The 2024 NFL season has yet to take its final bow. Still, like all but the remaining four teams, the Green Bay Packers have shifted into offseason mode.
It wasn’t Green Bay’s year, thanks to their self-inflicted wounds, injuries, and growing pains. But the Packers grew from last season and are well-positioned to make a run in 2025.
One of the first steps toward getting back on the Lombardi Trophy’s Wild Ride is to decide which of their unrestricted free agents they want to bring back.
The 2025 Packers enter the offseason with more cap spending money than they’ve had in a while. While they’ll need to start offering extensions to some emerging stars, there aren’t a ton of high-priority UFAs the team needs to shell out cash for.
One of the most intriguing storylines is that of center Josh Myers. He’s a player with a different perception from those in the building and those without. Brian Gutekunst called Myers an invaluable asset to their locker room while acknowledging that free agency complicates matters.
It sounds like Gutekunst wants Myers back. But will it happen?
Forever linked to All-Pro Creed Humphrey by the draft zeitgeist, Myers never achieved the heights that the man drafted one pick after him did, invoking a bit of ire from the fanbase. Like the Kevin King/T.J. Watt discourse, the two centers will be forever linked through no fault of their own.
Ignoring those comparisons, the question of re-signing Myers hinges on a few things:
- His accomplishments
- His value to the locker room
- The difficulty in finding starting-quality offensive linemen
- The cost for those linemen
- And the availability of replacement options
Gutekunst praised Myers’ tenacity and toughness. He mentioned that, despite playing through injuries, Myers had a phenomenal season.
“I thought he had his best year,” Gutekunst said during his end-of-season presser.
On the field, that’s a hard statement to agree with. Myers’ 2024 55.3 PFF score is one of the worst for centers and wasn’t even his best. That includes a 0.0 pass-blocking grade against the Detroit Lions in Week 14.
Josh Myers had a @pff pass pro grade of 0.0.
Not sure I have ever seen that.
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) December 6, 2024
PFF grades aren’t everything, but the film supports those grades. Myers isn’t a bad player, but he’s struggled with inconsistency throughout his career.
Gutekunst highlighted Myers’ intangibles, believing him to be a crucial component of the locker room.
“I can’t say enough good things, not only as a player but as a leader. He embodies a Green Bay Packer,” Gutekunst said, adding that Jordan Love trusts Myers as his center.
With a young team, younger players needed to step into leadership roles, and everything we’ve heard is that Myers is one of the best. The chemistry between the center and quarterback also has value. When Elgton Jenkins slid to center in relief for Myers in Week 9, Jenkins had some poor snap placement. Myers brings value.
But are those factors enough for a franchise that needs “more urgency” in competing for a Super Bowl?
It ultimately comes down to price.
At first, it looked like Myers suffered a severe injury in the Wild Card loss to Philadelphia, but Matt LaFleur said after that game that Myers appeared to have avoided major damage. That’s good news for someone entering free agency, and it means it shouldn’t affect his potential earnings.
The cost for interior offensive linemen is only rising; 2024 saw many high-profile signings for iOL.
Robert Hunt led the way with a five-year, $100 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. The Tennessee Titans signed center Lloyd Cushenberry to a four-year, $50 million contract. Old friend Jon Runyan Jr. signed a nice three-year, $30 million deal with the New York Giants after receiving similar praise from Gutekunst last year.
Creed Humphrey signed a four-year, $72 million extension just before the 2024 season, becoming the highest-paid center in the league. Myers won’t get that kind of offer, but even a deal comparable to Runyan’s might be too steep for what Myers has put on film.
If Myers is willing to take a less lucrative deal to stay in Green Bay, Russ Ball could make it happen. Even though Myers isn’t a fan favorite, he’s still a starting-quality offensive lineman. That’s enough to get a bigger payday elsewhere than what Green Bay might like to offer.
It might ultimately depend on what Green Bay thinks of its replacement options. Elgton Jenkins would be a favorite to move from LG to C, though his performance in relief of Myers wasn’t great.
Many believe Zach Tom would be a Hall of Fame-tier center, but he’s been so good at tackle that it’s hard to see him moving.
When Myers exited the Wild Card round game, Sean Rhyan moved to center over Jenkins. However, he didn’t see much extended action. Still, Rhyan got plenty of practice at center this preseason. Therefore, moving Rhyan to center full-time and elevating Jordan Morgan to RG is a likely outcome.
While he was a surprise inactive for much of the year, don’t forget about Jacob Monk. The second-year lineman could take a big leap and push for a starting spot thanks to his experience and versatility. A rough rookie season isn’t a death sentence, especially for a later-round pick.
The Packers can’t say enough good things about Myers, and some of the criticisms leveled at him are tainted by the could have had situation with Humphrey. Still, Myers never quite overcame his consistency issues or filled the big shoes left by Corey Linsley.
“I look back at that one,” Gutekunst said, “and I’m really glad we’ve had him for the last four years.”
There was a lot of praise from the general manager, but we’ll see if that translates to a second contract.
