Where does Elgton Jenkins’ new contract rank among NFL offensive linemen?
On Friday, the Green Bay Packers signed Elgton Jenkins, an offensive lineman, to a four year contract extension. The contract is valued at $68 million and comes with a $24 million signing bonus. per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
Which contract is the best among NFL offensive linemen and where does it rank?
Jenkins’ $17 million per year average sits at 13th among all offensive line positions and second among guards, trailing only Quinten Nelson ($20 million per year). Overall, he trails Trent Williams ($23 million), David Bakhtiari ($23 million), Laremy Tunsil ($22 million), Nelson, Ronnie Staley ($19.7 million), Ryan Ramczyk ($19.2 million), Brian O’Neil ($18.5 million), Jake Matthews ($18.3 million), Lane Johnson ($18 million), Kolton Miller ($18 million), Cam Robinson ($17.6 million) and Braden Smith ($17.5 million).
Among Packers players, Jenkins’ $17 million per year will only trail Aaron Rodgers, Bakhtiari, Jaire Alexander and Kenny Clark, who all received new, record-breaking deals in recent years.
Jenkins’ $24 million signing bonus ranks fourth among all offensive linemen and once again trails Nelson ($31 million) among guards.
Because of the prorated signing bonus included in the deal, expect Jenkins’ new contract to be structured with the aim of a smaller cap hit in early years with ballooning cap hits in later years.
There’s little doubt about it: the Packers paid Jenkins like an elite player. And it doesn’t really matter what position along the offensive line he plays moving forward.
Jenkins is considered a versatile player by the Packers, who believe he can play any of five positions including both offensive and defensive tackle. After starting the 2022 season as right tackle, he struggled and was forced to move back inside to left-guard, where he was a Pro Bowler for 2020. Jenkins has been great since then. Jenkins was even named the Pro Bowl’s first alternate this week.
The general manager Brian Gutekunst selected Jenkins in the second round. Jenkins played left tackle for four years, and has taken 288 snaps at left guard. He also took left tackle for 2,081 snaps, left guard for 2,081 snaps, center for 297, right guard once, and right tackle three times.
“We are very excited to be able to come to an agreement that keeps Elgton with the Packers,” Gutekunst said in a press release. “Since the moment he walked into the building, Elgton has been a core member of this franchise while displaying an uncommon versatility, unselfishness and toughness. He’s a tremendous leader and teammate and he has earned everything that has come to him.”