Green Bay Packers: Elgton Jenkins ranked No. 9 potential 2023 free agent

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green-bay-packers-receiver-injury-diagnosis-elgton-jenkins-torn-acl-mississippi-state-david-bakhtiar — Wesley Hitt via Getty Images.

Elgton Jenkins has been a staple in the offensive line for the Green Bay Packers since getting drafted in the second round out of Mississippi State in 2019. He’s been versatile and during the 2020 season, played 100% of the offensive snaps in all but one game. A knee injury caused a setback last year, as Jenkins did not play past Week 11.

Just one more season remains on Jenkins’ contract, meaning Green Bay may have to live in a world where he leaves during free agency. When ranking the players potentially on the market offseason, NFL.com ranked Jenkins just inside the top 10, coming in at No. 9. The Packers will certainly want to resign the offensive lineman but if Jenkins hits the open market, he will be a popular name.

“Jenkins has already shown he can play virtually any position along the offensive line at a high level,” NFL.com said in their evaluation. “If he weren’t coming off a torn ACL, he’d be ranked even higher.”

Despite being ranked No. 9 overall, Jenkins is the fifth offensive lineman of the group. It’s going to be a deep market if he even becomes a free agent. Aaron Rodgers will still be on the roster for the foreseeable future, meaning he will need top-level protection. Signing Jenkins back to a long-term contract will continue to send the right message to their franchise quarterback.

Offensive line considered question mark for Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers appear in good position once again in the NFC North in 2022. But they still have some question marks, and Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer shared the area he needs the Packers to address during training camp.

To answer that question, he’s looking up front with the offensive line. David Bakhtiari didn’t play last year as he recovered from a torn ACL and Jenkins is still coming back from a knee injury of his own. The Packers aren’t in a rush to get them back, according to Breer, and that means they’ll need someone to step up if those two can’t play right away.

“The biggest questions are up front,” Breer tweeted. “David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins aren’t going to be rushed back (no one’s ruling out Week 1, but the staff won’t put timelines on those guys). As a result, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan and Royce Newman are important summer figures in GB.”