Solak's pick for Packers breakout player probably isn't who you expect

Who is going to break out for the Green Bay Packers during the 2026 season? Obvious picks include wide receiver Matthew Golden, who is entering into a starting role; offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, who will be taking over at left tackle; and edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, who showed signs before an injury last season. All three recent first-round picks will be hugely important to the success of Matt LaFleur's team in 2026.

But what if there is another potential breakout candidate hiding behind the former first-rounders?

Anthony Belton was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard in November and then went through the typical ups and downs of a rookie offensive lineman playing a new position. But with an impressive combination of size and athleticism for a big man, plus a full offseason of getting comfortable at right guard, could Belton -- a second-round pick in 2025 -- turn out to be a breakout player this year?

ESPN's Ben Solak believes so. Belton was his pick for the Packers among 32 breakout players in the NFL for 2026.

"Belton has the size, flexibility and power to be a defining force in the running game -- something the Packers desperately need, as they typically run the ball from shotgun and need big-time vertical displacement. Aaron Banks, who was a free agent disappointment in Year 1, was supposed to be that linchpin player. With a full offseason of prep, I believe it can be Belton instead," Solak wrote.

The pick might be outside the box, but it's hardly a hot take. Belton, who played only left tackle in college, is among Green Bay's top candidates to improve in 2026. Mark Oldacres of Packers Wire recently dove into Belton's rookie season, and while the underlying analytics weren't kind, he did improve down the stretch, especially as a run blocker, as he got more and more comfortable at guard.

Becoming a breakout player doesn't necessarily mean arriving as a star. For Belton, going from a liability as a rookie to an average starting guard in Year 2 would represent a massive breakout performance, and it would give the Packers a real chance to make meaningful improvements along the offensive line overall.

Generally speaking, this is the path the Packers so often take with players along the offensive line. Draft a college left tackle, cross train them at different positions, eventually find their best position among the starting five and then develop them there. Belton got his cross training and is now settling in at guard. There's reason to believe he'll be a much more consistent player after getting through his rookie season and going through this offseason preparing to be the starting right guard.

"I learned a lot about the process, preparation," Belton said, via Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. "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."

The Packers are turning to several young players to play important roles for LaFleur's team in 2026. Belton, the expected starter at right guard, is among them. Can he break out as a second-year player for an offensive line that must improve this season? If nothing else, Belton has a few believers in his potential on the outside.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Solak's pick for Packers breakout player probably isn't who you expect