'Absolute Wall in Pass Protection': Green Bay Packers Insider Excited To See 2nd Round Pick on Offensive Line This Season

Anthony Belton Is Primed To Cement Green Bay Packers O-Line

Part of Belton’s appeal is simply his size, a fundamental consideration for any offensive lineman. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds, Belton is already bigger than plenty of NFL tackles. Noting that those figures are his combine listings, Bukowski suspects he exceeded his official weight by five to ten pounds at times last season at North Carolina. If Belton can mature quickly, his skillset is one that could help the development of quarterback Jordan Love.

Says Bukowski:

Anthony Belton is a player I don’t think a lot of Packer fans had on their radar. … This is a three-year starter at left tackle with elite, and I mean elite, pass-blocking grades. Elite grades in true pass sets. He’s a really, really talented pass protector. Guys that big do not move like him.

While there are some things to clean up in his game, Belton’s combination of size and athleticism makes him  something of a unicorn breed. The Packers could use someone like that defending Love in the pocket.

Belton Has “All-Pro” Potential

Belton isn’t just big. As you might imagine, he also owns frightening strength.

“He is so physical with his hands,” Bukowski marvels. “So powerful. He looks like a robot out there just throwing guys around at times. He’s got really good feet for his size.”

Consistency is key, but Belton has also flashed technical brilliance.

You go, ‘How does anybody beat this guy? How does anybody go around this guy or through this guy?’ When he plays with good fundamentals in his lower body, he is an absolute wall in pass protection. There are reps on tape where you just go, ‘This guy could be an All-Pro.’

To eventually win All-Pro honors, though, the 24-year-old rookie will need to execute more reliably, Bukowski says. Along with the exciting promise, there are, of course, holes in his game.

“He doesn’t sustain blocks as well as I would like for someone his size, for someone that has the power that he has. It’s almost like he over-relies on the power. But he has the hand strength, the power to do it. He just doesn’t always do it.”

If Belton can develop that kind of play-to-play consistency, he should be a fearsome fixture on the Packers line.