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Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
The Most Important Packers: No. 7 — Zach Tom
Green Bay's Zach Tom has blossomed into one of the top right tackles in football. The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way. Overall, though, no one in the building was happy. The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building. 'We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,' Gutekunst said. 'I think it's time we started competing for championships.' Those are fair expectations. The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move. 'I think they're ready,' Gutekunst said. Now, it's time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right. Green Bay's first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the '30 Most Important Packers' heading into the 2025 campaign. At No. 7 is offensive lineman Zach 7 Zach Tom, OT Last season Tom suffered a torn pectoral muscle while lifting weights at the Packers' facility in April, 2024. He made it back by training camp, though and started all 17 games. Tom's overall Pro Football Focus grade of 87.5 ranked fourth among the 140 tackles in football. His run-blocking grade of 90.0 ranked third among all tackles and his 82.1 pass blocking grade ranked 12th. Tom played 1,070 snaps last season, third most on the team behind fellow offensive linemen Rasheed Walker (1,075) and Elgton Jenkins (1,071). He allowed three sacks, 24 pressures and had seven penalties. Tom also helped Green Bay allow the second-fewest number of sacks in football (22) and finish fifth in rushing yards per game (146.8). Tom was named a first-team All-Pro at right tackle by PFF for the 2024 to date Tom, a fourth round draft pick in 2022, started five games and played in nine as a rookie. Four of Tom's starts came at left tackle and the other was at left guard. Tom gave up just one sack in 489 offensive snaps in 2022 and finished with a grade of 68.3 from Pro Football Focus. 'He's versatile,' Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Tom. '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 (in 2022) maybe opened my eyes that he's got maybe more potential there, as well.' In 2023, Tom beat out veteran Yosh Nijman for the starting right tackle job during training camp, then delivered a terrific season. In 1,068 snaps that year, Tom allowed just two sacks, had only three penalties and ranked 18th out of 89 eligible offensive tackles in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking efficiency metric. Tom held his own that season against elite pass rushers such as Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson (twice), San Francisco's Nick Bosa, Oakland's Maxx Crosby, Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, the Chargers' Khalil Mack and Minnesota's Danielle The Packers have three offensive linemen entering the final year of their contracts — Tom, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan. Tom should be the top priority, though, and could even have a long-term contract in place before the season arrives. Pro Football Focus recently ranked Tom as the No. 3 right tackle in football. Tom, about to enter his fourth season, believes he's close to becoming No. 1. 'Not far at all,' Tom said when asked how far away he is from being the best. 'I've just got to home in on my technique, being consistent in that, because I think when I'm at my best, I'm the best in the league. But I've just got to be able to do that more consistently than I think I have.' Detroit's Penei Sewell is the NFL's highest paid right tackle at an average of $28 million per season. Philadelphia's Lane Johnson ($25M) and Kansas City's Juwaan Taylor ($20M) rank second and third in average yearly salary. With another big season, Tom will likely enter that stratosphere — whether that's in Green Bay or somewhere else. 'I'm not going to get into that,' Tom said. 