The Green Bay Packers are poised to make changes along their offensive line this offseason. But swing tackle Darian Kinnard will be back with the team.
According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, The Pat McAfee Show reported Monday the Packers agreed to a 1-year deal worth up to $3.75 million with Kinnard.
The offensive tackle was a restricted free agent this offseason.
The Packers acquired Kinnard from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2027 sixth-round pick. During his first season with Green Bay, Kinnard dressed for all 17 contests, starting four of them.
The 26-year-old also received playing time as a sixth offensive lineman. Two of his four starts were situations in which he appeared on the field as an extra lineman to begin a game.
During Weeks 4 and 18, Kinnard started at right tackle.
Packers Sign Restricted Free Agent Darian Kinnard: Report
Green Bay inking Kinnard to a new deal is interesting for a couple reasons.
Because the tackle was a restricted free agent, the Packers had the opportunity to place a tender on Kinnard. Such a move would have allowed Green Bay to pay Kinnard a little less.
With a tender, the lineman would have had the chance to negotiate with other teams. But the Packers would have possessed the opportunity to match any offer or receive compensation if Kinnard signed elsewhere.
Instead of going down that path, though, the Packers are retaining Kinnard on an incentive-based deal.
The team hasn’t disclosed the full details of the contract. But in all likelihood, Kinnard could now cost the Packers less than the tender amount if he doesn’t reach the incentives.
“The Packers had the option to tender Kinnard at a $3.5 million figure (one-year deal) based on the NFL’s RFA rules,” SB Nation’s Acme Packing Company’s Justis Mosqueda wrote. “If it’s up to $3.75 million, I’d assume that Kinnard signed for less than the $3.5 million tender but can make more than the tender with playing time incentives.”
With starting left tackle Rasheed Walker an unrestricted free agent and center Elgton Jenkins a potential cut candidate, the Packers bringing back Kinnard gives them some security. More than likely, he will once again be the team’s sixth offensive lineman and swing tackle.
Kinnard began his career as a fifth-round pick for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. The tackle became just the second NFL player in history to win three straight Super Bowls.
Kinnard won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs and one with the Eagles. He was a member of the Chiefs practice squad when they won Super Bowl LVIII.
UPDATE: The Packers announced releasing Jenkins on Monday. NFL writer Jason B. Hirschhorn reported Tuesday the release came with a failed-physical designation.
Packers Projected Starting Offensive Line Entering 2026
If the Packers part ways with Walker and Jenkins by the end of the offseason, they will lose their starting left tackle and center from 2025.
Usually, that’s a really bad sign. But since those two linemen departing has been the expectation since the end of 2025, the Packers seem prepared to replace them.
Green Bay will likely even be able to overcome the loss of Walker and Jenkins without Kinnard entering the starting lineup.
The Packers appear set to move former first-round pick Jordan Morgan from guard back to left tackle. That’s his natural position, but Morgan played guard in 2025 with Walker playing well at left tackle.
The Packers already re-signed veteran interior offensive lineman Sean Rhyan this offseason. He started at center during the second half of 2025 after Jenkins suffered a leg injury.
Anthony Belton also replaced Morgan at right guard during the 2025 stretch run. Belton will probably remain there with Aaron Banks still at left guard and Zach Tom at right tackle.
After Kinnard’s new contract, some Packers fans complained on X that the team was bringing back a similar offensive line to last year despite the team’s struggled up front.
While somewhat true, the Packers offensive line will have two new starters. It also won’t have two lineman playing out of position anymore.
Packers Make $3.75 Million Move With Pending Restricted Free Agent: Report