{"id":166543,"date":"2022-12-23T22:01:02","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T22:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-extended-jenkins-contract-making-him-second-highest-paid-guard\/"},"modified":"2022-12-23T22:01:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T22:01:02","slug":"packers-extended-jenkins-contract-making-him-second-highest-paid-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-extended-jenkins-contract-making-him-second-highest-paid-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers extended Jenkins’ contract, making him second-highest paid guard"},"content":{"rendered":"
GREEN BAY \u2013 A year ago, staring at the bottom of a steep climb back from his torn ACL, Elgton Jenkins’ mind could wander.<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers five-tool offensive lineman knew he’d play again. Nothing was keeping him from the field. He just didn’t know how it would look. Jenkins was once on top of the NFL world, a Pro Bowler in his second NFL season, a guard starting at left tackle for eight games last year.<\/p>\n
His future was unlimited.<\/p>\n
Then his left knee buckled on US Bank Stadium’s field turf in Minnesota. As the weeks passed following reconstructive surgery, the uncertainty could be overwhelming.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis time last year,\u201d Jenkins said, \u201cI was in a dark place. Just coming off three seasons playing good, playing well, and then hurt yourself in your third season. So I could say I was in a dark place, but I just had to work. That’s what I told myself. I’ve just got to work, work, work my way through this.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cI knew I was going to come back, but I didn’t know what extent and how good I was going to be when I came back. So I knew I was going to get paid, but I didn’t know how much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenkins got his answer Thursday night. After a month of negotiations, the Packers agreed to a four-year, $64 million extension with their former second-round pick, a source told PackersNews. The deal includes a $24 million signing bonus and $6 million in incentives, making it worth up to $74 million total.<\/p>\n\n
The payday made for one memorable Christmas and birthday weekend for Jenkins, who turns 27 years old Monday.<\/p>\n
“I said, ‘I can’t wait to see our presents. You got a nice, little Christmas bonus,'” a smiling LaFleur said. “It’s a great day for us, a great day for Elgton. Obviously, he’s earned it, and he does it the right way. It’s always fun as a coach to see guys that get rewarded for not only their performance, but what they do in that locker room, and the leadership he brings. I can’t say enough great things about him. He’s been just awesome since the day he set foot in this building, and just brings so much to our team.<\/p>\n
“Just really, really, really excited, and that’s a nice, little Christmas present for all of us.”<\/p>\n
At $17 million annually, Jenkins’ salary is the second-highest among NFL guards, behind Indianapolis All-Pro Quenton Nelson ($20 million annually). It also tied Denver’s Garett Bolles for the eighth-highest paid left tackle in the NFL.<\/p>\n