Jenkins Signs 4-Year Extension

On Friday, the Packers and Elgton Jenkins agreed to a four-year extension worth $68 million. The deal will make the veteran offensive lineman the second-highest-paid guard in the National Football League. The former Mississippi State star, named an alternate to the Pro Bowl earlier in the week, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next March.




This is a tremendous contract for Jenkins, who’s just 13 months removed from ACL surgery. His average yearly salary ($17 million) and signing bonus ($24 million) are second only to 5-time All-Pro Quenton Nelson, whose numbers are $20 million and $31 million, respectively. This extension also places Jenkins among the 15 highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL.

It can’t be a coincidence that Jenkins signed this deal following arguably his two best performances of the season. The 26-year-old was terrific against the Bears in Week 13 and the Rams last Monday night. He didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection and was dominant at times in the run game. After struggling at right tackle upon his return, Jenkins has begun to look more like the player who was voted a Pro Bowl starter in 2020 since moving back to left guard in late October. Shaking off the rust and gaining confidence in his surgically-repaired knee are almost certainly even bigger reasons.

It’ll be very interesting to see where Jenkins plays in 2023. That might depend on what happens with David Bakhtiari, whose huge salary and chronic knee condition could make him a cap casualty in the offseason. If the 5-time All-Pro returns, Jenkins would almost certainly remain at left guard with either Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, or Rasheed Walker starting at right tackle. But if Bakhtiari isn’t back, the coaches might prefer Jenkins as his replacement. Despite his struggles outside earlier this season, it’s important to remember that he was very good in eight starts at left tackle a year ago.

Since being named GM in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has re-signed Jenkins, Bakhtiari, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Aaron Jones, nose tackle Kenny Clark, outside linebacker Preston Smith, inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, and corner Jaire Alexander. That’s the good news. The not-as-good news is that it cost the franchise over $600 million. There was a time when the Packers excelled at getting stars to agree to team-friendly deals. Those days are apparently over.




With Jenkins in the fold, the Packers now have 13 players eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2023. Among the bigger names are wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis, strong safety Adrian Amos, defensive linemen Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed, kicker Mason Crosby and Keisean Nixon, whose recent emergence as a competent nickel cornerback and game-changing returner might actually make him Gutekunst’s No. 1 priority.


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