After a roller-coaster rookie season, a position shift unlocked Anthony Belton’s potential. Now, a simplified mental approach could turn this emerging road-grader into Green Bay’s reliable anchor.
There seems to be a consensus surrounding the Green Bay Packers heading into 2026 that one of their biggest weaknesses is the offensive line.
To be fair, there is reason to think that.
Left tackle Jordan Morgan is going to be a full-time starter for the first time in his career. Left guard Aaron Banks has been seen as a disappointment ever since the Packers gave him a four-year, $77 million contract ahead of last season. Right tackle Zach Tom played just 604 snaps last season due to injury and had offseason surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon.
So yes, there are absolutely some concerns, but right guard Anthony Belton is not one of them.
Belton was Green Bay's second-round draft pick in 2025, and he showed off some incredible potential at guard.
The Packers actually gave him a shot at right tackle to start the season with Tom struggling with injury, but that wasn't the fit for Belton. In the first 11 games of the season, he played just 91 snaps, with most of them at right tackle.
Something clicked for the offensive staff in the second half of the season, though. More superficially, starting center Elgton Jenkins went down with a season-ending injury, which forced a shuffling at guard. In Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings, the Pack went into the game with plans to rotate Belton and Morgan at right guard.
Belton came out as the full-time starter in the second half of that contest and never gave back the position. In the final seven games of the season, he played all 423 of his snaps at right guard.
And sure, it wasn't always perfect. Being a rookie in the NFL isn't easy, and Belton struggled to pick things up at times, especially as a pass-blocker.
The move to guard allowed the 6-foot-6, 336-pound lineman to use his size and strength to his advantage, though. That was especailly true in the run game, where he became a road-grader for the Packers.
He now enters the 2026 season as the full-time starter at right guard, which will absolutely help him when it comes to preparation as well as confidence.
All those rookie jitters and first times will now be out of the way as well.
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Anthony Belton (71) runs through a drill during practice on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.“Last year, just being able to play as a rookie, I learned a lot," Belton said this offseason, according to Rob Reischel of Forbes. "I learned a lot about the process, preparation. Just what comes with it. I was able to get acclimated, so now I know what to expect going into this year. Knowing what I need to work on. There were a lot of ups and downs that I had, but now I feel like I’m in a position where I can think less and do more. Because last year was more coming in as a rookie and trying to finally figure out what’s going on versus now it’s more I can observe and take information in better.”
In that answer lies the key for Belton, and it has everything to do with his mindset.
In the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, Hamilton, the character of Aaron Burr offered some "free advice" to a young and up-and-coming Alexander Hamilton.
"Talk less, smile more", sang Burr.
For Belton, the football version of Burr's advice can be found in his thoughts on where he is at heading into 2026.
"Think less, do more."
What Belton needs to do is let his size and strength think for him, and the rest will fall into place.
PackersRoundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Packers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
