Browns signing Elgton Jenkins, former Packers center and Pro Bowl guard to a 2-year deal worth $24 million
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns GM Andrew Berry promised to overhaul the offensive line this offseason using a variety of sources.
He failed to mention that he’d accomplish the feat in about the same amount of time it takes Myles Garrett to whirl off the edge and plant a quarterback.
On Tuesday evening, Berry was putting the finishing touches on finalizing a two-year deal worth $24 million, including $20 million guaranteed, for former Packers center and guard Elgton Jenkins, 30, who made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2022 primarily as a guard.
After moving to center in 2025 following six years at guard, Jenkins fractured his lower leg and suffered ligament damage in November, which landed him on injured reserve. The Packers officially released him with a failed physical designation on Tuesday, and the Browns snatched him up the same day.
They apparently believe he’ll be ready to start the season.
They also like the fact that Jenkins can play guard, center and tackle, and haven’t yet specified where he’ll land. He’s spent most of his career at left guard, but has also started games at left and right tackle.
The Browns are also still awaiting word on whether or not All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio will return for a 13th season, but their flurry of moves seems to suggest they’re preparing for life without him. His contract officially voids on Wednesday.
The Jenkins signing followed the trade last week for right tackle Tytus Howard, the signing of unrestricted free agent guard Zion Johnson on Monday, and the re-signing of free agent guard Teven Jenkins on Tuesday afternoon. Howard received $45 million in new money from the Browns for 2027 and 2028, and Johnson signed a three-year deal worth $49.5 million, for an average of $16.5 million a year.
All that’s left is to possibly find a new left tackle, and they can accomplish that in a draft loaded with them. They have the No. 6, No. 24 and No. 39 picks to possibly use on their new blindside blocker. They also have 2023 fourth-round pick Dawand Jones eager to return from his torn LCL and hamstring avulsion (tore away from the bone) surgery and reclaim his starting job. He began the 2025 season at left tackle and was transitioning to the right side when his season was truncated in Week 3 because of the serious injury.
Jenkins (6-5, 311) was originally a second-round pick of the Packers in 2019 out of Mississippi State, and has spent his entire career in Green Bay.
He made the Pro Bowl as a starter in 2020 as a left guard blocking for the great Aaron Rogers, and made it again in 2022 while playing both right tackle and left guard.
If the Browns try him at center, he’ll replace Ethan Pocic, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in December and is a free agent. The Browns also have Luke Wypler ready to step in at center if necessary.
As a rookie, Jenkins played 571 pass blocks without surrendering a sack. In 2021, he started eight games in place of injured David Bakhtiari before suffering a torn ACL in a Week 11 loss to the Vikings.
The Packers moved him to center in 2025, and he started nine games there before fracturing the lower leg and sustaining the ligament damage.
Since 2019, Jenkins ranks 10th out of 89 guards in pass block win rate. His run-block win rate is 17th.
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