The Green Bay Packers passed the opportunity to select some cornerbacks and edge defenders still available to attack a potential long-term offensive need, using the 54th pick to select NC State tackle Anthony Belton.
With Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom, and Sean Rhyan entering the final year of their deals, and without assurances that Jordan Morgan will be the left tackle of the future, the Packers add another high pick to the mix.
Anthony Belton Scouting Report
Anthony Belton, Offensive tackle, NC State
Age (Birthday): 24 (2/23/2001)
A to Z Sports Expected Draft Position: 91st
Pre-Draft Round Projection: 3
North Carolina State’s Anthony Belton is already a massive man at 6'6", 336 pounds, and has 34 5/8-inch arms on top of it. He will check every teams size box requirements to play tackle, and has over 30 games of starting experience at LT over the last three years at NC State. He is a powerful lineman who rarely allows edge rushers to knock him off his spot thanks to an incredible anchor. He will have to get quicker on his feet to become a consistent starter at the NFL level though. He struggles sometimes against speed rushers who are able to beat him around the outside. As a result he likely will be a rotational tackle to start his career. But he has a ton of upside, which is why he has a lot of fans across the league.
Career Projection: Eventual Good Starter
Why the Packers picked him
The Green Bay Packers need offensive line depth for the future, with three projected starters entering the final year of their rookie deals. Zach Tom is probably getting an extension, but left tackle Rasheed Walker and right guard Sean Rhyan may very well hit free agency.
"Big guys are hard to find. So that's never something we're not going to address," general manager Brian Gutekunst had said during the pre-draft process. "We've been pretty consistent with that in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to take it done."
Belton was a left tackle during his college career, but there's a chance he can also play guard in the NFL, which is something the Packers truly value—and a big reason why they spent a first-round pick on Jordan Morgan last year.
"Versatility is everything, and we do have a versatile group. So we're gonna try to get the best five out there," Gutekunst had added. "We're gonna continue to lean on versatility. We have three or four guys on our line that can probably play five spots. I believe in that, that's an asset we have that not all teams have."
The problem for the Packers is that it was mostly seen as a reach. Belton was the 97th player on the consensus big board.
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