The Green Bay Packers have an issue to resolve over the offseason, as veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins is allegedly unhappy with his contract.
According to reports, Jenkins skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason program as he wants his deal, which has two years and no guaranteed money remaining, to be reworked. But what should Green Bay do about it?
First and foremost, Jenkins is absolutely right to feel uneasy about his current contract situation.
His $24.8 million slated salary in 2026 is not a benefit to him, but something which threatens his place on the roster beyond this year, as the Packers can save $20 nillion by releasing him before next season.
Looking at his contract as a center, where he is moving to, Jenkins currently is the highest paid player at his position by more than $3 million in 2025 and is scheduled to be the highest paid center by $6.7 million in 2026.
Both Jenkins and the Packers already know he is not playing on his slated 2026 salary under any circumstances. From Green Bay’s side, it is simply too big a cap hit.
Jenkins is overpaid, not underpaid, which points to the issue being guaranteed money and general security of his place on the team. Jenkins’ camp knows he will not be a Packer next year unless something changes regarding his contract.
Ordinarily, Jenkins would appear to have zero leverage in this situation. Green Bay has no reason to adjust his deal, as it is beneficial to the team to be able to cut him loose with very little dead money a year from now.
As mentioned though, Jenkins is set to move to center this year after the Packers let Josh Myers leave in free agency and signed Aaron Banks to play left guard. Their entire 2025 plan for how the offensive line is going to be configured hinges on Jenkins moving to center.
Therein lies his leverage. Jenkins is doing the team a favor by moving, and justifiably wants something in return.
Of course, the Packers could just say no, but do they really want someone who is playing such an important role for them in 2025 to be disgruntled? Probably not.
A contract extension is unlikely to be on the table. Jenkins turns 31 before his current deal expires, and Green Bay is not usually in the business of handing out third contracts to players of his age. Corey Linsley was allowed to walk when entering his age 30 season, for example.
On the Packers’ terms, an extension beyond 2026 would likely be for one year, and Jenkins were to hit free agency instead, he would get a significantly longer and more lucrative deal.
The solution seems obvious and should be achieved without much drama. A compromise will likely be struck whereby Jenkins’ agrees to significantly lower his salary and cap hit in 2026, while Green Bay in turn guarantees a portion of his salary.
This would suit both sides, as the Packers get Jenkins’ salary down to a more reasonable number, and he feels more reassured he will be on the team to actually earn said salary, or at least that he will receive some pay if he is still cut.
Based on how Jenkins has played, and how they expect him to play at center, Green Bay will probably be okay with essentially guaranteeing his place on the team in 2026; they were happy to extend him through that season when they signed him to the initial contract.
The only potential X-factor is how strongly the Packers feel about Jacob Monk, and where he will be in a year’s time.
He was only a fifth-round pick, but Green Bay traded up to get him and spoke openly about how much they wanted to add him to the team due to his intelligence and character.
Monk was inactive for most of his rookie year, and it has been assumed that this was due to him falling down the pecking order, but it may simply have been a decision based on the fact Jenkins could move to center on gameday if needed, so the roster spot they would have used for Monk could be better used elsewhere.
If the team feels confident he will be ready to take over at center in 2026 at a fraction of the cost, they could be less willing to appease Jenkins, but that is a component which is currently unknown.
Ultimately the Jenkins issue is likely resolved soon with some kind of contract amendment which makes sense for both the player and the Packers, settling his situation well before it can become a real problem.