The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2011, when they selected Derek Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick.
A player that could tempt Brian Gutekunst to end that streak is Tyler Guyton. The Oklahoma offensive tackle checks in at No. 62 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A TCU transfer, Guyton started 14 games during his two seasons as a Sooner. In 2022, Guyton started four games at right tackle and one game at left tackle. This past season, Guyton started nine games at right tackle.
Standing at nearly 6-8 and checking in at 322 pounds with movement skills like a tight end, Guyton looks and moves like he was built in a lab. The only start he made during his time at TCU was at H-back and he caught one receiving touchdown.
🚨 BIG BOY TOUCHDOWN 🚨
OT Tyler Guyton gets 6 for TCU#CFBpic.twitter.com/bROxDY713f
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 27, 2021
“Guyton’s greatest strength is his movement skills at his 6-8, 322 frame,” Devin Jackson, a college sports reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, said. “Still a work in progress on the finer details of playing the tackle position, Guyton’s quick feet and agile pass sets allow him to be in position to stay in front of pass rushers.”
The Sooner offensive tackle is a mountain with tree branches for arms and he utilizes that length to get into the chests of pass rushers. Guyton has athletic feet. He uses wide strides and his massive frame to protect the corner. He has strong hands and activates them to stun pass rushers. According to Pro Football Focus, Guyton gave up zero sacks and 12 pressures this past season.
Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton last season:
🔴 355 Pass Block Snaps
🔴 Zero Sacks Allowed pic.twitter.com/eNB9VZHcLG— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 31, 2024
“He offers active hands, smooth footwork, and the ability to mirror pass rushers with ease,” Jackson said. “His initial hand strikes are not the cleanest as he learns to become more accurate in hitting his desired hand placement, but he’s an easy mover out of his stance and often beats edge rushers to the spot.”
Guyton has easy movement skills and fires out of his stance to quickly get on top of defenders. He has elite short-area quickness and can quickly reach the second level to cut off linebackers.
“Run blocking is his biggest area of growth right now,” Jackson said. “He gets to the spots he needs to but his thin lower half doesn’t allow him to drive defenders off the ball with torque. He’s a suitable backside blocker and can turn out defenders in single blocks but his hands need to get stronger and more violent in that department.”
Fit with the Packers
Guyton is not the sum of all his parts. He’s still fairly new to the position, after playing on the defensive side of the ball in high school and he only has 14 starts to his name. With Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom already in place, if he were to land in Green Bay he’d be given time to hone his craft while serving as the team’s swing tackle.
PREDICTION: Draft Twitter and national media OT rankings are gonna change after they see Oklahoma RT Tyler Guyton effortlessly glide around at @seniorbowl. Reminds me of Cowboys' All-Pro Tyron Smith coming out of USC. That's the ceiling.#BestoftheBest #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/LJe37DTLDz
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) December 16, 2023
“Drafting Guyton is betting on the traits and upside he possesses,” Jackson said. “Being taught and coached by one of the better college offensive line coaches in Bill Bedenbaugh, Guyton has the tools, the athleticism, and unique frame to be a cornerstone right tackle for the foreseeable future. As his grip strength and run blocking improves, the sky’s the limit for how quickly he can grow into one of the better pass protectors in the NFL.”
With his frame and athleticism, Guyton has all the tools to develop into a premier offensive tackle.
The Packers have a history of developing Day 3 offensive linemen into star-caliber players. Now, imagine what they could do with a player that possesses Guyton’s tools. If the Sooner offensive tackle is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock, Gutekunst could be enticed to select Guyton, with the vision of Guyton being a key piece of the Jordan Love Era.
