The Inexperienced Bay Packers really feel they’re in a championship window, however a lot of their success hinges on the talents of Jordan Love.
Can he be an elite quarterback? He is proven that potential. He additionally struggled with harm for a lot of the 2024 season, so holding him wholesome and guarded is a crucial piece of the puzzle for Inexperienced Bay.
The Packers really feel they’ve a robust offensive line, they usually bolstered it this offseason by signing 6-foot-5, 325-pound Aaron Banks to play left guard. That transfer would enable two-time Professional Bowl guard/deal with Elgton Jenkins to maneuver to middle, a place he is fairly acquainted with. With Jenkins at middle, which has been considerably of a weak spot lately, the Packers really feel they’ll put one of the best 5 offensive linemen on the sector to guard Love. In addition they consider Jenkins could be nice at middle, which he performed at Texas A&M.
It looks as if a flawless plan, besides Jenkins hasn’t been part of offseason exercises this spring. Now, Rob Demovsky of ESPN is reporting that whereas Jenkins is okay with the transfer to middle, he is frightened in regards to the long-term monetary ramifications as a result of facilities make considerably much less cash within the NFL than guards and positively tackles do.
“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 had been staying at guard whereas additionally remaining aggressive if he moved to the higher-priced deal with place. The common of $17 million would make him among the many highest-paid facilities within the league,” Demovsky wrote. “The issue, nonetheless, 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.”
Jenkins is on the lookout for monetary stability. The Packers are on the lookout for stability at middle.
There’s most likely a center floor in there someplace — Demovsky means that the Packers might assure a number of the $32.8 million remaining on his present deal — however the truth of the matter is that this must be solved prior to later for Inexperienced Bay.
A contract dispute in Could is one factor, but when this drags into the summer time and even into coaching camp, one thing like this might actually derail the beginning of the 2025 season.
Consistency is vital alongside an offensive line, and that is not even to say the consistency that must be developed between a middle and quarterback.
For Love’s sake, the Packers must resolve this shortly and ensure their new middle is pleased. Anything can be malpractice by normal supervisor Brian Gutekunst.
