GREEN BAY, Wis. — Elgton Jenkins does not essentially have an issue with shifting to heart full time, however the two-time Professional Bowl left guard would love the Inexperienced Bay Packers to make it extra financially steady for him to take action.
That is the rationale he has to date stayed away from the offseason exercises, a number of sources informed ESPN.
Jenkins has two years left on a four-year, $68 million contract extension he signed in December of 2022. It was designed to pay him as if he have been staying at guard and likewise remaining aggressive if he moved to the higher-priced sort out place. The typical of $17 million would make him among the many highest-paid facilities within the league.
The issue, nonetheless, is that facilities usually make far lower than the highest-paid guards or tackles, so Jenkins’ issues are tied to future earnings, which may very well be considerably decrease as a middle. He’s beneath contract via the 2026 season and is scheduled to make $12.8 million this season and $20 million 2026, when he shall be 30 years previous.
The Packers virtually by no means alter contracts with a couple of 12 months remaining. Maybe a compromise could be to ensure a few of the the rest of the $32.8 million remaining on the deal. The one factor assured was his preliminary signing bonus of $24 million. The transfer to heart happened after the Packers signed free agent Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract to play left guard. Since then, the Packers have maintained that Jenkins was tremendous with shifting to heart — one thing offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich reiterated Monday.
“I believe he is open to it,” Stenavich stated. “The conversations that we have had with him, yeah, he is obtained quite a lot of expertise there and he was open to it, enthusiastic about it. So, able to go.”
When requested if the place swap is why Jenkins has not taken half within the offseason program, Stenavich stated: “No. He is not right here for different causes than that.” Jenkins has already missed sufficient of the offseason program that he would now not qualify to earn his $500,000 exercise bonus.
“We had loads of conversations with Elgton main as much as it, and clearly he performed heart in school,” Packers common supervisor Brian Gutekunst stated earlier this offseason. “We really feel he is obtained an opportunity to be an All-Professional heart. We have talked about it lots, how versatility performs into our offensive line, and having guys that may transfer to completely different spots. And Elgton’s a type of guys who can play all 5 spots, so he is a luxurious. I am excited to see what he can do at heart, as effectively.”
Jenkins, who couldn’t be reached for remark, has performed each place on the offensive line for the reason that Packers picked him within the second spherical of the 2019 draft.
