By now, just about everyone anticipates the release of Green Bay Packers center Elgton Jenkins this offseason. The two-time Pro Bowler turned in a mediocre, injury-riddled 2025 campaign and the team will save nearly $20 million in cap space by cutting him. That seems like a wrap.
However, cutting Jenkins doesn’t mean the offensive line has a clear replacement in line. Backup Sean Rhyan, a pending free agent, graded out as one of the worst centers in the league. Jacob Monk was decent but only saw 57 snaps. Is he ready to grab the starting job?
Packers approach an offseason ripe with uncertainty at the center position
In all likelihood, general manager Brian Gutekunst will need to address the position via the draft or a frugal free agent addition. Protecting Jordan Love must be a top priority after consecutive seasons in which the Packers’ franchise quarterback has been banged up and missed time. Now, they won’t have Malik Willis around to rescue them, either. He is due a major pay raise in free agency.
Rhyan isn’t the answer. The 92nd pick of the 2022 draft graded out 31st among 40 qualified centers per Pro Football Focus. In pass protection, he ranked dead last with an abysmal score of 38.5. Although spent significant time at guard, Rhyan logged the majority of his reps at center. That should give the team plenty of evidence that he is not a guy to depend on moving forward.
Mar 3, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Monk, a 2024 fifth-rounder out of Duke, also fared better in run blocking than in pass protection, but produced a solid overall grade of 73.7. With a limited sample size across two NFL seasons, however, he doesn’t offer much security.
Jenkins himself graded out below average, but he at least offered a somewhat stable baseline of production. At this point in his career, however, his performance doesn’t match his paycheck, leaving the Packers little choice but to find a better use of the cap space currently occupied by Jenkins.
Gutekunst has his work cut out for him finding a new anchor in the middle of the offensive line.
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