No. 6 — Elgton Jenkins

The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.

Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.

The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.

“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”

Those are fair expectations.

The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.

“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.

Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.

Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.

At No. 6 is center Elgton Jenkins.

No. 6

Elgton Jenkins, C

Last season

Jenkins started 16 games at left guard and one at center in 2024. He allowed just one sack in 1,069 snaps, but did have 10 penalties.

Pro Football Focus gave Jenkins an overall grade of 66.1, which ranked 45^th out of 136 guards. Jenkins had a stellar pass blocking grade of 83.1, which ranked third among guards, and a subpar run blocking grade of 61.4 (71^st).

Jenkins was also named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. And in a recent poll of league executives, coaches and scouts conducted by ESPN, Jenkins ranked No. 9 among all interior linemen.

Career to date

Jenkins has appeared in 87 games with 85 starts in his first six seasons. He’s started games at four different positions on the line — 67 at left guard, eight at left tackle, six at right tackle and four at center.

Jenkins was named to the Professional Football Writers Association All-Rookie team in 2019 after appearing in all 16 games with 14 starts at left guard. Jenkins became just the second Packers guard to earn such honors since 1974 (Daryn Colledge, 2006).

Jenkins was selected to his first career Pro Bowl in 2020, becoming only the third offensive lineman in team history to be named to the Pro Bowl within his first two seasons in the NFL (Deral Teteak, 1952; Charley Brock, 1940). He started games at three different positions in 2020 — 12 at left guard, three at center and one at right tackle — becoming the first Green Bay offensive lineman to start a game at guard, center and tackle in the same season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Jenkins tore his ACL midway through the 2021 season, then struggled early in 2022 when the Packers played him at right guard. Jenkins regained the form that made him a 2020 Pro Bowler when the Packers moved him back to his natural left guard spot later in the 2022 campaign.

In Dec., 2022, the Packers rewarded Jenkins with a four-year, $68 million contract that included a $24 million signing bonus and $24 million guaranteed.

Jenkins then had a stellar 2023 campaign when he didn’t allow a sack and gave up just 12 pressures in 1,019 snaps (including playoffs).

Outlook

Jenkins hasn’t been a full-time center since the 2018 season, his final year at Mississippi State.

That’s where he’s headed in 2025, though.

The Packers signed guard Aaron Banks in free agency and let Josh Myers — their starting center since 2021 — walk in free agency. Now, the plan is to move Jenkins from guard to center — which could make for a tricky summer.

Jenkins skipped the Packers’ voluntary OTA’s, then reported to minicamp in June, but didn’t practice. It remains unclear whether Jenkins will report for the start of training camp.

Jenkins has two years left on the contract he signed in 2022. The average of that deal is $17 million, which would make him one of the NFL’s highest paid centers.

Traditionally, though, guards are paid more than centers, meaning the positional change could cost Jenkins in future earnings.

Jenkins, who turns 30 on Dec. 26, is scheduled to earn $12.8 million this year and $20 million in 2026. The only guaranteed money Jenkins received when he signed his contract extension was a $24 million signing bonus.

If the two sides reach a financial compromise, Jenkins has the potential to become an elite center and give Green Bay a top-5 offensive line. Jenkins has long arms (34 inches), is bright, and packs more punch than the average center.

The key, though, is getting Jenkins to camp to become acclimated to his positional change as quickly as possible.

They Said It …

“We had plenty of conversations with Elgton leading up to it and obviously he played center in college. We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center.” — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Jenkins moving to center

“You guys know Elgton, he’s a unicorn, right? He has played a lot of ball. He’s played every position on the line of scrimmage for us at some point — in a game. Elgton’s done it in a game, Elgton’s done it in practice, he is special in that regard in being able to cross-train and do all that stuff. Played in college at a high level. So for him to come in here and play center, I thought one of his better games last year was the game that he played center. So, there’s no concern about that and he’ll fit in just fine.” — Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus on Jenkins

“I expect him to be ready to go when we come back. He’s a guy that I really respect, how he works. The product obviously that he’s put out there from an individual standpoint has been pretty impressive. He’s fought through some adversity, but he’s going to be a big part of this thing.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Jenkins

THE TOP 30

• No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd

• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks

• No. 28 — S Javon Bullard

• No. 27 — WR Savion Williams

• No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie

• No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan

• No. 24 — WR Matthew Golden

• No. 23 — CB Carrington Valentine

• No. 22 — WR Romeo Doubs

• No. 21 — QB Malik Willis

• N0. 20 — DE Lukas Van Ness

• No. 19 — RG Sean Rhyan

• No. 18 — LT Rasheed Walker

• No. 17 — DT Devonte Wyatt

• No. 16 — S Evan Williams

• No. 15 — CB Nate Hobbs

• No. 14 — LB Quay Walker

• No. 13 — OL Aaron Banks

• No. 12 — CB Keisean Nixon

• No. 11 — K Brandon McManus

• No. 10 — TE Tucker Kraft

• No. 9 — WR Jayden Reed

• No. 8 — DT Kenny Clark

• No. 7 — RT Zach Tom