The Green Bay Packers might have to get creative to make additional cap space this offseason. On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler argued one way the Packers could do that is moving on from veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
Fowler briefly mentioned Jenkins as an offseason trade candidate in a column addressing numerous talking points from the NFL combine.
“Two offensive linemen to potentially be included in trades are Green Bay’s Elgton Jenkins and Denver’s Ben Powers,” Fowler wrote. “Both have large cap hits and potential value.”
Jenkins has one season remaining on his 4-year, $68 million extension. He is set to have about a $24.3 million cap hit in the 2026 season. But, his dead cap hit is quite low at $4.8 million.
Arriving in Green Bay as a second-round pick in 2019, Jenkins has started for the organization since his rookie season. He made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2022.
Jenkins has started 94 contests over seven seasons. Most of those starts have been at guard.
Packers Lineman Elgton Jenkins Named Trade Candidate
Jenkins has been rather versatile during his career. In 2025, he primarily played center for the first time in the NFL.
But Jenkins was average at best. He posted a 62 Pro Football Focus player grade last season. Jenkins then missed the second half of the campaign because of a lower-leg fracture.
Whether Jenkins stays on the roster or not, pundits expect the Packers to shop for a major upgrade at center. In order to pay for that upgrade, the Packers could dump Jenkins’s salary.
The team can clear about $20 million in cap space by simply cutting Jenkins.
The savings might be less in a trade, but Green Bay could receive something in return for the veteran lineman.
Despite his declining play, age (30 years old) and cap hit, Fowler sees Jenkins having suitors on the trade market.
The Packers drafted Jenkins at No. 44 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has started every game in which he has played since Week 3 of his rookie season.
As a rookie, Jenkins played almost all of his snaps at left guard. During 2020, he again mostly played left guard but also made appearances at center and both tackle spots.
From 2021-24, Jenkins continued to mostly play left guard. But during those years, he also made starts at center and right tackle.
In 2025, he made all of his starts at center.
Packers Interior Line Depth Entering 2026 Free Agency
One reason to pause on the idea Jenkins is a trade candidate is interior lineman Sean Rhyan is already an unrestricted free agent. Rhyan replaced Jenkins in the lineup after the starting center’s injury.
If the Packers make a big splash at center in free agency, losing Jenkins and Rhyan might not be as big of a deal. But it might be better for the team to re-sign Rhyan to play left guard and then add a center before shopping Jenkins.
Guard Donovan Jennings is also a free agent for the Packers this offseason.
The good news is starting left guard Aaron Banks is set to return for the team. Lecitus Smith and Jacob Monk are two other interior lineman already on the Green Bay 2026 roster.
Furthermore, the Packers have linemen Darian Kinnard and Jordan Morgan listed as both guards and tackles.
Packers $68 Million Starter Pegged Offseason Trade Candidate