Cory's Corner: It's Zach Tom's Time
The fourth round hidden gem is the Packers most versatile offensive lineman.
I was surprised when Josh Myers won the starting center job coming out of Packers training camp this past summer.
Now comes this news from Rob Demovsky. The Packers think that Zach Tom can be a Hall of Fame caliber center in the NFL.
I’m not saying that’s not true, but if it is, why didn’t Tom just win the job last summer? It’s not like Myers was doing anything special in preseason. He was getting beat consistently in camp and not surprisingly, he turned in his worst season as a pro. He gave up 20 hurries, five sacks and was also penalized five times.
Tom, 25, was arguably one of the best hidden gems from the 2022 NFL Draft. The fourth round draft pick started all 17 games last year and improved from his rookie campaign, where he started only five games.
The sky's the limit for Tom. The unheralded Wake Forest standout has made it his mission to make people overlook him. And now he’s gotten to the point where the Packers could honestly play him anywhere and he would succeed.
That’s how valuable he is. As a rookie, he played left tackle, left guard, right tackle and right guard.
But isn’t all of this praise a little too late? You also have to read between the lines. Remember, this is NFL Draft Season. NFL teams will say and do anything just to sway general managers or mock drafts. Saying that Tom could potentially be a Hall of Fame center just means that the Packers could have their sights set on an offensive guard or tackle — or that’s just what the Packers want other teams to think.
Saying that Tom is better than Myers isn’t news because Tom has always been better than Myers. Tom just has that extra gear which is what you need in the NFL And what’s frustrating is that Myers was a second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
If Tom isn’t the starting center when camp breaks this summer, I’m going to be really disappointed. That just means the Packers are afraid to make the necessary changes to better the team and it also means that the comment was made to generate a buzz.
“He’s a guy that can play all five spots and he can be really good at all five of them,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst this past February. “It’ll be dependant on what we have and where we need him.”
If Tom is the quarterback of the offensive line as the starting center, that unit could be really special. Myers only has a dead cap hit of $354,570 this year. If you truly believe that Tom is the next generational talent at center, then it’s time to make a move.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (41)
Rory P Scrotem
April 13, 2024 at 06:15 am
If what you/Packers are saying is true, might there be a team out there that needs a Center? Is Josh Meyers possibly an available trade piece? What might be the return if he is traded? CURIOUS??
gsd3
April 13, 2024 at 06:28 am
Since Myers is a free agent after the season and a lower echelon starter, he probably would not be worth more than possibly a 5th round pick at most. Would be better just to keep as insurance in case of injury, Could possibly challenge Rhyan or whoever for the RG spot.
Plans will become clear in the next few weeks.
With Love coming up on a big payday the most important thing management can do is protect him with the best o-line humanly possible.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:40 pm
Absolutely!
dobber
April 13, 2024 at 09:53 am
Even if they drafted a high end C prospect who could displace Myers, I think they hang onto Myers because their IOL depth in general is so suspect.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:39 pm
I can't imagine cutting Meyers. Second string, dressed C is not a bad thing to have on the roster.
Squeeze Royce Newman out! Please ...
HawkPacker
April 13, 2024 at 06:38 am
If they move Tom to center, Myers would be a pretty good back up with his experience. I wonder who would replace Tom at right tackle? I would hope that one of the 3 tackles that we have on the team/practice team could fill that role or would they have to draft that person.
There seems to be multiple ways that Packers can go to upgrade their OL.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:44 pm
Yup.
Is Tom's brain power the best we've got for C? Has he played so much RT that he'll never be his best C again?
These are the most important questions, IMHO. Tom, Meyers, and a rookie competing for the starting C position. Tom, a rookie or two, and the 4 biggest OTs all competing for the 2 starting OT positions. That's ideal.
Can we draft 5 more Zach Toms? Lol
stockholder
April 13, 2024 at 06:49 am
Zak Tom wanted to be able to play all
5 positions at a high level.
But he isn't moving anywhere.
The packers had a problem at RT.
Zak Tom solved it.
And Zak knows he'll make more
money there, then move around.
I think it's just draft talk.
With Jackson Powers - Johnson
sitting around the #25 draft projection.
They got their center and back-up.
But do they have a tackle if he has to move.
After the 49ers game - NO.
Finding one like Tom is more than the RAS.
jannesbjornson
April 13, 2024 at 09:06 am
Whoever pushed Myers over Creed Humphrey during deliberations in the Secret Room, should be fired. The reason I advocate for Morgan as a true LT, then snag the OG round two and a center mid-rounds. I would draft at least three guys to O line and better still, four. The repetitive fail in the Playoffs due to a lack of quality depth
at OT has to be remedied.
dobber
April 13, 2024 at 09:54 am
" I would draft at least three guys to O line and better still, four. "
Amen. I think when the dust clears in a couple weeks, we'll see 4.
