The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line remains a work in progress. Rookies Spencer Fano and Austin Barber are learning on the fly at new positions. Veteran additions Zion Johnson and Tytus Howard are still finding their footing.
Elgton Jenkins? Through three games, he has quietly been the anchor that’s holding everything together.
The eighth-year veteran is in just his second season as a full-time center, but he’s proving to be GM Andrew Berry’s most underrated free agent addition.
Jenkins hasn’t committed a penalty, nor has he allowed a sack, in his 179 offensive snaps to open the season, per Pro Football Focus. The former No. 44 overall pick of the Packers has allowed just one quarterback pressure.
Most pass snaps by OL with ZERO pressures allowed this season
— PFF (@PFF) September 22, 2026
Pass Snaps
C Creed Humphrey 86
C Graham Barton 83
G Matt Goncalves 70
T Garett Bolles 69
C Elgton Jenkins 69
C Ryan Neuzil… pic.twitter.com/a1trdzcXr8
Packers' loss is quickly becoming the Browns' biggest offensive line win
Cleveland entered the offseason with a low-key crisis at center. Longtime starter Ethan Pocic tore his Achilles in Week 14 of the 2025 regular season, and the Browns didn’t have many in-house options to replace him other than former sixth-round pick Luke Wypler.
Jenkins, who was rehabbing a season-ending leg injury in the spring, became the pivot option Berry needed.
The Green Bay Packers opted to make Jenkins a cap casualty in early March, saving about $19 million in space upon his release. That move was at least loosely tied to their decision to give guard Aaron Banks a four-year, $77 million contract in 2025.
Berry and the Browns pounced quickly. Jenkins was barely on the market for 24 hours when news broke of him signing a two-year, $24 million deal with Cleveland.
The Browns are already seeing the full value of Elgton Jenkins' versatility
The move made a ton of sense at the time, as Jenkins could have feasibly manned any of the five offensive line positions for the Browns this year. But their need was at center, and Jenkins has locked that spot down for Cleveland since the start of training camp.
Matt Fitzgerald of Lombardi Ave lamented the loss of Jenkins' versatility back in August:
"The whole thing about paying a premium for Jenkins is that he wasn't just a guard. He was the football equivalent of a five-tool baseball player. OK four-tool — he played significant snaps at every offensive line spot except right guard. Point being, Green Bay could plug and play Jenkins anywhere in a pinch.
Sure would come in handy right about now."
Jenkins was one of the Browns’ best offensive players in their Week 3 win over the Carolina Panthers, per PFF, thanks to his 80.2 grade in pass protection. He’s been a plus in that category in all three games this season.
Cleveland spent more on Johnson’s free agent contract and Howard’s extension, but the Jenkins move has provided the best return on investment by far in the early going.
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