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The Green Bay Packers decided to get the checkbook out in Week 16 for star offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
Jenkins reportedly signed a $68 million extension with the franchise, with the deal stretching to four years. The Packers have now locked him down, meaning he will not be a free agent in 2023.
The 2019 second-round pick is technically still in the final year of his rookie deal. He is listed as Green Bay's starting left guard. At the moment, however, he is still nursing a knee injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday.
Incidentally, a year removed from an ACL tear, Jenkins' contract comes with a $24m signing bonus.
Elgton Jenkins' contract extension with the Packers sees him climb up highest-paid NFL guards list
At $17 million a year, Elgton Jenkins' contract extension makes him the second-highest paid guard in the league. The Indianapolis Colts' Quenton Nelson takes the top spot with a contract that sees him take home $20 million a year.
Jenkins' contract extension comes at a time when reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers made it clear that he would consider extending his Packers career were the franchise ready to keep certain players in town. This certainly suggests that they are doing whatever they can to make it happen.
The extension certainly bodes well for the Packers come the 2023 season. As for the 2022 campaign, Green Bay are still hanging on to their postseason hopes. They are 6-8 and need something of a miracle to make the playoffs.
With three games remaining, they are set to play the Miami Dolphins in Florida on Christmas Day. They then host the Minnesota Vikings on New Year's Day and the Detroit Lions come to Wisconsin the following week to close out the regular season.
If they are to make the playoffs, Aaron Rodgers and company will need to win all three matchups. It's a huge ask, but they'll take it one step at a time. We will see if they can do it, starting with Miami on Christmas.