LLCHESTY
April 13, 2024 at 01:49 pm
I read a couple months ago that Russia has a higher literacy rate than the US. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't believe it.
TKWorldWide
April 14, 2024 at 01:15 pm
The use of “Zak” is just inexplicable.
jannesbjornson
April 13, 2024 at 02:57 pm
Too nice outside to Mock, but I checked the mood of the Simulator anyway. Most of the OTs off the board by #21 Morgan. The power gap guards and centers remain who cannot move in wide-zone, as Myers is suited.
Boat anchors like Latham:
#30 Cooper DeJean CB Iowa
#49 Caelen Carson CB Wake
#58 Brandon Coleman OG TCU
#62 Matt Goncalves OT Pitt
#88 Malik Mustapha S Wake
#91 Eichenberg LB OSU
#128 Jalen Ford LB Texas
#169 Rasheen Ali RB Marshall
#208 Kam Kinchens S Miami
#245 Tupuola-Fetui Edge Wash
#255 Jordan McGee LB Temple
He may be better off moving UP a couple times to get Players. The talent will be off the board by the end of round two. Look for a veteran cut for O line.
stockholder
April 13, 2024 at 05:33 pm
If you want a CB. -
He should move up.
The OL - Starters by 50
Draft and development.
Rd 3. - PS after that.-
Try these guys-
25. Cooper DeJean. DB. Iowa
41. Payton Wilson. ILB. NC st
58. Bullard S. Georgia
88. Austin Booker LB ED. KU
91. Roger Rosengarten. OL Wash
126. Mason McCormick. OL SD st
169. Edefan Ulofoshio. ILB. Wash
202. CJ Hanson. OL. Holy Cross
219. Isaac Guerendo. Rb. Louisville
245. Nick GarGiulo. OL. S. Car.
255, Cody Schrader. RB. Miss
jannesbjornson
April 14, 2024 at 09:24 am
The rush will be on OTs. Morgan off the board @ #21 to Miami. Scouts know the difference btw a College boat anchor and a NFL lineman who has to be able to move his feet and have power up top. Booker was a Gopher then went to Kansas for the style of defense and did well. Is he a one-year wonder? Rosengarten will be a guard, slow feet and grabs the DE going past him.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:49 pm
You're picking OL at 91, 126, 202 & 245.
Numbers say you'd be lucky if ONE of those turns out to be good.
Can NOT afford that! Gotta have THREE that are worth dressing, at least as serviceable second string.
NickPerry
April 13, 2024 at 06:51 am
"Saying that Tom is better than Myers isn’t news because Tom has always been better than Myers. Tom just has that extra gear which is what you need in the NFL And what’s frustrating is that Myers was a second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft."
No Cory, what's frustrating is the Packers could have drafted Creed Humphrey who was taken with the pick right after Meyers.
PhantomII
April 14, 2024 at 10:23 am
When Jenkins went to LG we had one of the best and strongest Centers in the NFL. Jenkins went next to the best OL we had in LT Bak and became a strong left side to run from especially with the Center also a strength. Now instead of speed around the edge for the most part in the run game we have 2-RB's that would do better between the tackles. In this new run game it makes more sense to have a strength at Center in the run game. I would not be surprised if we either drafted a big strong OC to replace Meyers or move Jenkins over to Center and plugged in a draft pick at LG. Tom is a good OL but undersized by weight at this point in his career to be a more effective center who has to deal with enormous bodies outweighing him by 40 lbs.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:54 pm
Meyers played how many games injured this past season? He might surprise us all by how well he plays this season. We still need competition there.
If Zach Tom is under sized at C, isn't he even more under sized at OT? (And on either side)
I just hope that staff evaluates talent and creates the line based on merit.
PhantomII
April 17, 2024 at 10:16 pm
No speed rushers run 250-270 lbs. hog NT's 320-350 lbs.
mrtundra
April 13, 2024 at 07:03 am
"And what’s frustrating is that Myers was a second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft." What's really frustrating is that the Packers passed on selecting Creed Humphrey, now an All Pro Center, who went off the board with the next pick. Let's not forget that Elgton Jenkins can also play Center and many people have said that Center may be his best spot, as well. I like the versatility Gute has built into this OL. I think that continues, this draft, and I look for a guy like Graham Barton to be high on Gute's Board for one, or more, of our OL spots.
TKWorldWide
April 13, 2024 at 07:25 am
Yeah, that Humphrey thing really rankles. Just a very clear example of how they’d rated Josh M over Creed H. Ouch!
It’s in the same neighborhood as KevinKing-TJ Watt. Probably worse since they both played the same position.
Last year I was pretty excited about Darnell Washington, but clearly the Packers (and many other teams) had better plans. So, giveth and taketh away, I guess.
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 09:19 am
Health seems to have been the driver there: the discovery of a potentially degenerative foot issue seriously reduced his value for all teams. Some reputedly took him totally off the board.
