The Green Bay Packers announced they had signed offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins to a four-year contract extension worth at least $68 million. There are incentives included in the deal that could make it worth as much as $74 million and the $68 million total includes a signing bonus of $24 million which will help the Packers spread out the cap hit over the length of the deal.

This was a good move by GM Brian Gutekunst. Jenkins is a valuable part of the team’s offensive line and is just entering the prime of his career. His rookie contract expires at the end of this season and the former Mississippi State star would have been an unrestricted free agent this offseason if he didn’t agree to an extension with the Packers.

Jenkins will turn 27 on December 26^th so this contract will take him through the age of 31. Green Bay has now locked up Jenkins through the prime of his career.

Jenkins is considered one of the best offensive linemen on the team along with left tackle David Bakhtiari. With Bakhtiari’s health and age now causing questions about his future in the NFL, locking up Jenkins gives the Packers more stability along the offensive line and means that at least one of the team’s top two linemen will be back next season.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was very pleased with the announcement. “It's a great day for us, a great day for Elgton. Obviously, he's earned it, and he does it the right way. It's always fun as a coach to see guys that get rewarded for not only their performance, but what they do in that locker room, and the leadership he brings. I can't say enough great things about him. He's been just awesome since the day he set foot in this building, and just brings so much to our team.”

Jenkins started his career at guard. He almost won the job in training camp but then took over as the starter after the opener when veteran Lane Taylor was lost for the season with an injury.

In his second season, Jenkins was a Pro Bowl performer at left guard starting all 16 games. That was his best season of his career thus far mostly because he stayed healthy and played at a very high level.

In 2021, with Bakhtiari out with a knee injury, Jenkins moved to left tackle and did a very good job protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blind side. Unfortunately, Jenkins himself suffered a season-ending knee injury later in the season and was limited to eight games.

Jenkins was able to return to the lineup in Week 2 this season and hasn’t missed a snap since his return. He struggled early in the season while playing right tackle but was moved back to left guard and has gradually returned to his pre-injury form. His slow start to the season and the team’s disappointing season kept him from earning Pro Bowl honors this season but he clearly can return to that level.

Jenkins’ versatility makes him even more valuable to the team than his high level of talent alone. He has already played both left and right tackle, left and right guard and even taken a few snaps at center since joining the Packers. He is not only capable of playing all five spots along the offensive line, but he can also play them at a high level.

“It's wherever we need him,” LaFleur explained when asked about Jenkins’ versatility. “I think he can play anything. I really do. I think he's shown the ability to play tackle, I think he's a hell of a center, obviously guard. I think he can play anything.”

Because of his versatility, there were questions whether the Packers would pay Jenkins as a tackle or a guard when they sought to sign him to an extension. The fact that he struggled earlier in the season at tackle and has played well at guard once moved there helped settle that issue. Instead, the new deal makes Jenkins the second-highest paid guard in the NFL with only Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts earning more than Jenkins will as of now.

Now the Packers know Jenkins will be part of the team’s future along the offensive line. The team will be better because of it.