'I'll just let that take care of itself.'They Said It … 'I think he can play any position. So, it just happened to be that he kind of found his home at right tackle, but I think his versatility is one of the things that makes him special. I think he can play all five, and there's not a lot of guys that can do that, but I would say that he's got the athleticism. I think he's a very intelligent football player, and he's played pretty consistent over the course of the last few years.' — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Tom'Zach is a heady, smart player. He understands his body I think better than anybody else. So I'm going to give him the tools and I'm going to help teach him, but he's a really smart player. He does things that just come naturally to him. I'd like to take credit, but I don't think it's me.' — Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus on Tom'I would just say consistency — being a guy that can set the tone during games, being a guy that you can really rely on to block those edge rushers — those elite edge rushers — one-on-one, take them out of the game. But, yeah, that's the next step for me, for sure. Just being a guy that you know is going to get it done out there.' — Tom on the next step in his growthTHE TOP 30 • No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd • No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks • No. 28 — S Javon Bullard • No. 27 — WR Savion Williams • No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie • No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan • No. 24 — WR Matthew Golden • No. 23 — CB Carrington Valentine • No. 22 — WR Romeo Doubs • No. 21 — QB Malik Willis • N0. 20 — DE Lukas Van Ness • No. 19 — RG Sean Rhyan • No. 18 — LT Rasheed Walker • No. 17 — DT Devonte Wyatt • No. 16 — S Evan Williams • No. 15 — CB Nate Hobbs • No. 14 — LB Quay Walker • No. 13 — OL Aaron Banks • No. 12 — CB Keisean Nixon • No. 11 — K Brandon McManus • No. 10 — TE Tucker Kraft • No. 9 — WR Jayden Reed • No. 8 — DT Kenny Clark
Forbes
04-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Packers' Zach Tom Believes He's Close To Becoming The NFL's Best Right Tackle
Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom (50) blocks Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard ... More (58) last season. Pro Football Focus recently ranked the NFL's top right tackles, and Green Bay's Zach Tom checked in at No. 3. Tom, about to enter his fourth season and a contract year, believes he's close to becoming the top right tackle in football. 'Not far at all,' Tom said Tuesday when asked how far away he is from being the best. 'I've just got to hone in on my technique, being consistent in that, because I think when I'm at my best, I'm the best in the league. But I've just got to be able to do that more consistently than I think I have.' Tom, a fourth round draft pick in 2022, started five games and played in nine as a rookie. Four of Tom's starts came at left tackle and the other was at left guard. Tom gave up just one sack in 489 offensive snaps in 2022 and finished with a grade of 68.3 from Pro Football Focus. Tom beat out veteran Yosh Nijman for the starting right tackle job in training camp in 2023, then delivered a terrific season. In 1,068 snaps that year, Tom allowed just two sacks, had only three penalties and ranked 15th among eligible offensive tackles with a grade of 79.7 by PFF. Tom suffered a torn pectoral muscle while lifting weights at the Packers' facility in April, 2024. But he made it back by training camp, started all 17 games, and helped Green Bay allow the second-fewest number of sacks in football (22). Tom's overall PFF grade of 85.8 ranked sixth among all tackles in football. And his 87.8 run-blocking grade ranked third among all right tackles. 'It's not like I set a goal to be the 10th-best tackle in the league,' Tom said. 'Obviously, I want to be the best. Yeah, absolutely, it's nice to get recognition out there But, at this position, you're not always going to get recognized. So I don't really take what people on the outside are saying too seriously.' What Tom will take seriously is his looming contract. Detroit's Penei Sewell is the NFL's highest paid right tackle at an average of $28 million per season. Philadelphia's Lane Johnson ($25M) and Kansas City Juwaan Taylor ($20M) rank second and third in average yearly salary. With another big season, Tom will likely enter that stratosphere — whether that's in Green Bay or somewhere else. 'I'm not going to get into that,' Tom said. 'I'll just let that take care of itself.'
