While the Baltimore Ravens will see some significant changes after hiring Jesse Minter, many of the ideas around the organization will remain the same. They’ll maintain the motto of playing like a Raven, they’ll continue building through the draft, and most importantly, they’ll build around quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Although Baltimore’s front office has consistently put strong teams around Jackson throughout his career, they’ve failed to surround him with the right pieces at times. Sometimes it was the troubling coaching staff, which could’ve led to John Harbaugh’s firing, and at other points, it was subpar production in key areas.
The offensive guard play was a huge downfall in the Ravens’ 2025 woes. Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele were horrendous, and the team needs to do a better job of protecting Jackson. They could build that if a potential cut candidate becomes available: Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins.
NFL.com’s Matt Okada recently listed some notable cut candidates this offseason, and Jenkins was among those named. Okada wrote:
“Ultimately, it might not have mattered how well he played or how healthy he was -- Jenkins carries a $24.3 million cap hit in 2026, and the Packers can free up $19.5 million by cutting him prior to June 1. Those numbers are extremely high for a guard -- fourth-highest cap hit on the team, in fact -- and unheard of for a center. Realistically, it would be shocking if Green Bay, which is slightly over the cap currently, kept Jenkins on the payroll, at least without some sort of significant restructuring.”
If Jenkins is cut, the Ravens need to flood his agent’s phone with messages. Every Baltimore fan is sick of seeing poor play from the interior offensive line, and above all else, Jackson is certainly sick of taking hits.
Elgton Jenkins should become a top target for the Ravens if he’s cut
As Okada noted, Jenkins’ 2025 season ended prematurely following a fibula fracture in Week 10. Still, the 30-year-old has proven himself as a reliable lineman, and he is expected to be ready by training camp. Given Baltimore’s disastrous offensive guard situation, it’d make a ton of sense for him to become a top target if the cut scenario came true.
Jenkins has started in 94 of his 96 games across his seven-year career. He earned Pro Bowl nods in 2020 and 2022, and has been a mainstay on a Green Bay offensive line that has helped lead some of the better offensive attacks in the NFL over recent years. That’s the type of consistency that the Ravens need at offensive guard.
While Jenkins played center in 2025, he’s as versatile as it gets. He can play anywhere on the offensive line and had his best years starting for the Packers at left guard. It seems he took a step back last year, but a transition back to guard could do him well.
That center versatility could come in handy for the Ravens, too. As much as fans don’t want to believe it, the situation surrounding center Tyler Linderbaum’s contract is becoming more and more dreary. There’s no guarantee he’ll be back in Charm City. Yes, it’d be a nightmare scenario if he left, but it’s unfortunately in the realm of possibilities, as they'll have to pay a premium for him. Jenkins could not only reveal himself as a solution at guard, but maybe even a center replacement if Linderbaum ends up signing for big bucks elsewhere.
Emery Jones Jr. is trending toward taking the left guard role from Andrew Vorhees, and Daniel Faalele appears set to be on his way out in free agency. The offensive front should improve, but with a young talent in Jones expected to hold down one guard spot, it may be in Baltimore’s best interest to find a proven piece to pair alongside him. Jenkins could be that guy.
At 30 years old, Jenkins is still young enough to be signed to a multi-year contract, too. He may be the best-case scenario for the Ravens this offseason.