Green Bay Packers: 3 Options at LT in David Bakhtiari’s Absence
By Paul Bretl
Elgton Jenkins
If David Bakhtiari is not ready for Week 1, I have to believe that Elgton Jenkins is the favorite to start at left tackle. Although he has minimal experience there with only 29 career snaps at the position, as we’ve seen throughout his short career, Jenkins is more than capable of holding his own wherever he is asked to line up.
Despite his inexperience at tackle, Jenkins is well-equipped to handle that role. He posted a 9.34 out of 10 on the Relative Athletic Scoring table prior to the 2019 draft, showcasing his athleticism and ability to work in space. At guard, we’ve seen his strength on display at the point of attack and knocking defenders to the ground. While he also possesses good length to play on the edge with his 34” arms.
As I said, Jenkins is the likely option, but as Matt LaFleur has told us in the past, his goal is to put the best five offensive linemen on the field, which could mean putting Jenkins elsewhere along the offensive line depending on how things play out this summer.
Other candidates
Rookie Royce Newman had quite a few reps with the 1s during OTAs and mini-camp, but none of those snaps were at left tackle. My guess is that as a rookie, the team doesn’t view him as a viable candidate to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside. And the same can be said for Cole Van Lanen, even though he was drafted as a tackle.
I also don’t believe Yosh Nijman is ready either. Honestly, we have no idea where he’s at in his development, so perhaps he could surprise us, but that’s not something I’m going to bank on.