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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Elgton Jenkins would not essentially have an issue with shifting to heart full time, however sources say the two-time Professional Bowl left guard would really like the Inexperienced Bay Packers to make it extra financially steady for him to take action.
That is the rationale he has up to now stayed away from the offseason exercises, a number of sources advised 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 whereas additionally remaining aggressive if he moved to the higher-priced deal with place. The typical of $17 million would make him among the many highest-paid facilities within the league.
The issue, nevertheless, is that facilities usually make far lower than the highest-paid guards or tackles, so Jenkins’ issues are tied to future earnings, which could possibly be considerably decrease as a middle. He’s underneath contract by the 2026 season and is scheduled to make $12.8 million this season and $20 million in 2026, when he will likely be 30 years previous.
The Packers nearly by no means regulate contracts with multiple 12 months remaining. Maybe a compromise could be to ensure among 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 high quality with shifting to heart — one thing offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich reiterated Monday.
“I feel he is open to it,” Stenavich mentioned. “The conversations that we have had with him, yeah, he is obtained a number 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 mentioned: “No. He is not right here for different causes than that.” Jenkins has already missed sufficient of the offseason program that he would 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 mentioned 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 kind 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 because the Packers picked him within the second spherical of the 2019 draft.
