Free agency is still a few weeks away, but the Green Bay Packers have signaled that Jordan Love will have a new center snapping the ball next year.
Speculation about Green Bay potentially moving on from longtime starter Elgton Jenkins has been rampant since he suffered a season-ending lower-leg fracture against the Philadelphia Eagles. Further clouding the 30-year-old's future is his struggles since transitioning from guard to center, his $24.3 million cap hit, and the $19.53 million in salary cap space the Packers can gain.
This past weekend, Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber all but confirmed the speculation, going as far as to say there is "almost a 0 percent chance" Jenkins will return.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine this week, GM Brian Gutekunst didn't commit to retaining Jenkins.
"The move to center certainly was to help the Packers and help him as well," Gutekunst said, via Pete Dougherty and Dominique Yates of Packers News. "Him getting hurt, we lost a lot of veteran leadership there when he went out, so that was difficult. But at the same time, we'll kinda see where that goes."
While the news may not be a shocker per se, the timing of Jenkins expected release coming to light feels like deja vu.
History could repeat itself for Packers if they make a move for Tyler Linderbaum
Let's take a trip back to the 2024 offseason.
Green Bay was faced with a tough decision in keeping a tenured cornerstone in running back Aaron Jones. The then-29-year-old was due a sizable pay increase at $12 million and dealt with injuries the previous season.
By moving on, the team saved $5.2 million in cap space. In the end, the Packers cut Jones and replaced him with a younger veteran in Josh Jacobs.
RELATED: Brian Gutekunst all but confirms Packers' plan for Josh Jacobs
Fast forward to the present, and it appears Green Bay could be positioning itself to do the same thing again by replacing Jenkins with a younger, experienced player.
Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum is set to hit free agency.
Like Jacobs, Linderbaum would give the Packers a big upgrade offensively, being five years younger (25) than Jenkins (30), and he has a strong reputation as an elite run-blocker. This past year saw Linderbaum make his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, rank fifth among all centers by Pro Football Focus, and earn a run-blocking grade of 80.3, good for fourth at the position.
His ability to clear running lanes with quick feet, paired with long, rangy arms, could pay dividends for a run game that more often than not was underwhelming (15th in rushing yards per game, 24th in average yards per rush).
While Linderbaum leaves more to be desired as a pass-blocker, his impact in run-blocking would more than make up for that.
Due to his high level of play, it's a near lock that Green Bay would have competition for his services. Baltimore has reportedly already made Linderbaum a "market-setting offer."
His contract will likely come in a little above the current highest-paid center in football, Creed Humphrey ($18 million per year). If the Packers want to enter the fray for Linderbaum, they will need to make more cap-saving moves beyond Jenkins' expected release, but it's possible.
There will be competition to sign him, but if the Packers can make it happen, Linderbaum replacing Jenkins could have an even bigger impact than when Jacobs replaced Jones.