Vikings May Chase Packers Pro Bowler
Minnesota Vikings center Ryan Kelly retired last weekend, and after a few hours of free agency on Monday, the club has signed no immediate replacement. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers dropped two-time Pro Bowl center Elgton Jenkins, setting up Minnesota as a logical landing spot.
Minnesota’s search for interior line help just got more interesting.
Green Bay re-signed incumbent lineman Sean Rhyan, which evidently signaled the end of Jenkins.
Green Bay’s Decision Opened a Door for Minnesota
The Vikings need a center, and the Packers dropped one.
Jenkins Out in Green Bay
It’s the end of an era for Jenkins in Green Bay, who played for the Packers for seven seasons.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Monday, “A year after the Green Bay Packers moved Elgton Jenkins from left guard to center, they have decided to move on. The Packers announced Monday they have released Jenkins, a move that will net the Packers more than $19.5 million in additional salary cap space for this season. Jenkins, 30, had one year remaining on a four-year, $68 million extension that at the time made him one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL.”
“He made the Pro Bowl as a left guard twice (2020, 2022). A year ago, when the Packers signed guard Aaron Banks in free agency, they asked Jenkins to move to center. Jenkins skipped most of the offseason program in part because he wanted the Packers to adjust his contract to ensure he had more guaranteed money to offset potential earnings losses that might come by changing to a less lucrative position.”
Most interpreted Jenkins’s split from Green Bay as messy, perhaps prompting him to get some vengeance in Minnesota.
The PFF Resume for Jenkins
The Packers massaged Jenkins into the center role last year after years at guard and tackle. He can play every OL position, similar to Blake Brandel in Minnesota.
Here’s Jenkins’s Pro Football Focus resume since 2019, when Green Bay used a 2nd-Round pick on the Mississippi State alumnus:
2025: 62.0
2024: 66.1
2023: 66.2
2022: 72.3
2021: 82.1
2020: 67.7
2019: 69.2
While the Vikings need a center — and that’s pretty much it on the offensive line — Jenkins could play any OL position in a pinch. He’s that versatile.
It’s worth noting that his current contract has run out of guaranteed money, so Minnesota must pay the man, probably something around $10 to $15 million or so per season. Too, Jenkins has always been a better pass-protector than run-blocker, though he doesn’t necessarily struggle to plow lanes for running backs.
Lombardi Ave‘s Freddie Boston on Jenkins’s release: “The Packers hand Sean Rhyan a $33 million deal and end the Elgton Jenkins era. It’s now a matter of when, not if, the Packers part ways with Jenkins. He vacated his left guard spot last season after Green Bay signed Aaron Banks, shifting to center to replace the departing Josh Myers. But Jenkins struggled in his new role, particularly in the run game.”
“After suffering a season-ending ankle injury in November, the Packers moved Rhyan to center. For the most part, he performed well. There was some inconsistent play in pass protection, though he only allowed one sack. Rhyan truly thrived as a run-blocker — his PFF run-blocking grade ranked 17th among centers.”
Free Agent Centers Fly Off the Board — Not to Vikings
The top free-agent center prize, Tyler Linderbaum, signed a whopping deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, paying him $27 million per season. Minnesota could not afford that; it’s outrageous cheddar for a center.
So, Linderbaum is off the board. That dream has died. Meanwhile, Tyler Biadasz signed with the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend, and Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays picked the Detroit Lions on Monday, meaning Minnesota will see Mays twice annually.
Green Bay kicking Jenkins out provided Minnesota an escape hatch if it wants a veteran starting center.
If Not Jenkins, Then Who?
If one assumes that Minnesota wishes to use free agency for a starting center, here’s who’s left at the time of this article’s publication:
- Lloyd Cushenberry (TEN)
- Luke Fortner (NO)
- Graham Glasgow (DET)
- Elgton Jenkins (GB)
- Ethan Pocic (CLE)
Or — the club could roll with the aforementioned Brandel or third-year center Michael Jurgens and explore a rookie from the draft in April. These players may project to blossom and start sooner rather than later:
- Brian Parker (Duke)
- Connor Lew (Auburn)
- Jake Slaughter (Florida)
- Logan Jones (Iowa)
- Parker Brailsford (Alabama)
- Pat Coogan (Indiana)
- Sam Hecht (Kansas)
At least one former Packers player usually joins the Vikings’ roster each offseason. Za’Darius Smith, Aaron Jones, Dean Lowry, Eric Wilson, and Chandon Sullivan can attest as of late.
Jenkins will turn 31 in late December.
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