Matt LaFleur Elgton Jenkins
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Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport proposed a trade where Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers part ways with interior offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
Numerous pundits have argued the Green Bay Packers will make a big splash at center this offseason. To do that, the team might have to first make a decision on veteran interior offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport proposed the Packers part ways with Jenkins through a trade to create cap space.
Davenport pitched the Packers send Jenkins to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2026 fourth-round pick.
“This last trade isn’t especially exciting. But it would likely have Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert doing cartwheels,” wrote Davenport.
The Bleacher Report analyst concluded discussing the trade proposal by writing:
“The Chargers are already running low on draft capital after making some other deals—the team has just five picks pending the awarding of compensatory selections. But dealing a pick in the back half of Round 4 is still a smart play for a Chargers team that is both a playoff contender and who has the cap space ($85.5 million) to absorb Jenkins’ contract.”
Jenkins started nine games at center last season before suffering a lower-leg fracture. However, playing out of position, the veteran struggled to match his typical level of play.
The veteran lineman has one season remaining on his 4-year, $68 million extension. He will have a $24.3 million cap hit during the 2026 campaign.
The Packers could potentially save $20 million against the cap with a Jenkins trade.
Lineman Elgton Jenkins Trade Candidate for Packers
Davenport’s trade proposal to send Jenkins to the Chargers came a day after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested the Packers could deal the lineman this offseason.
“Two offensive linemen to potentially be included in trades are Green Bay’s Elgton Jenkins and Denver’s Ben Powers,” Fowler wrote Sunday. “Both have large cap hits and potential value.”
In the Chargers proposal, the Packers would receive an early Day 3 pick for Jenkins.
Losing the veteran’s experience could hurt Green Bay in the short term. But to improve the line, the Packers must add a different starting center and at least move Jenkins back to guard.
Instead of a position change, the Packers could save cap space and get draft compensation through a Jenkins trade.
Green Bay will likely need the cap space. According to Spotrac, the Packers are more than $6 million above the salary cap as of March 2.
The team has several key free agents to try and re-sign on offense and defense this offseason.
Jenkins Resume Entering 2026 NFL Offseason
While parting with Jenkins makes sense, it will be weird to see the Green Bay offensive line without him.
The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Packers. Green Bay selected him at No. 44 overall in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Since Week 3 of his rookie campaign, Jenkins has started every game in which he’s dressed. Overall, he has started 94 contests in Green Bay.
Jenkins has mostly played left guard but has moved around the Packers offensive line as needed. In 2020, he made appearances at both center and tackle, in addition to left guard.
Over the next three seasons, Jenkins made starts at left guard, center and right tackle.
Although his switch to center in 2025 didn’t go particularly well, the versatility could serve him well on another team. For the Packers, it might increase the veteran’s trade value a little.