New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Why Packers RT Zach Tom is practicing without a contract extension
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Zach Tom thinks he's the NFL's best right tackle when he's on top of his game. That belief may not be factually correct, but it's also not entirely far-fetched. Only Detroit's Penei Sewell and Philadelphia's Lane Johnson received more All-Pro votes at the position last season than Tom, who was voted to the second team by three of 50 media members. Advertisement Tom, a 2022 fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest who turned 26 in March, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He deserves, and will likely get, a hearty extension in Green Bay. He doesn't have one yet, though, but he's still been present at voluntary organized team activities this spring. Center Elgton Jenkins, on the other hand, has not been present. ESPN reported that the two-time Pro Bowler Jenkins, who is switching from left guard to center with the arrival of former 49ers left guard Aaron Banks in free agency, hasn't shown up to voluntary OTAs because he wants more financial security in his current deal to protect himself against a potential future loss of earnings that may accompany the switch to a less lucrative position. Jenkins is perfectly justified in his stance. This isn't to say Tom is right and Jenkins is wrong in their differing approaches amid contract situations, but head coach Matt LaFleur probably appreciates one more than the other, even if he understands both. 'That tells you how much it means to him,' LaFleur said of Tom after Tuesday's practice, adding that he wants every player present but understands this portion of the offseason is voluntary. 'But yeah, that means a lot. I know for me, it means a lot to me.' The Packers rewarded cornerback Jaire Alexander with a record-breaking contract extension in March 2022 even after he missed 13 games the season prior with a shoulder injury. Alexander then made the All-Pro Second Team the following season. The team is no stranger to backing up the Brinks truck for a worthwhile player coming off a significant injury and the decision immediately paying off (what happened later for Alexander is another discussion). General manager Brian Gutekunst knows how much Tom is worth based on the prior three years, but Tom might still be taking a risk by practicing without future financial security. And even if the dollar amount on an extension wouldn't change whether Tom got hurt, he's still sacrificing leverage to get a deal done by showing up to Lambeau Field in May and June. Advertisement Why is he doing it this way, when he'd be perfectly justified in staying away? 'I don't really think it'll do me any good to sit out,' Tom said Tuesday. 'I'm trying not to worry about the contract situation. I'm just trying to do what's best for the team. And being here with the guys, I think that's worth a lot more … the contract situation will take care of itself. So I'm just here working and grinding with the guys. If I wasn't here, I'd probably be somewhere just not doing anything. 'I want to be here, obviously.' When asked if he wanted an extension before the season starts so he doesn't have to think about it during the season, Tom said, 'I'm not going to get into that. I'll just let that take care of itself.' Tom is probably looking at a contract extension worth somewhere in the mid-to-high $20 millions annually. According to Over The Cap, Sewell makes $28 million per year and Johnson $25 million. Third among right tackles is the Chiefs' Jawaan Taylor at $20 million. Tom has yet to make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, but shutting down Cowboys edge Micah Parsons in the 2023 wild-card round and playing admirably last season at less than 100 percent after returning from a torn pec are just a couple of the reasons to show Tom the money. 'I think he can play any position,' LaFleur said of Tom, who played left tackle and center in college but has found a home at right tackle in Green Bay. 'I think his versatility is one of the things that makes him special. I think he can play all five and there's not a lot of guys that can do that, but I would say that he's got the athleticism. I think he's a very intelligent football player and he's played pretty consistent over the course of the last few years.' Tom didn't want to make excuses, but he said his technique might have suffered last season while playing with a damaged pectoral muscle. He anticipates playing this coming season at 100 percent health and is pushing more weight on his strengthened arm after missing all of OTAs last year. 'Once I came back, I mean, it wasn't perfect, but you're just playing football. You're trying to, at least,' said Tom, who was Pro Football Focus' sixth-best tackle, not just right tackle, in the NFL last season. 'I try not to think about injuries because everybody's going through something.' Advertisement So if Tom is that good without being fully healed from a significant injury, one of the NFL's best tackles and one spot short of an All-Pro nod, what's the next step with or without a new contract? 'I would just say consistency,' Tom said. 'Being a guy that can set the tone during games, being a guy that you can really rely on to block those edge rushers — those elite edge rushers — one-on-one, take them out of the game.' Tom said it's important for him to be recognized as one of the best in the game at his position, though he's not too worried about what those outside 1265 Lombardi Ave. think about his game. It's probably nice, however, when Texans star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. tells ESPN that Tom is the best offensive lineman he's faced. 'It's not like I set a goal to be the 10th-best tackle in the league,' Tom said. 'I just gotta hone in on my technique, being consistent in that, because I think when I'm at my best, I'm the best in the league.' Tom thinks it. Soon enough, he'll be paid like it, too.
