Green Bay Packers: Byron Bell gives offensive line important depth
By Hunter Noll
The Green Bay Packers whiffed on the offensive line in the NFL draft. They didn’t add much depth, until now. Byron Bell is a fantastic free agent signing.
The 2018 offseason was shaping up to be a miserable one for the Green Bay Packers offensive line. Clearly a position of need, they didn’t address it before the NFL draft. Then they drafted just one offensive lineman in the draft (Cole Madison) in the fifth round. While that provided some help, it wasn’t much. They were running out of time after whiffing on the draft. In steps Byron Bell.
Bell (an undrafted rookie out of college) has played six seasons in the NFL, appearing in 90 games (72 starts). Right there shows he has experience and plays at a high-enough level to be a starter in the NFL.
After four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, he played one year with the Tennessee Titans. He spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys, playing in 12 games and starting two. You know, the team with an offensive line that nearly every news outlet will argue is one of (if not the best) units in the entire league?
This isn’t just happenstance either. Bell is a monster at 6-5, 320 pounds. He possesses a fantastic combination of both footwork and strength. This allows him to play both inside and out. So let’s recap quick.
The 29-year old Bell has appeared in 90 games over six NFL seasons. That means the experience that the Packers needed is there. He’s started 72 games, including two for the elite Cowboys offensive line in 2017. That says he’s good enough to be a starter in the NFL.
A combination of size and strength, as well as footwork allows him to play both tackle and guard. That gives the Packers depth at multiple positions, which is something they desperately needed as well.
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All-in-all, Byron Bell was exactly what the Green Bay Packers needed this offseason. They’ve added an offensive lineman with a combination of skill and experience, as well as versatility. It’s hard to argue with this signing.