The Green Bay Packers have re-signed one of their backup guards for the 2026 season after parting ways with former Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins in March.
According to the NFL’s official transaction wire, third-year offensive guard Donovan Jennings officially signed his $1.005 million exclusive rights free agent tender with the Packers, putting the 2024 UDFA in a position to vie for a roster spot again in 2026.
Jennings signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Packers in 2024 and earned a spot on their practice squad during his rookie season despite playing in zero games. In 2025, though, Jennings won a 53-man roster spot as one of the Packers’ backup guards and went on to play in two games, though he played just six total snaps on offense.
Jennings will now likely have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the interior line rotation again during 2026’s NFL training camp. Travis Glover (2024 sixth-round pick) and John Williams (2025 seventh-round pick) will also return to challenge his role.
Packers Thinner at OL After Elgton Jenkins’ Release
Jennings will have to earn his spot on the 53-man roster over the next several months between offseason workouts and the team’s training camp in July and August, but he seems to have a decent shot at making it based on their depth — for now, anyway.
The Packers have moved on from two of their five starters on their offensive line in the past six weeks. They released Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowler who suffered a season-ending leg fracture in Week 10 — for about $19.5 million in salary-cap relief on March 9. They also chose not to re-sign left tackle Rasheed Walker to a new free-agent contract.
Now, the Packers did extend Sean Rhyan on a three-year, $33 million deal to replace Jenkins as their starting center. They also have two recent draft picks in Jordan Morgan (2024 first-rounder) and Anthony Belton (2025 second-rounder) ready for bigger roles.
That said, promotions up the depth chart leave voids behind them in the backup spots.
As of April 21, Darian Kinnard and Brant Banks are the Packers’ two backup options at offensive tackle behind Morgan (left) and veteran Zach Tom (right), while Jennings, Glover, Williams and Karsen Barnhart — who have played a combined 19 career snaps of offense — are the backup guard candidates behind Belton and veteran Aaron Banks.
Jacob Monk, a 2024 fifth-round pick with 57 career offensive snaps, is also returning and is currently the only other center on the Packers ‘offseason roster behind Rhyan.
Packers Can Solve OL Issues During 2026 NFL Draft
The Packers’ depth shortcomings might seem a little concerning for now, but it is safe to assume they will put at least some of their draft picks toward more offensive linemen when the 2026 NFL draft officially gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 23.
The Packers do not have a first-round pick after including it in their trade package for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons in August 2025 and will expectedly use their Day 2 selections to prioritize other positions of need, such as defensive line and cornerback.
Even still, the Packers have drafted multiple offensive linemen in five of their last six drafts under general manager Brian Gutekunst, including 10 with Day 3 selections. Two of those picks — Tom (2022 fourth) and Walker (2022 seventh) — developed into full-time starters for the team, with Tom eventually earning an $88 million extension.
As to which offensive linemen the Packers could target in the draft this week, their pre-draft activity may offer a few clues. According to Packers Wire, the team hosted top 30 visits with Illinois guard Josh Gesky and Ohio State guard/tackle Ethan Onianwa. They also brought in Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor, who is receiving first-round buzz.
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