyone and take the swing tackle spot from Light, being able to play anytime Bakhtiari or whoever ends up at right tackle get dinged up.
He could also be cut and sent to the practice squad to work on his technique, but the Green Bay Packers run the risk of losing their impressive physical specimen to another team, and we all know how Brian Gutekunst values physical traits.
Cody Conway
The final two tackles were both on the practice squad last year but could elevate themselves above Light and Nijman if they perform well in camp. Conway was an undrafted free agent last year after four years at Syracuse, who was signed to the Packers practice squad in November. With Light and Nijman the only guys in front of him, he’s got a real chance to make his first NFL regular-season roster.
John Leglue
Like Conway, Leglue was signed to the practice squad late in 2019. His versatility is what could help him make this roster. While tackle is the biggest position in need of backup help, it never hurts to be able to play multiple positions.
In college, he started 16 games at tackle, 13 at guard, and nine at center. He’s comfortable moving everywhere, and it’s always good to have a guy like that on your team. The best thing for Leglue is that he makes the roster, and at the worst, he’ll at least be kept on the practice squad for his ability to play everywhere.