Unpacking Future Packers: No. 45, Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
During the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall pick. It marked the first time since 2011, that the Packers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round.
Given the current makeup of the offensive line, it’s hard to imagine that the Packers use back-to-back first-round picks on an offensive lineman. If the Packers were to play a game today, the starting offense line would likely look something like Rasheed Walker (left tackle), Aaron Banks (left guard), Elgton Jenkins (center), Sean Rhyan (right guard) and Zach Tom (right tackle), with Morgan serving as a versatile backup.
That's a solid foundation the Packers have in place heading into the 2025 campaign. Dig a little deeper and that foundation could quickly crack.
Behind that group of six, the lack of quality depth is glaring. On top of that Walker, Rhyan and Tom are all entering contract years. Even after signing Banks in free agency, there is still plenty of work to do in fortifying the offensive line.
A potential offensive lineman that the Packers could target in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft is Josh Conerly Jr. The Oregon offensive tackle checks in at No. 45 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A five-star recruit out of the state of Washington, Conerly started 28 games at left tackle over the past two seasons for the Ducks.
"Not just this season, but in 2023 as well, Conerly was a staple of the Ducks’ offensive line as the left tackle," Zachary Neel, the Ducks beat writer for Ducks Wire said. "When he came to Oregon as a true freshman, Oregon was unable to keep him off of the field, utilizing him in a number of packages despite him not being the starting left tackle. Then as the starter over the past two years, he has held down the left edge at an above-average level and held his own against some elite edge rushers like Abdul Carter."
At 6-5., 311 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, Conerly looks the part. He's coordinated in his movements in pass protection. He has quick feet with the lateral mobility to match edge quickness and shut down the corner. He's got patient hands and uses a timely punch to stun defenders. He'll need to get stronger and there are instances where he be overwhelmed by power. According to Pro Football Focus Conerly gave up one sack and nine pressures this past season.
"I mentioned already that his size — 6-foot-5, 311 pounds — makes him a great fit for the tackle spot, and he’s got a great punch and is a very athletic player," Neel said. "A former running back in high school, he has quick feet. While he doesn’t have an above-average arm length for a tackle, he has managed to hold his own on the edge and play with great knee bend and consistent pad level, allowing him to maximize his strength."
Conerly fires out of his stance to quickly get into defenders and is a good athlete in space. Once Conerly gets rolling downhill he is like a snowplow, just opening up running lanes for the ball carrier. He drives defenders out of the way. When he latches on he stays engaged.
"While Conerly’s strength is in pass protection, he has been a decent run-blocker in his career," Neel said. "What is encouraging, though, is his ability to improve, as we saw throughout the season in 2024. He needs to build up his strength a bit before becoming an elite run blocker, but he has the size to be a prototypical NFL tackle."
Fit with the Packers
The Packers currently have no job openings across the offensive line. It's a crowded room with the possibility that Morgan will be on the outside looking in when the 2025 season kicks off in September. Given that, it's reasonable to think the Packers could wait until Day 3 to provide the offensive line with reinforcements.
However, the draft is never about the now. It's about the future and Gutekunst has always done a good job of getting out in front of potential disasters. With Tom, Walker and Rhyan all set to be free agents next season, Gutekunst could look to draft potential replacements early in the 2025 draft.
If Conerly is on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 54th overall pick, his talent may be difficult to pass up.
"If I’m a general manager, I look at the trajectory not only of Conerly’s 2024 season but his career as a whole," Neel said. "An athletic multi-sport athlete in high school who eventually became the No. 1 ranked tackle prospect in the nation worked his way to the starting lineup in Eugene and consistently improved throughout his career. That is doubly true in 2024, where he was relatively average at the start of the year but building up to an elite season, which culminated in a dominant Big Ten Championship Game against Penn State’s Abdul Carter. Conerly is an athletic player with versatility to play inside and outside if you need, with a consistent track record of improvement."
It's reasonable to expect the Packers to lock up Tom to a long-term deal. The former fourth-round pick has developed into one of the best right tackles in the league.
Will Gutekunst make it a priority to re-sign Walker and Ryhan? Gutekunst may let them both walk, which would lead to future compensatory picks. Morgan could take over at right guard and if Conerly lands in Green Bay he could serve as the team's franchise left tackle.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 45, Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr
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