The Packers have had a lot of success in drafting underwhelming physical specimens from the Big 10 and developing them into quality NFL players. Wisconsin’s Mark Tauscher was a Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle for nearly a decade. Ohio State’s Corey Linsley was an All-Pro who became the highest-paid center in the league. And Michigan’s Jon Runyan was a solid starter at left guard last season and has a promising future. None of them were picked before the fifth round.
Is Wisconsin’s Cole Van Lanen the next Big 10 offensive lineman to go from being an afterthought in the draft to a fixture in Green Bay? We won’t begin finding out for another few months, but don’t discount the hometown hero who was born about 10 minutes from Lambeau Field. It’s scary how similar Van Lanen is to Tauscher, Linsley, and Runyan. All four were quality starters in college who didn’t possess the size and athletic ability scouts covet. But Tauscher, Linsley, and Runyan overcame their physical limitations by being intelligent, assignment sound, and technically proficient.
Van Lanen has short arms for a tackle, and he’s a little light for a guard. That’s why he lasted until the sixth round, and those deficiencies showed up at times last summer. But the 24-year-old did enough positive things to earn a spot on the practice squad and an eventual elevation to the active roster in late December. His development certainly wasn’t helped by having to take snaps at both tackle and guard – something Tauscher, Linsley, and Runyan weren’t asked to do as rookies. What happens in the upcoming draft could determine whether Van Lanen will have to pull double duty again.
Ideally, Van Lanen will be able to focus on playing guard this summer. Like Runyan, that’s probably where he fits best in the NFL. He moves well enough to do what’s required of an interior lineman in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and if he used the past 12 months to add some weight to his 305-pound frame, he should be strong enough to handle huge defensive tackles.
While guard is the most natural fit for Van Lanen, I refuse to believe he can’t play tackle if necessary. Watching him battle Ohio State’s Chase Young makes me feel this way. While the No. 2 overall pick and 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year got the better of the No. 214th overall pick and 2021 practice squad member in their two meetings in college, he didn’t come close to dominating. More importantly, the far less talented player never once backed down or became a real liability. That type of grit allows players like Tauscher, Linsley, Runyan, and hopefully Van Lanen to succeed at any level.
The Packers could really use an improved version of Van Lanen this season. There’s not much depth left with Billy Turner in Denver, Lucas Patrick in Chicago, and Elgton Jenkins likely to begin the season on the PUP list. The most experienced backup on the current roster is Jake Hanson, who’s played a total of six snaps since being drafted in 2020. So even if general manager Brian Gutekunst adds some talent in the upcoming draft, there will be an opportunity for Van Lanen.
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I was excited for him after the draft. Seemed like he had that same level of ability that made Tauscher/Runyan, etc, successful pros. Here’s hoping you’re right and he can take the next steps towards a significant role.
I really liked Cole at Wisconsin, but he never looked comfortable at guard during the preseason. Maybe he’ll play better if they leave him at guard during the minicamps and OTAs. It’s hard to play multiple positions. There aren’t too many players like Elgton Jenkins in the league.
The more I think about the upcoming draft, the more I think they need an another OL in the first two rounds – especially if they’re not able to get Olave. They’re going to need an elite OL if they have such an average to below average WR corps. Would love if Van Lanen could provide solid depth, but hoping for him to be an above average starter makes me uneasy. By the end of the season, presumably, they’re going to have Pro Bowl-type starters in Bakh, Jenkins, and Myers. I just don’t think Yjiman and Newman can contribute to the kind of elite OL that they’re going to need for Rodgers and the running game. Runyan is solid but there’s a drop off after him. They need to have an OL where Runyan is the weakest link. I think Gutey has to find either a stud G or T in this draft. If Van Lanen develops, great (it would be part of a historically good draft for the Pack) but they can’t rely on that. After WR they need OL.