PALM BEACH, Fla. – Before the Green Bay Packers reconfigured their offensive front, general manager Brian Gutekunst informed Elgton Jenkins about his impending role shift. Jenkins was not left unaware regarding his transition to center from left guard for the 2025 season, as Gutekunst explained.
Jenkins, having played center during his college years, was always considered a potential long-term fit for that role when the Packers picked him in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. Consequently, this move was conceivable, and Gutekunst had discussions with Jenkins about the change prior to signing left guard Aaron Banks in free agency. “We’ve had numerous discussions with Elgton leading up to this,” Gutekunst mentioned.
According to Gutekunst, Jenkins did not resist the position change, even though he is moving to center, traditionally the least well-compensated position on the offensive line. Jenkins, who has earned Pro Bowl honors twice as a left guard, inked a four-year, $68 million contract towards the end of the 2022 season, making him the NFL’s second-highest-paid guard at that time.
Jenkins remains among the top five earners at the guard position, despite Banks’ four-year, $77 million deal with the Packers, which placed Banks third in pay. Early in Jenkins’ career, his adaptability seemed to promise an even more lucrative path. He started eight games at left tackle in 2021 but suffered an ACL tear late in that season. Gutekunst is confident Jenkins will excel in his new role. “He obviously played center in college,” Gutekunst stated.
“We believe he has a real opportunity to become an All-Pro center. We’ve frequently discussed how flexibility is key across our offensive line, and having players who can adapt to various roles is crucial. Elgton is one of those players who can operate in all five positions, so we consider him an asset, and I’m eager to see his performance.”
The Packers are optimistic that these positional adjustments will strengthen their offensive line overall. Jenkins steps in for Josh Myers, the beleaguered four-year starter who joined the New York Jets this spring on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. With Banks, the Packers anticipate an excellent match for coach Matt LaFleur’s inside-zone run scheme, which the team adopted last season with Josh Jacobs in the backfield.
“A very large individual who can fulfill all the tasks Matt (LaFleur) requires within our scheme,” Gutekunst noted, “in terms of his capacity to launch off the ball quickly, move into open space, and really run. This isn’t a 295-pound individual. This is a 330-pound individual. His ability to play with physicality in the run game and establish a firm base in pass protection has been evident over several years of high-level play.”
