Heading into the 2023 season, there isn’t much that the Green Bay Packers are confident that they can rely on. That is what happens when you undertake a youth movement, as the team will be relying on several inexperienced players in key positions.
But, if there is one thing that they will be able to rely on, it is the offensive line. If things go well in the trenches, namely with their health, the Packers have a chance to have the best offensive line in the NFL.
The strength of this unit is on the left side, where David Bakhtiari holds down the tackle spot and Elgton Jenkins will be at guard. Bakhtiari was recognized as one of the top tackles in the NFL and now Elgton is receiving his flowers at guard.
Over at ESPN, Jeremy Fowler put together power rankings for different positional groups around the league. Jenkins has landed well inside the top 10 of the interior offensive lineman rankings, coming in at No. 4.
Last season, Jenkins was ranked No. 7 during this exercise, so he has made an improvement in the eyes of the executives, coaches and scouts that were polled. For this year’s rankings, his standing was all over the place as some people even had him in the top spot, while others didn’t have him ranked at all.
“He’s powerful, smart, good feet, versatile,” an AFC scout said. “If his home is at guard, he’ll be premier.”
Last season before settling in at left guard, he was the team’s starting right tackle. From Week 7 on, Jenkins logged more than 600 snaps at left guard and performed at a high level, allowing only five pressures and one sack. He got the job done as a run blocker as well, recording a 76.1-run block win rate for the season.
For now, Jenkins’ home will be at left guard alongside Bakhtiari, giving the Packers the strongest left side in the NFL. But, given the excellent versatility that Jenkins has showcased, there is a chance that he is on the move at some point in the future.
When Bakhtiari injured his knee in 2021, Jenkins took over as the left tackle before suffering an ACL tear of his own. In his career with the Packers, Jenkins has played all five positions in the trenches, which offers the team value beyond measure.