The Green Bay Packers needed to shake things up in 2025. Head coach Matt LaFleur and his offense were humbled in a 22-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in their January wild card game.
The Packers added some new blood to the offense that could help the team be more explosive in the upcoming season. First-round draft pick Matthew Golden gives quarterback Jordan Love a true No. 1 WR and Savion Williams gives the Packers depth at the position.
The offensive line is expected to be much better in 2025 after they added offensive guard Aaron Banks in free agency.
The Green Bay Packers put an OL in a losing situation
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic believes the Packers put veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins in a losing situation when they signed Banks to replace him at guard. Jenkins is set to play center, a less valuable position in the league.
“Jenkins might be the only person who considers himself a “loser” this offseason, but his name is worth throwing in here at the end,” Schneidman wrote. “ESPN reported that he has skipped voluntary offseason work in search of a new contract to protect himself against future loss of earnings.
“Why? Because centers make less money than guards and Jenkins switching to center probably means less money on his next contract. The 29-year-old still has two years remaining on his second deal with the Packers and has made two Pro Bowls at left guard, but the free-agent signing Banks will play there instead.”
Elgton Jenkins was graded better than Aaron Banks
Jenkins hasn’t made a Pro Bowl appearance since 2022. The 2019 second-round pick was given a 66.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 45th out of 136 guards in the league last season.
PFF gave Banks a worse grade (65.4) for 2024, ranking him 50th. However, he had a better run blocking grade (68.9) than Jenkins (61.4). Jenkins was better as a pass blocker (83.1), rankings third amongst all guards. (Banks was ranked 77th in pass blocking.)
While Jenkins might be the better offensive guard, the Packers are hoping that the synergy Banks gives the offensive line is worth his four-year, $77 million deal that will make him the fifth-highest paid left guard in the league in 2025, once the details for Joe Thuney and the Chicago Bears are updated.
One shouldn’t blame Jenkins for feeling slighted by the front office for giving an outsider a raise after a worse performance on the field in 2024.
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