As expected, Aaron Banks‘ arrival in Green Bay will displace one of the team’s incumbent offensive guards. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst told reporters that left guard Elgton Jenkins will be switching to center in 2025 (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic).
[RELATED: Packers Expected To Sign Aaron Banks]
“We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center,” Gutekunst said today. “We’ve talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line and having guys that can move to different spots, and Elgton’s one of those guys who can play all five spots, so he’s a luxury. But I’m excited to see what he can do at center, as well.”
Since being selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, Jenkins has earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods for his work at left guard. Fortunately for the Packers, the lineman has also shown plenty of versatility throughout his career. He got an extended look at center during his sophomore campaign, and he even filled in at both tackle positions between 2021 and 2022.
As Schneidman notes, Jenkins still has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $17MM per season. That AAV currently ranks fifth among left guards, but it would land second among centers. While the veteran will temporarily be among the highest-paid players at the position, Schneidman warns that a permanent move could end up having a negative financial impact on Jenkins’ next deal.
Banks represented the Packers’ priciest offseason acquisition, as the former 49ers lineman inked a four-year, $77MM contract to join Green Bay. Jenkins (32nd) and Banks (33rd) were back-to-back in Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2024, with the incumbent earning the nod for pass-blocking vs. the new addition’s advantage in run blocking.
Elsewhere on the offensive line, it sounds like the Packers will have an open competition for the starting LT role. Former seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker started all 17 games at the position in 2024, but Gutekunst told reporters that former first-round pick Jordan Morgan will get a chance at the gig in 2025.
“I think Rasheed’s done a lot of really, really good things for us,” the GM said (via Schneidman). “We’re going to have a lot of competition there. Not just at his spot, but all across the offensive line. We’ve got guys like Jordan Morgan, who I think is going to really emerge. It will be good to see that competition and we’ll be better for it.”
Morgan was limited to only six games (one start) as a rookie, with a right shoulder injury ending his season in November. When he was on the field, the lineman mostly saw time as a guard.