While the Jaire Alexander story dominates the headlines for the Green Bay Packers, he’s not the only player on the roster seeking clarification. During Monday’s media availability, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich commented on Elgton Jenkins‘ absence from the offseason program.
The 29-year-old veteran offensive lineman is set for a significant change this season — a move from left guard to center. With Josh Myers in New Jersey and the recent signing of guard Aaron Banks, it makes sense for Jenkins to fill that void at center. Many have pondered that center could be Jenkins’ best spot, and Brian Gutekunst believes he can be an All-Pro there.
However, there are reports of unrest from Jason Wilde of Channel 3000. While Stenavich says Jenkins’ absence isn’t completely due to the move, Jenkins is reportedly seeking a reworked contract.
“He’s not here for other reasons than that,” Stenavich said.
Jenkins’ current contract is already a bargain, and moving to center means he won’t reach tackle-based incentives. Jenkins will turn 30 this year, and his current deal is already set up for him to be a potential release candidate in 2026. Still, he’s playing at a high level, and there isn’t a clear other option at center on the roster. So, what’s the right move for Jenkins and the Packers?
It isn’t a concern that Jenkins wasn’t at voluntary offseason activities, and there aren’t any reports of bad blood. Stenavich said that Jenkins is both open and excited about the position change.
“The conversations that we’ve had with him,” he said, “he was open to it, excited about it.”
However, his contract’s structure, his age, and the state of interior offensive line contracts all factor into a complicated situation.
When Jenkins signed his four-year, $68 million deal, he still played at guard and tackle. His contract reflected that. It was a high amount for an interior player and had incentives if he made the Pro Bowl as a tackle.
Since then, interior offensive line contracts have skyrocketed, but guards are still making more than centers.
The highest-paid guards average over $20 million per year. Trey Smith‘s one-year deal is worth over $23 million, while Landon Dickerson averages $21 million on his four-year deal.
Meanwhile, centers are in the middle/upper teens at best, with KC’s Creed Humphrey topping the chart at $18 million per season.
For reference, Aaron Banks’ four-year deal averages at $19.25 million, and he is the sixth-highest-paid guard, according to Spotrac. Jenkins’ current $17 million makes him the 11th-highest-paid guard, and he’d be tied at second for centers.
Jenkins is also approaching 30 on a team that typically doesn’t award third contracts or lucrative deals to players over 30. The way his deal is structured, his cap hit in 2026 is over $24 million, while he’d only have a $4.8 million dead cap if he’s released.
Jenkins is open to playing center, but he’d be choosing a less lucrative position, and his job security after this season is unsteady. A move to center means that if the Packers do move on, Jenkins’ deal with a new team will be less lucrative than if he stays at guard.
It’s a complicated situation. It’s usually the right decision when the Packers move on from an aging player. Seeing a long-tenured fan favorite exit stinks, but those players haven’t generally done well with their new teams.
However, the team doesn’t have many options at the center, and Jenkins is one of their most reliable linemen.
Like Jenkins, Zach Tom has All-Pro potential at center, but he’s been so good at right tackle that it’s hard to want to move him. And with Tom eligible for a new deal, he’ll want that deal to be at the higher-paid tackle spot.
Sean Rhyan showed some promise at center, but he’s in the final year of his rookie contract and already faces an uphill battle to get an extension. Jacob Monk was inactive for much of the back half of his rookie season. Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton are versatile but not projected to be centers.
The best solution is likely a short-term rework to keep Jenkins happy, with a possibility of more, depending on how his first season as a full-time center goes. Still, I can’t pretend I understand Russ Ball’s financial wizardry.
It would be best to keep Jenkins happy this season to keep their anchor in place, since Jenkins is part of the 2025 team and the team has high hopes for him at center. Without better options in place, it might be best for the Packers to go against their usual MO, just a bit, to keep an aging player in the mix.