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Center is shaping up to be a position of need for the Green Bay Packers during the 2026 offseason.
Elgton Jenkins, who was a two-time Pro Bowler at left guard, made the switch to center last season, but didn’t perform at the level he and the team had been accustomed to before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Now 30 years old and carrying a cap hit of $24.3 million in 2026, Jenkins is justifiably a potential cap casualty for the Packers.
His replacement, Sean Rhyan, played solidly down the stretch, but perhaps not well enough to re-sign him before he hits free agency.
Green Bay could try to find an immediate starter in the draft, like it did with Corey Linsley and Josh Myers. Or they could turn internally to Jacob Monk, but that would be risky considering Monk is a former late fifth-round pick with only 57 offensive snaps under his belt.
Pending free agent Tyler Linderbaum has already been tossed out as a potential solution for the Packers, but the former first-round pick will likely want to be the highest-paid player at the position. Fortunately for Green Bay, a cheaper alternative just became available.
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Titans released veteran Lloyd Cushenberry with a failed physical designation. Cushenberry played in just eight games in 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles, but started 15 games for the Titans in 2025. However, Tennessee decided to cut him after failing to live up to the four-year, $50 million contract he signed.
With 80 career starts, Cushenberry offers plenty of experience, but would carry some inherent risk if the Packers were to sign him. Out of 34 qualified centers (minimum 500 snaps), he ranked 31st in overall grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus, leading all centers with six allowed sacks.
Despite his struggles last season, Cushenberry earned his lucrative deal from the Titans after being rated as one of the top centers in the league as a member of the Denver Broncos in 2023. Among 32 qualified centers with at least 500 snaps, PFF ranked him third in overall grade with only one sack allowed in 647 pass-blocking snaps.
It may be worth it for the Packers to dig deeper into Cushenberry to see what caused his regression in 2025 and if he is capable of regaining his previous form.
Strapped for cash and trying to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026, Green Bay needs to find a capable center for next season but can’t afford a bad free agent signing.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Another intriguing center option emerges for the Packers
Continue reading...
Elgton Jenkins, who was a two-time Pro Bowler at left guard, made the switch to center last season, but didn’t perform at the level he and the team had been accustomed to before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Now 30 years old and carrying a cap hit of $24.3 million in 2026, Jenkins is justifiably a potential cap casualty for the Packers.
His replacement, Sean Rhyan, played solidly down the stretch, but perhaps not well enough to re-sign him before he hits free agency.
Green Bay could try to find an immediate starter in the draft, like it did with Corey Linsley and Josh Myers. Or they could turn internally to Jacob Monk, but that would be risky considering Monk is a former late fifth-round pick with only 57 offensive snaps under his belt.
Pending free agent Tyler Linderbaum has already been tossed out as a potential solution for the Packers, but the former first-round pick will likely want to be the highest-paid player at the position. Fortunately for Green Bay, a cheaper alternative just became available.
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Titans released veteran Lloyd Cushenberry with a failed physical designation. Cushenberry played in just eight games in 2024 before suffering a torn Achilles, but started 15 games for the Titans in 2025. However, Tennessee decided to cut him after failing to live up to the four-year, $50 million contract he signed.
With 80 career starts, Cushenberry offers plenty of experience, but would carry some inherent risk if the Packers were to sign him. Out of 34 qualified centers (minimum 500 snaps), he ranked 31st in overall grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus, leading all centers with six allowed sacks.
Despite his struggles last season, Cushenberry earned his lucrative deal from the Titans after being rated as one of the top centers in the league as a member of the Denver Broncos in 2023. Among 32 qualified centers with at least 500 snaps, PFF ranked him third in overall grade with only one sack allowed in 647 pass-blocking snaps.
It may be worth it for the Packers to dig deeper into Cushenberry to see what caused his regression in 2025 and if he is capable of regaining his previous form.
Strapped for cash and trying to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026, Green Bay needs to find a capable center for next season but can’t afford a bad free agent signing.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Another intriguing center option emerges for the Packers
Continue reading...
