Packers can't rush the Elgton Jenkins call and the reason why reveals deeper concerns heading into the 2025 season
The Green Bay Packers gave Zach Tom a four-year, $88 million contract extension. Now, there are three high-priced offensive linemen on the roster, with Tom joining a group with left guard Aaron Banks and center Elgton Jenkins. But that fact creates some uncertainty for the future, and general manager Brian Gutekunst will have some tough […]
The Green Bay Packers gave Zach Tom a four-year, $88 million contract extension. Now, there are three high-priced offensive linemen on the roster, with Tom joining a group with left guard Aaron Banks and center Elgton Jenkins. But that fact creates some uncertainty for the future, and general manager Brian Gutekunst will have some tough calls to make over the next eight months.
Jenkins is moving from left guard to center, but first he wants a contract adjustment to have more guarantees. But with two years left on his deal, the Packers don't seem inclined to pull the trigger. ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers want to wait and see if Jenkins will play well at center before maybe considering a new deal during the regular season.
The motivation of the forced patience is because the Packers have difficult decisions ahead, and it goes beyond Jenkins individual performance.
Spending limit
Theoretically, it's viable to pay four high-priced offensive linemen at the same time. But in practicality, it's a questionable call. First, because the Packers have invested two high draft picks, with Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton, to avoid this type of scenario. Second, because overinvesting in one spot affects the rest of the roster.
The follow-up question is that left tackle Rasheed Walker and right guard Sean Rhyan are entering the final year of their rookie deals, and the Packers have to answer if they want to keep one of them. Rhyan is cheaper, but also easier to replace at a less valuable position.
With Walker, the situation gets more complicated. He's projected to get something between $14 million and $16.5 million on yearly average. So if the Packers want to keep him, and if they can't pay more than three veteran offensive linemen, Elgton Jenkins would probably have to go.
What will define the call
The Packers are entering training camp with more questions than answers, and that's fine. Practices and preseason games will ultimately determine what will happen. Jordan Morgan will likely compete for the left tackle spot, like he did during the offseason program, and rookie Anthony Belton is projected as a swing tackle with the twos. Can they play tackle and beat out Rasheed Walker? Can one of them move to right guard?
With these answers on the field, the contract decisions will be easier. But at the moment, the Packers need the flexibility with Elgton Jenkins, because the team needs answers it doesn't have right now.
National ranking of top offensive triples shows the Packers might have the firepower to reach a new level in 2025
It’s a big range of outcomes for Green Bay
