Packers Giving Rookie Royce Newman Plenty of Reps as Starter
By Paul Bretl
One of the more intriguing competitions this summer for the Green Bay Packers will come along the offensive line.
While Josh Myers is the presumed starter at center, he will have to fend off Lucas Patrick first. If David Bakhtiari isn’t ready to go Week 1, then a tackle spot is up for grabs, and depending on how all of that plays out, there will be at least one, if not two, starting spots at guard in play as well.
The Green Bay Packers certainly aren’t lacking options when it comes to filling out their offensive line either—especially along the interior. But through OTAs and the first two days of mini-camp, it’s clear that they are giving fourth round rookie Royce Newman plenty of opportunities with the 1s. And not just at tackle, but at guard as well.
In an 11-on-11 drill on Wednesday, Newman was out there as a starter at right tackle after he spent much of Tuesday’s practice at right guard with the 1s. During the two OTA practices that were open to the media, we saw much of the same. That’s quite the vote of confidence by the coaching staff and shows how highly they think of the rookie.
What made this Green Bay Packers offensive line so successful last season was the unit’s overall versatility, as there was plenty of shuffling and musical chairs played as the team dealt with injuries for much of the year. It’s also that versatility that drew the Packers to Newman during the draft.
"“Any time you get guys on your football team that can do multiple things, it gives you flexibility, especially when injuries occur,” Packers co-director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said via the Wisconsin State Journal. “So yeah, we were attracted to the kid, to the makeup of the kid, the wiring of the kid — and then the talent, as well. We think he can play winning football at guard and tackle, (and he) probably could even kick inside to center if that was ever needed.”"
During his four year career at Ole Miss, Newman played every position except for center, but spent most of his 2019 season at left guard and all of 2020 at right tackle. He would allow only three sacks in 847 pass-blocking reps and 35 pressures, according to PFF ($$).
At this time, the only players that we can say with certainty are going to be starters this season are Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner — although I’m not exactly sure where either will end up — and Bakhtiari when he returns. The other two to three spots will be determined by what takes place during training camp and the preseason, but from the early looks of it, Newman will get plenty of opportunities to win one of the openings.