Packers predicted to 'reinvent' position group by cutting ties with two starters

Mike Moraitis

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Packers predicted to 'reinvent' position group by cutting ties with two starters image

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The Green Bay Packers' 2025 campaign came to a disappointing end on Saturday night and now it's time to turn attention to the offseason.

First things first, the Packers must decide what to do with head coach Matt LaFleur, who is entering the final year of his contract. Then, the focus will be on the team's pending free agents, of which the Packers are projected to have 18.

One of those free agents is left tackle Rasheed Walker, who should get a nice payday on the open market given the demand for starting-caliber tackles.

But ESPN's Ben Solak doesn't see Walker returning, and he also predicts Green Bay will cut ties with Elgton Jenkins, who has one year left on his contract.

Here's what Solak said:

Big prediction for the offseason: The Packers will reinvent their offensive line. Both left tackle Rasheed Walker (free agent) and center Elgton Jenkins (one year remaining) will be replaced by younger options with lower-priced contracts in Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan and Anthony Belton. Green Bay won't be big spenders with its coaching staff potentially in flux if the team has a disappointing 2026 season.

Jenkins has been a solid starter for the Packers during his career, but injuries have been an issue, as was the case in 2025 when he appeared in just nine games. His injury-plagued season might be enough for Green Bay to part ways.

Cutting Jenkins could incur a dead-cap hit of $4.8 million but would save a whopping $19.5 million, per Over The Cap.

The Packers could replace Jenkins with Sean Rhyan, who is also a free agent but would cost less than Jenkins. In fact, Green Bay can probably re-sign Rhyan and still have money left over from cutting Jenkins.

Walker has been a good but not great starter for Green Bay, but he should still get a hefty chunk of change in free agency after we saw a worse left tackle, Dan Moore, receive a massive contract from the Tennessee Titans last offseason.

If Green Bay is confident one of Morgan or Belton can be an adequate replacement for Walker, we could easily see the Packers letting him walk in free agency to save some money.

With the Packers slated to be $10 million over the cap going into the offseason, it's realistic to think that Jenkins and Walker could be playing elsewhere in 2026.

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