Josh Myers is just one of 11 unrestricted free agents the Green Bay Packers must decide on this offseason, but his situation may be the most intriguing.

Myers missed 11 games as a rookie but has started at least 16 in the past three seasons. Brian Gutekunst noted that Myers played through wrist and pectoral injuries in 2024 yet missed only one game, a Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions.

Pro Football Focus ranked Myers tied for 30th among 32 centers with at least 500 snaps in 2024. He ranked 25th out of 34 in 2022 and 26th out of 32 in 2023. Despite the numbers, Gutekunst was effusive about Myers during his season-ending press conference.

“I thought he had his best year,” Gutekunst said.

He dealt with some things during this year that were tough, and I thought he fought through it like a champion. He’s certainly an asset to our football team. I know Jordan [Love] trusts him very much as his center. He’s a UFA, so we’ll see where all that goes, but I can’t say enough good things about Josh Myers, not only as a player but as a leader. He really does embody a Green Bay Packer and kind of what we’re looking for.

Gutekunst’s comments suggest Green Bay is leaning toward bringing Myers back, which would keep the offensive line configuration intact and maintain continuity with Jordan Love’s starting center from the past two seasons.

But what if the Packers part ways with Myers?

Gutekunst said last year that he would “absolutely love” to have Aaron Jones back for 2024, only to release him in March after both parties couldn’t agree on a restructured deal. Moving on from Myers wouldn’t be the first time Gutekunst parted ways with a player he once strongly wanted to keep.

Green Bay will need a starting center if it moves on from Myers. Elgton Jenkins has played 369 career snaps at center, and the Packers would likely shift him to that position. Sean Rhyan was the other Packers offensive lineman to take snaps at center, but he did so only four times.

The discourse around Jenkins mirrors the one about Zach Tom. There was once a debate about moving Tom inside, but it turns out he’s too valuable at right tackle. Today, there’s no way Matt LaFleur would shift him from that spot.

Jenkins has proven he can handle a substantial amount of snaps at center, but he’s too much of an asset at guard. According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins was the highest-graded guard among 96 players who took at least 100 pass-blocking snaps. He allowed the third-fewest pressures of the 49 guards with at least 500 pass-blocking snaps.

I’d expect Rhyan and Jacob Monk to compete for the job, but neither has proven to be a reliable starter at center. The Packers are in win-now mode and need starting-caliber players who can elevate the offense, not just fill a need. Free agents like Drew Dalman and Ryan Kelly, who could hit the open market in March, would improve the roster immediately.

Jordan Morgan didn’t play a single snap at center at Arizona and logged 185 as a guard in his rookie year. Green Bay originally drafted Morgan to play tackle, but with Tom and Rasheed Walker established as the duo for the foreseeable future, he’ll likely focus elsewhere. Morgan spent most of his rookie year dealing with a shoulder injury. When he returns, I’d expect him to compete for a job at guard.

Morgan could be the biggest X-factor this offseason. If Green Bay feels confident in his development, they could move on from Myers and shift Jenkins to center. However, there’s no doubt that Jenkins’ best position is at guard.

The state of the “best five” for 2025 is clear: Walker and Tom will be the starting tackles, but the interior positions are uncertain. Multiple players could compete for various spots, which is a positive because it means the Packers have versatility in the trenches.