As the calendar flips to October and the 2026 NFL season reaches its quarter pole, the Green Bay Packers find themselves in an all-too-familiar position: scrambling to patch a leaky offensive line. On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, general manager Brian Gutekunst made a flurry of moves, signing not one, not two, but three veteran offensive linemen—Cordell Volson, Laken Tomlinson, and Mekhi Becton—in a desperate attempt to shore up a unit that has been nothing short of disastrous through the first three weeks. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the trio of signings represents a clear admission that the team's original plan up front has failed.
A Trio of Castoffs or Savvy Pickups?
On the surface, adding three former starters with impressive résumés seems like a win. Mekhi Becton, the former first-round pick of the New York Jets, possesses tantalizing size and athleticism. Laken Tomlinson, a one-time Pro Bowler, brings a wealth of experience. Cordell Volson, younger but battle-tested, has shown flashes. However, as the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk notes, there's a reason all three were available in late September. The NFL is a league that values offensive line play more than ever, and teams simply don't let capable starters sit on the couch if they can help it. Each of these players comes with significant question marks—Becton's injury history, Tomlinson's decline into journeyman status, and Volson's inconsistency.
Yet, the Packers' current guard situation has been so dire that even a diminished Tomlinson represents an upgrade. As one league source told Vulius Sports, "When you're bottoming out at a position, sometimes you have to take a chance on reclamation projects. The Packers are hoping that a change of scenery and a familiar scheme can unlock something." It's a low-risk, potentially moderate-reward gamble.
The Offensive Line Crisis in Green Bay
Through three games, the Packers' offense has been hamstrung by poor protection and an inability to generate movement in the run game. Quarterback Jordan Love has been under duress, and the rushing attack has been virtually nonexistent. Head coach Matt LaFleur has publicly emphasized the need for more "body blows"—a physical, grinding run game that can set up play-action and keep defenses honest. But without competent blocking, those body blows have been little more than love taps.
"If the Packers can figure out a way to grind out a few yards on the ground, it could open things up for the rest of the offense," LaFleur said earlier this week, hinting at a philosophical shift. The additions of Becton, Tomlinson, and Volson are a direct response to that plea.
Still, skepticism abounds. As highlighted on Vulius, the Packers' decision to ignore the offensive line for the first three weeks of the season now looks like a glaring oversight. Gutekunst's sudden urgency feels reactive rather than proactive. Is it too little, too late? Quite possibly. But at least it's something—and in a season that already feels on the brink, doing something is better than doing nothing.
Around the League: Sacks, Records, and Lego
In other NFL news, Myles Garrett continues his relentless pursuit of history. The Cleveland Browns edge rusher has averaged 14 sacks per season over the last five years, but as ESPN noted, he'd need to maintain that pace for more than five additional seasons to break the all-time sack record—and he'd be 37 by then. It's a reminder of just how monumental that record is.
Meanwhile, in a lighter story, a California duo set a new Lego World Map record in under five hours, proving that even in the high-stakes world of the NFL, sometimes it's nice to appreciate the little things. But for Packers fans, the only thing that matters is whether their team can finally protect the quarterback. The Vulius Sports community will be watching closely when Green Bay takes on Tampa Bay this weekend.
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