Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins has not been working with his teammates at voluntary OTAs this week. Apparently, he wants the team to negotiate a new contract with him before he returns to practice. Here is why Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins is looking for a new contract.

Where do the Packers Stand with Offensive Lineman Elgton Jenkins Right Now: Jenkins’ History

The Packers selected Jenkins in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The former Mississippi State star became a starter early in his rookie season after Lane Taylor suffered a knee injury. Jenkins has remained in the starting lineup since then.

One of the best attributes Jenkins provides for the Packers is versatility. GM Brian Gutekunst values that in his offensive linemen and head coach Matt LaFleur has long indicated he prefers to put the best five offensive linemen on the roster out as starters. Jenkins has always been one of those five.

Jenkins has played every position along the offensive line for the Packers for at least a few snaps. He has started games at left guard and right guard, in a pinch he can play left tackle and right tackle and last year, moved to center when Josh Myers suffered an injury and the Packers needed someone to take over the position for one game.

During his career, Jenkins has often been graded as the best or one of the best Packers offensive linemen according to Pro Football Focus. He does a good job of protecting the quarterback and is an above average run blocker. Jenkins earned Pro Bowl honors after the 2020 and 2022 seasons.

The Position Change

During this offseason, the Packers lost their stating center when the opted to allow Myers to leave via free agency. He never lived up to his second-round expectations and was an average center at best.

The Packers decided that the best way to address this move was to have Jenkins shift from left guard to center. The Packers signed free agent Aaron Banks to play left guard, which is the only position the former Notre Dame star has played in the NFL.

Starting right tackle Zach Tom also has experience playing center, but he has graded out as the team’s best offensive lineman over the past two seasons and is best equipped to remain at tackle.

Ultimately, moving Jenkins to center makes sense, but there are some other factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Where do the Packers Stand with Offensive Lineman Elgton Jenkins Right Now: The Contract Situation

Jenkins finds himself in a difficult situation now regarding his contract. According to published reports, he is willing to move to center, but he wants some financial assurances first.

This season, Jenkins is scheduled to earn $11.7 million in salary. That is a manageable number. The 2026 campaign will be the final year of his current deal. The Packers backloaded his contract so that his base salary increases to $18.5 million and his cap hit goes up to $24 million in 2026. The Packers would save roughly $20 million in cap space by releasing him next offseason and Jenkins can see the writing on the wall.

In addition, guards are paid more than centers right now in the NFL. By accepting a move to center, Jenkins will be reducing his earning power for his next contract whether it’s with the Packers or another team.

The other factor is age. Jenkins will turn 30 in December. The Packers rarely give out third contracts. To Jenkins, if he makes the sacrifice of moving to center, he wants to know where he stands in the future and to do the best he can financially. This next deal is likely his last chance to sign a large, lucrative NFL contract.

As of now, there is no need to panic about Jenkins’ status with the Packers. There is plenty of time to work things out before training camp and to make sure Jenkins is happy and ready to play. Hopefully, the team and the player can get on the same page shortly. The last thing the Packers need is an unhappy player in the locker room to start the 2025 NFL season.

 

 

 

 

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