​Green Bay’s young offensive lineman Anthony Belton is increasingly being viewed as a likely breakout candidate for the 2026 season. Belton, who was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, gradually earned a starting role at right guard as a rookie and is now expected to take a significant step forward as the Week 1 starter along the interior of the line in 2026. The chatter from around Green Bay has grown louder in recent weeks.
Most notably, ESPN’s Ben Solak named Belton as his breakout Packers player for 2026. Following that, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks joined the conversation, listing Belton among his picks for breakout guards across the entire league. Brooks described Belton as a prototypical interior blocker the Packers have pursued in recent line renovations: a 6-foot-6, 336-pound presence who can anchor at the point of attack, shed defenders, and finish runs with power. He highlighted Belton’s potential to become an elite interior blocker if he continues to develop consistency and technique under continued coaching in the offseason.
That assessment acknowledges the trajectory Belton showed during his rookie season, despite the usual bumps that come with transitioning to a new position. Packers Wire’s Mark Oldacres noted that Belton finished strong in 2025, suggesting he grew more comfortable at right guard as the year progressed, which could herald a true breakout in his second NFL season.
Belton’s path to a breakout is plausible, but not guaranteed. He has faced challenges, including inconsistency in pass blocking, which will be a focal point in his development as a second-year player. Brooks’s projection of Belton potentially becoming an elite guard underscores the level of faith some analysts place in his ceiling, provided he continues to refine his technique and consistency.
Of course, Belton’s breakout would be one piece of a broader improvement plan for the Packers’ line in 2026. To unlock the full potential of the unit, several other components must advance as well. Jordan Morgan needs to establish himself at left tackle and raise the performance level beyond Rasheed Walker’s uneven 2025 showing. Aaron Banks must stay healthy at left guard to provide steady interior protection. Sean Rhyan should keep growing at center, a new position for him, to stabilize the middle of the line. And Zach Tom must recover from his significant knee injury and reclaim the form and dominance he showed earlier in his career at right tackle.
Looking ahead, a breakout season from Belton could be a catalyst for the Packers’ offensive line and, by extension, the offense as a whole. If he translates his athletic traits and the confidence he has begun to display into consistent game performance, Belton could play a pivotal role in the team’s forward push in 2026. The question remains whether the rest of the line can collectively rise to the occasion, enabling Belton to maximize his impact and establish himself as a cornerstone of Green Bay’s interior protection and run-blocking schemes.
This discussion about Belton’s potential, including inputs from Solak and Brooks, reflects a broader optimism about the Packers’ interior line depth entering 2026. As Belton continues to develop, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if his second season confirms the early breakout buzz and helps propel Green Bay back toward a more formidable, cohesive offensive front. This coverage originally appeared on Packers Wire and has since circulated among national outlets, underscoring the growing sentiment that Belton could be a defining factor for the Packers’ offensive identity in 2026.