Packers OL Elgton Jenkins sets high expectations for rookies Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed
For the first time in a long time, the Green Bay Packers are headed into a season without Aaron Rodgers leading their offense.
The Packers prepared for life without Rodgers as early as 2020 when they selected quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the NFL Draft with the No. 26 overall pick. And with Love entering his first season as a starter, the Packers selected a fair share of offensive weapons in this year’s draft to surround him. Weapons that Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins seemed very excited about on Monday when he made an appearance on NFL Network.
“Man, I was looking at Luke Musgrave and Jayden Reed a lot. Our weapons, man, they got some serious speed, Jayden and Luke,” Jenkins said. “Just being able to see them out there running and getting vertical up the field, running routes and stuff like that, it really put a smile on my face.”
Musgrave and Reed were both selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and established themselves as some of the top players at their respective positions in their college careers.
Even in a draft class loaded with talent at the tight end position Musgrave was still able to stand out, selected No. 42 overall making him the fifth tight end off of the board. A knee injury kept Musgrave off the field for the majority of his final season the Oregon State, appearing in just two games where he caught 11 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown. But his smoothness and ability at the position made him one of the hottest offensive commodities of the draft.
So was Reed, one of the toughest players in the nation to guard at the slot receiver position and one of the most dangerous kick returners as well last season at the collegiate level. In his one season at Western Michigan and three at Michigan State Reed accumulated 2,866 receiving yards, 1,422 return yards, and a whopping 30 total touchdowns.
He put on a show at the Reeses Senior Bowl, and could be putting one on in his rookie season alongside Musgrave according to Jenkins.
“I’m ready to see what’s in store for those guys. I feel like the future’s bright for those guys. . . . Luke Musgrave and Jayden Reed, I’ve got a lot of high expectations for those guys in Year 1, for sure,” Jenkins said.
The two-time Pro Bowl selectee likes what he’s seeing from the Packers’ rookie talent already, as Green Bay’s new young offensive core will look to take the league by storm to start off the franchise’s post-Rodgers era.