Elgton Jenkins center Green Bay Packers
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 20: Elgton Jenkins #74 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after beating the Houston Texans 24-22 at Lambeau Field on October 20, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers moved off of two former centerpieces of the roster on Monday; edge rusher Rashan Gary was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth round pick whilst interior offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins was released.
The team saved around $11 million in cap space from the initial trading of Gary, before making the move to release Jenkins later on in the day after being unable to find a trade partner for the former versatile All-Pro guard/center.
However, the second move – which saved the Packers almost $20 million in 2026 – was not actually needed given the current state of the cap: Green Bay did not make any moves on the first day of the legal tampering period that required more cap room to be cleared, nor were they in such dire financial straights that they needed to move off the former Mississippi State man.
So it figures that perhaps another motive is at play. Justis Mosqueda of the Acme Packing Company publication suggests that the move to release Jenkins suggests that the Packers may be planning a big move over the next few days.
“We don’t need cap space and he had no triggers so a big move might be coming”, Mosqueda pointed out on X.
The Packers currently have around $31.5 million in cap space to work with after the releases of Jenkins and Gary.
What ‘Big Move’ Could the Packers Target?
There are a number of players Green Bay may be looking at if they are in fact planning a statement move. Trade-wise, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has been reportedly looked at as an option.
And on the free agent market, a cornerback like Riq Woolen or Nahshon Wright would fill a huge needed, whilst a an edge rusher such as K’Lavon Chaisson or Bradley Chubb would bring starting-level quality to a unit that just lost Gary and fellow defensive end Kingsley Enagbare, who agreed to a one-year $10 million deal with the New York Jets on Monday.
Beyond that, there are no clear big-time moves Green Bay would be able to realistically pull, especially given that they are currently sans their first round picks until 2028. But the potential for the franchise to make one or two splash moves this week is very much on the cards.
More to follow…