The Green Bay Packers have a void to fill at the heart of their offensive line, having lost center Corey Linsley in free agency.
Linsley signed a five-year, $62.5million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers to become the highest-paid center in the NFL.
It was a deal he unquestionably earned after a 2020 season that saw Linsley named a first-team All-Pro. Yet his departure leaves the Packers seeking a replacement at one of the most important positions in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
They do have an in-house option in the form of Elgton Jenkins, the 2019 second-round pick who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 and can play every position on the offensive line. Having spent most of his career so far at guard, Jenkins is an obvious candidate to transition to center.
Packers turning to 2021 NFL Draft to replace Linsley?
If the Packers are keen to maintain what continuity they have up front and keep Jenkins in the position in which he significantly excelled last year, then they will need to look towards the draft to source Linsley’s successor.
The interior offensive line class may not be as deep as the stellar tackle group this year, but the Packers should still be able to find compelling candidates to step into Linsley’s shoes. And Green Bay may not even have to spend a first-round pick to land a prospect capable of becoming the starting center for the Packers.
Here we look at three players who possess the skill sets to ensure Linsley’s exit does not have an overly negative impact on the Packers’ hopes of success in the immediate and long-term future.