TKWorldWide
April 14, 2024 at 01:16 pm
Yeah, I heard that injury thing too. (Later on, after the draft.)
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 07:16 am
A little more unrestrained than prior official comments moments, but hardly a new theme. Brian Gutekunst, pre 2023 NFL combine:
“[Tom] is versatile, like we like. I thought coming out that his best spot might be center. I think he could do that very well. The way he played at tackle and guard this year maybe opened my eyes that he’s got maybe more potential there as well. Certainly, he’s going to be in the mix and competing for not only a starting spot, but if I’ve learned anything over my time, it’s that you better have seven. You’re going to need all seven before the end of it. Whether you call them starters or not-starters, you’re going to need seven by the time it’s done, and he’ll be one of those guys.”
Packers0808
April 13, 2024 at 07:43 am
Tom is going no where off team to center or anywhere else RT!
TKWorldWide
April 13, 2024 at 10:26 am
What??
Packers0808
April 13, 2024 at 02:13 pm
Huh, can't understand simple message?
TKWorldWide
April 13, 2024 at 03:41 pm
Maybe it is I that is too simple.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:58 pm
Mongo love beans!
Packers0808
April 14, 2024 at 07:04 am
Means no trade, will not be center and will be RT!
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 06:57 pm
He said Russia's literacy rate is higher than ours.
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 08:27 am
Gute’s never hidden their belief that Tom was both thought of as best projecting to C and as being able to play all 5 positions.
The draft is coming up, games are being played, but Gute did hint after the season that they would be reevaluating the best positions for the OL players on their roster.
The draft is coming up. Maybe a premium tackle falls to us. Maybe we go another way. The draft isn’t who you want ideally it’s how to get closest to that. How that goes will determine what might happen on the OL and where Tom appears in game one more than anything,
The major recruiting event has yet to happen. Until it has, planning who will line up where is largely pointless. In the mean time, teams wanting a T early (many more needy than we are ) might want to consider a favorable trade if one looks to be falling to us.
Win-win comment for the Packers just before the draft. It may be true, it may be false, but, simply based upon the timing, I read it as a “could be” reminder for other teams to digest, depending on how the draft goes.
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 08:34 am
Everything this time of year is subterfuge. I appreciate that Rob Demovsky (wittingly or unwittingly) availed himself as a microphone for the Packers dark arts.
Gotta hand it to the GM, it's a far cry from Ted saying "we like our guys"
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 07:00 pm
A big factor is what staff thinks of Mt Caleb, Telfort and Tenuta. Would be a real waste if none of them are in the mix ...
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 08:43 am
It doesn't take a visionary to see that this is the last year of Myer's first contract. The Packers will do something about center this year, whether that's high in the draft or in the 4th or 5th round. They obviously like Myers, but they liked Linsley too and he's a Charger.
Logically, moving Tom to center seems stupid. It disrupts two positions, and right tackle is at least as important as Center. I'm surprised more talk isn't about moving Jenkins back to center, at least he played the position as a starter in college. Easier to find a left guard than a right tackle isn't it?
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 09:28 am
That depends on what we think we have at T (Jones, Tenuta, Telfort). It also depends on how good a C they think Tom could be and how valuable that is. It’s also worth noting that if you move a G we don’t have any Gs that are truly proven.
It also could be deliberately timed hot air if we infact want a C and don’t want to be jumped or do want to encourage a team to give us a good offer if a tackle is dropping.
It’s never been a secret that the packers believe Tom could be a C. Gute said that immediately after drafting, last off season and again after last season. It’s a credible statement and thus, potentially, a credible misdirection heading into the draft.
It will be interesting to see how this draft plays out.
Bitternotsour
April 13, 2024 at 10:15 am
My point as far as i have one is that Jenkins actually was a center when he was drafted. Tom hadn't been a center since he was a freshman. But yes, there is some posturing going on, as it should be this time of year. It's "please b'rer fox, don't throw me in the briar patch" time of year.
Also, I hope that wasn't an overly inappropriate reference.
Coldworld
April 13, 2024 at 10:26 am
Jenkins was and indeed could be a C again. I think the reason that hasn’t been discussed is the paucity of options at G over the recent seasons (and of course his injury) and at T due to injuries last year as he recovered.
packfan2
April 13, 2024 at 06:51 pm
Check out the 49ers Nation website for an article titled "Buyer beware, 4 prospects in the NFL draft the 49rs should avoid". The players listed were Cooper Dejean, Tyler Guyton, Jordan Morgan, and Kool-aid McKinstry. ( wasn't allowed to post a link)
I find it interesting to follow what some of the other team websites are hoping for their team to draft --- the above is an interesting counterpoint to the hoped for draftees in our little Packer bubble. It's such a fun time of year because we just don't know...
SicSemperTyrannis
April 17, 2024 at 07:03 pm
All four of them are highly routed for GB.
I have no idea what to make if that ...