We (almost officially) know Aaron Rodgers will be under center again for the Green Bay Packers, but who will be protecting him? While most of the preferred offensive line coalesced over the back half of the 2021 season, right tackle is a significant unknown.
Fortunately, Green Bay has plenty of internal options, and the draft is always one avenue to pursue. At the core of the long-term future at the position, there remains one major question: Where to play Elgton Jenkins?
The Packers traditionally prefer to draft college tackles and move them inside. Drafting Jenkins, who plays primarily inside, broke the mold. Green Bay drafted Jenkins to play inside. However, his versatility that allows him to play anywhere along the line is a nice bonus. Jenkins took over Green Bay’s left guard spot early in his rookie season and never looked back, earning Pro Bowl honors there in 2020.
Despite making his name at left guard, Jenkins played all over the line and excelled everywhere. Jenkins’ success playing tackle earned him a full-time spot at left tackle in 2021, covering for the still-recovering David Bakhtiari. In typical Jenkins fashion, he thrived as a full-time starter at the line’s most important position. Before tearing his ACL in late November, Jenkins was one of the best tackles in the game.
Matt LaFleur expects Jenkins to fully recover and return to the starting lineup in 2022. “Elgton’s doing a great job. He’s attacking it just the way you’d expect him to,” LaFleur said during the NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s been in Green Bay for the majority of the offseason. I’m excited about just the progress that he’s made, and we expect him to be back to full strength at some point during the season.”
The question is, where will Jenkins play when he returns? Left guard is undoubtedly an option, but Jenkins played so well at tackle it may be a waste of his talents. He looked great in the spotlight and more than earned a chance to be the right tackle of the future. His agent will likely point to his time at tackle during his future contract negotiations anyway.
The Packers have also invested lots of mid-round picks in the interior offensive line the past few seasons, and they have more options for left guard than for tackle.
If Jenkins is the future right tackle, a cheap veteran can open the season until Jenkins fully recovers. Despite a poor performance in the divisional round loss, Dennis Kelly mostly handled the duties when called upon, and he’s played in LaFleur’s system. He could man the spot until Jenkins recovers and stick around as a high-quality backup for both tackle spots. However, the Packers may chance moving Yosh Nijman to the right side to open the season.
Despite being Green Bay’s third-choice at left tackle, he played admirably against some of the more frightening edge-rushers in the league. Nijman is a home-grown talent, and the Packers may prefer to give him his chance to start. Nijman has primarily played and studied on the left side, but it stands to reason he could translate to the right side very well. Should Nijman start while Jenkins recovers, the Packers still need depth, so keeping Kelly, signing another cheap veteran, or drafting a swing tackle is in the mix.
Following the release of Billy Turner, Nijman or a high-round draft pick are the most likely options should Jenkins stay at guard.
Once the Packers make the Jenkins decision, things start falling into place. Keeping Lucas Patrick around makes sense if Jenkins plays at tackle, but there’s less need for more interior depth if Jenkins plays inside. Both Royce Newman and Jon Runyan Jr. can earn starting spots if Jenkins is at tackle. If the Packers put Jenkins at left guard, it means a battle at right guard. Green Bay should likely draft a tackle regardless, but the priority changes based on Jenkins’ spot.
Having a player who can be an elite starter at multiple positions is an excellent problem to have. But the Packers need to decide on Jenkins’ future before the rest of their ideal lineup manifests. Green Bay has plenty of options, whether it’s Jenkins and Nijiman or an early draft pick at right tackle.
