Green Bay Packers Ink Starting Center to New Deal

The Green Bay Packers have their center in place for the 2026 season, as they inked Sean Rhyan to a three-year, $33 million deal with incentives that could reach $39 million.

Rhyan took over the starting center role for Green Bay midseason in 2025 after Elgton Jenkins went down with a season-ending injury.

He was a solid run blocker for the Packers, but struggled in pass protection. Extending him shows faith that he will improve in 2026, as he'll have all offseason to train as a center.

Rhyan has played tackle and guard in the past, and with more time at center, he could get better.

Green Bay will have continuity on the offensive line, with Rhyan, Aaron Banks, and Zach Tom remaining starters. They will have Anthony Belton start at right guard, and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan take over at left tackle for free agent Rasheed Walker.

This unit could be solid, but they have a lot to prove outside of Tom, who has become one of the best right tackles in the league.

Brian Gutekunst and the Packers front office still need to make a decision on Elgton Jenkins. Jenkins is on a big contract and struggled in his move to center in 2025 before getting hurt.

He has been a likely cut or trade candidate, and with free agency about to start, a resolution should come soon.

Protecting Jordan Love is pivotal, and they have invested a lot into this line through contracts and premium draft picks- now it's time to see if they invested in the right group.

With the offensive line in place, outside of adding more depth, Green Bay will turn its attention to its other needs: cornerback and defensive line.

Gutekunst has shown an aggressive approach to upgrading the roster over the last three seasons, bringing in Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs in 2024, Banks, Nate Hobbs, and Micah Parsons in 2025, and trading for Zaire Franklin in 2026.

The Packers will likely remain aggressive, as they are in their Super Bowl window and need to maximize it.

Extending Rhyan certainly won't be their final move this offseason, with more moves likely to come as free agency begins on Monday.

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