If there had been any doubt, the Green Bay Packers just ended it: Elgton Jenkins is as good as gone.
Sean Rhyan will remain the Packers' starting center in 2026 and beyond. On the eve of free agency, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Green Bay has re-signed Rhyan on a three-year, $33 million extension in a deal that makes him one of the league's highest-paid centers.
It's a surprisingly high contract for Rhyan, who stepped in at center following Jenkins' season-ending injury, but it's a commitment that proves he is their full-time starter moving forward.
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.
With the center market quickly drying up, Rhyan was arguably the second-best player available at the position behind Tyler Linderbaum.
Rhyan's new deal surpasses the $30 million Tyler Biadasz landed with the Los Angeles Chargers, a move the Packers probably should've made.
It shouldn't prevent Green Bay from adding competition in April's draft. After all, a bonus of re-signing Rhyan is his ability to play multiple positions along the offensive line.
Bringing the veteran back undoubtedly puts him in pole position to retain the starting center job, at least for this season. The full structure of the contract will tell us how committed the Packers truly are. They could still add a center in the draft, but they've eased the pressure to do so, which is important without a first-round pick.
It's hard to have too many complaints. The contract is higher than many projected, but the full terms will give us a clearer picture. That's free agency in a nutshell. Green Bay had to make a competitive offer to keep him around, and given the team's pressing need at center, re-signing Rhyan is smart.