"A Trust Problem," Green Bay Packers Called Out For Mishandling Former 2nd Round Pick Anthony Belton - Gridiron Heroics
Grid Iron Heroics · Robin M Adams · 2026-08-20T17:48:32+00:00 · nguồn gốc
The Green Bay Packers have multiple position battles going on during training camp. Among these is the battle for starting cornerbacks, which has seen Pro Bowler Keisean Nixon feeling some sort of way about losing reps with the starters to rookie Brandon Cisse.
On the offensive side of the ball, Green Bay is still working through which players will make up their starting offensive line. Zach Bako-Bewele is entrenched at right tackle, and Jordan Morgan is taking over at left tackle. Sean Rhyan was re-signed this offseason to be their starting center.
However, exactly who their starting guards will be remains to be seen. Aaron Banks was signed a massive $77 million contract last offseason, but has not lived up to it. What is more, he spent the first couple of weeks of camp injured and unable to participate in full team drills.
In the interim, young players like Anthony Belton and Jacob Monk have impressed when being inserted with the rest of the starters.
The Green Bay Packers may be wrong in how they are using Anthony Belton
Green Bay drafted Belton in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. At the time, many fans criticized the move because, with Morgan projected to be the next starting left tackle, it seemed as if the Packers had no need for him.
However, late in the season, Belton stepped in as the starting right guard as multiple offensive linemen went down with injury. And he performed well.
Prior to the start of training camp, many believed that Belton would be the projected starting right guard. However, as time has gone on, he has been spending most of his time as the backup right tackle.
Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports believes that this development displays what has been a long-time error in how the Packers develop their offensive linemen:
“The coaching staff doesn’t seem willing to use the so-called ‘best five’ if that means keep playing Belton at guard.
“The Green Bay Packers appear to have a trust problem with second-round pick Anthony Belton, and the evidence is all over training camp and preseason. Despite entering 2026 with expectations of starting at right guard, Belton has spent most of camp at right tackle instead, a move that signals the coaching staff isn’t confident he can handle the interior role anymore. The Packers’ offensive line depth chart is shifting as a result, and the short-term and long-term implications deserve attention.”
As mentioned, Morgan is taking over at left tackle for Green Bay, the position the drafted him to play… two years ago. In his first two NFL seasons, the former first round pick was moved all over the line, playing both guard positions and right tackle.
Ferreira claims, rightly, the the Packers constantly moving their young offensive linemen around under the preface of cross-training them is a detriment to individual players. They are unable to focus and strengthen the position at which they excel because the team would rather them be able to play multiple positions moderately well (in theory) instead of one position extremely well.
If Green Bay no longer feels like Belton is effective on the interior, moving him out of those spots makes sense. What does not make sense, though, is replacing him with Monk, who is unproven. In the playing time he has gotten in previous seasons (which has not been much), he has been underwhelming.
The fact of the matter is that Green Bay should not claim to have their “best five” starting on the offensive line if they, in fact, do not have their top-five players there. They tried claiming that last year despite the fact that Rasheed Walker was starting at left tackle, and there were at least two others on the roster better than him.
Morgan finally got his starting spot in his third NFL season. Belton is entering Year Two. It will be interesting to see how he is used going forward because, as of now, all the Packers are doing with him is generating uncertainty.
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