The Green Bay Packers will have to make some challenging decisions about the offensive line in 2026.
Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan are all slated to hit free agency in 2026, and it won’t be easy for Green Bay to keep all of them. The Packers don’t have the most flexible cap situation that year, and given they will likely re-sign key players from their 2022 draft class, they’ll have to make tough calls.
Keeping Tom and Walker isn’t impossible. However, the most realistic path to retaining both starting tackles likely comes at Elgton Jenkins’ expense.
The Packers already have significant money tied up in their offensive line. Jenkins signed a four-year, $68 million extension in 2022, and this offseason, Green Bay bolstered the interior by signing former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million deal.
Green Bay will pay Tom. He has played all five positions on the offensive line and finished third in All-Pro voting among right tackles. Tom is likely to reset the market, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Packers don’t make him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. However, that will significantly impact Walker’s contract negotiations. I only see Walker returning in 2026 if Green Bay moves on from Jenkins.
Assuming Tom’s deal gets done sooner rather than later, that will leave the Packers with three big contracts on the offensive line. Given Green Bay’s need to maintain a competitive balance across the roster, it’s hard to imagine they’d be willing to commit to a fourth major contract on the offensive line.
Jordan Morgan’s development is another factor that could play a crucial role in Green Bay’s decision to potentially move on from Jenkins or Walker. The Packers initially drafted him to play tackle, and it’s unlikely they would steer away from their initial plan only two years into his tenure.
If Morgan has a strong camp and season, it could clarify Brian Gutekunst’s decision on whether to part ways with Jenkins or Walker. However, if Green Bay keeps Tom and Walker on the outside, does that mean the Packers would be willing to shift Morgan to a full-time guard role? That’s another question Gutekunst must consider.
From a long-term roster-building perspective, the move would be to keep Walker instead of Jenkins. Walker has exceeded all expectations – and then some – as a seventh-round pick. Last year, he only allowed three sacks, tied for the 11th fewest among 42 offensive tackles with at least 500 pass-blocking snaps. For context, Dan Moore Jr. led that list with 12 sacks. Considering the Tennessee Titans gave him $20.5 million per year on a new contract, it’s only fair to assume that Walker will be asking for more.
Green Bay has multiple ways to create cap space if they want to make room to sign both Tom and Walker. One of those options involves Jenkins. The Packers could save $20 million on their 2026 salary cap by cutting or trading Jenkins, with the savings applying whether it’s a pre- or post-June 1 move.
In 2024, 57 guards played at least 400 pass-blocking snaps, and Jenkins ranked first in pass-blocking grade, third in fewest pressures allowed, and fourth in pass-blocking efficiency.
After Jenkins had gone down with an injury, Green Bay’s struggles to contain Jalen Carter in their playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles highlighted his importance to the interior of their offensive line. Moving on from their two Pro Bowl guards could help the Packers ease their financial balance, but it could also have much more significant implications on the field.
The Packers don’t often hand out third contracts, but it’s not like Pro Bowl guards grow on trees, either. Whether Jenkins stays in Green Bay will likely depend on Jordan Morgan’s development. If Morgan has a strong sophomore year, he’ll probably start 2026 as Jordan Love’s blindside protector, which would pave the way for Walker to earn a big contract elsewhere.
On the other hand, if Morgan struggles to stay healthy again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Green Bay prioritize paying Rasheed Walker and ensuring they have solid talent at a premium position. If that happens, it likely means Jenkins’ tenure with the team will end.