In the frosty confines of Lambeau Field, where the echoes of “Go Pack Go” chants still linger from last Sunday’s gritty win over the Bengals, a seismic shift is brewing on the offensive line. The Green Bay Packers, perched atop the NFC North with a sparkling 7-1 record, are no strangers to bold moves. Remember the blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons back in late August? That acquisition lit a fire under the defense and positioned the Packers as the conference’s undisputed frontrunners. But as the November 4 trade deadline looms, whispers from ESPN and insiders alike suggest the Packers are ready to cash in on a different kind of asset: their former third-round darling, guard Sean Rhyan.
It’s the kind of news that could send shockwaves through Cheesehead Nation. Rhyan, drafted 92nd overall in 2022 out of UCLA, was once hailed as the versatile lineman who could anchor Green Bay’s trenches for years. Now, at 25 years old and in the final throes of his rookie deal, he’s staring down the barrel of an uncertain future in Titletown. “If you just look at what we got on the line, I probably won’t be back here,” Rhyan admitted in a candid interview earlier this week, his words hanging heavy like the autumn mist over the frozen tundra.
From Starter to Surplus: Rhyan’s Rollercoaster Ride
Rhyan’s Packers tenure started with promise. After a redshirt rookie year in 2022, he burst onto the scene in 2023 as a rotational piece, flashing the athleticism and footwork that made him a mid-round steal. By 2024, he was a fixture, starting all 17 games at right guard and helping pave the way for Jordan Love’s breakout campaign. His pass-blocking prowess earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team alternate list, and fans dreamed of him evolving into the next Kevin Zeitler—a reliable, no-nonsense mauler.
But football is a merciless meritocracy, and 2025 has exposed cracks in Rhyan’s armor. Injuries to the depth chart thrust him into a starting role early, but his performance has been middling at best. Pro Football Focus grades him as a below-average run blocker (58.2 overall), with penalties creeping up—five holdings and three false starts through eight games. The real dagger, though, came in Week 7 against the Cardinals, when rookie sensations began nibbling at his snaps.
Enter Jordan Morgan, the Packers’ 2024 first-round gem from Arizona. The 6-foot-5 tackle-turned-guard hybrid has been alternating series with Rhyan at right guard, showing flashes of elite movement skills in pass protection. Then there’s Anthony Belton, the second-round steal from 2025’s draft out of NC State, who’s been cross-training at multiple spots but struggling to find his footing at right tackle in Zach Tom’s absence. Green Bay’s philosophy—drafting linemen for versatility rather than specialization—has created a logjam of talent, but it’s left Rhyan as the odd man out.
ESPN’s latest trade deadline primer, published Wednesday, zeroed in on Rhyan as the Packers’ most expendable piece. “He’s in the final year of his rookie contract,” the report noted, “and lost his starting spot to Morgan (although they alternated series in the most recent game).” The piece argues that with Rasheed Walker—the seventh-round left tackle phenom—also nearing free agency, the Packers are in evaluation mode. Why commit big bucks to a guard who’s suddenly redundant when you can flip him for draft ammo?
Why Trade Now? The Packers’ Bigger Picture
On paper, the Packers are buyers, not sellers. Their aerial attack, fueled by Love’s precision and a receiving corps that’s clicking on all cylinders, has them averaging 28.5 points per game. The defense, bolstered by Parsons’ disruptive presence, ranks top-five in sacks and turnovers. Wins over juggernauts like the Lions and Vikings have solidified their status as NFC royalty. Yet, those nail-biters against the Cardinals (a 24-21 squeaker) and Bengals (27-24 on a last-second field goal) exposed vulnerabilities. An interior defensive tackle to pair with Parsons? A workhorse running back to spell AJ Dillon? A shutdown corner to shadow elite wideouts? All logical splashes before the deadline.
But Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay’s shrewd GM, has never shied from wheeling and dealing. Trading Rhyan midseason wouldn’t signal panic—it’s pragmatic housekeeping. His market value? Analysts peg it at a mid-to-late round pick, perhaps a fifth-rounder from a contender like the Eagles or Chiefs desperate for line depth. At worst, a sixth-rounder with upside. It’s low-risk, high-reward: stockpile picks for a 2026 draft loaded with blue-chip talent, while freeing cap space for extensions to core pieces like Love and Parsons.
Rhyan’s own words underscore the inevitability. “Seems like he knows his time in Green Bay is running short,” ESPN quipped. The fourth-year pro has been a pro’s pro—versatile enough to slide from guard to tackle in a pinch, and a locker room leader who’s mentored Morgan and Belton through their early-season woes. But in a unit brimming with youth, sentimentality takes a backseat to Super Bowl aspirations.
The Ripple Effects: For Rhyan, the Line, and Lambeau’s Faithful
For Rhyan, a trade could be a lifeline. Landing in a run-heavy scheme like Baltimore’s or a pass-first offense in Miami might reignite his career, earning him that second contract he craves. He’s got the tools: 34-inch arms, sub-5-second 40-yard dash, and a mean streak in the run game. At his age, he’s not a rental—he’s a building block.
Back in Green Bay, the move would accelerate the youth movement. Morgan, despite some rocky reps at tackle, projects as a Pro Bowl guard with time. Belton, raw but explosive, could settle in at right tackle once Tom returns. Walker? He’s the wildcard—undrafted in 2022, but his blindside protection has been stellar. If the Packers let both him and Rhyan walk in free agency, they’d pivot to Belton and undrafted gems, betting on the draft pipeline that unearthed them all.
Packers fans, ever the resilient bunch, might grumble at first. Rhyan was their guy, a homegrown talent who embodied the “pack mentality.” But Lambeau has seen this script before: trading away Jon Runyan Jr. in 2023 paved the way for Elgton’s emergence. Shocking? Sure. But in Gutekunst’s Green Bay, it’s just Tuesday.
As the deadline ticks down, all eyes are on the war room. Will Rhyan suit up for the Week 9 clash against the Rams, or will his Packers chapter end with a handshake and a flight out west? One thing’s certain: in the relentless NFC gauntlet, the Packers aren’t building a museum—they’re chasing rings. And if that means waving goodbye to a third-round investment, so be it. Lambeau, brace yourself. The shock is just getting started.
