The mantra for the LA Chargers heading into the offseason was to protect Justin Herbert. So what has the team done so far? Signed the third-best center on the market, who is serviceable but not elite, cut the team's struggling pass-blocking guard, signed one of the few starting guards who was actually worse than him at pass blocking, let Zion Johnson walk after a breakout year, and now, missed out on yet another target who would've made great sense.
Veteran lineman Elgton Jenkins was released by the Green Bay Packers on Monday and looked to be the absolute perfect signing for the Chargers to play one of the two vacant guard spots. But the Chargers obviously didn't think so, as Jenkins is reportedly signing a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cleveland Browns.
Jenkins joins Johnson on the Browns as the Chargers are left twiddling their thumbs with Cole Strange as the best guard on the roster. Now that's how you protect your franchise quarterback.
Chargers strike out on another chance to improve the line with Elgton Jenkins
Jenkins was the prototypical Chargers signing. Because he was just released by the Packers, Jenkins does not count toward the compensatory formula for the 2027 NFL Draft. General manager Joe Hortiz really values those comp picks, perhaps too much at times, making Jenkins an intriguing option.
That doesn't even explore his play. Jenkins took a step back as a center last season but has primarily thrived as a guard throughout his NFL career. In fact, he played guard in both 2023 and 2024 and had a PFF pass-blocking grade above 80 both years. His run blocking is serviceable at best, but Jenkins is a genuinely good pass blocker.
Maybe the Chargers were interested in him and got outbid. There is unconfirmed speculation that the team offered Johnson the same contract the Browns did and he turned it down. Perhaps the Chargers did the same with Jenkins.
But here's the kicker: the Chargers have the money to offer more than what the Browns did! The Chargers could have comfortably lopped on an extra $2 million a year to make up for California State taxes, giving Jenkins a two-year, $28 million deal.
Is a $14 million salary across two seasons too rich a price to protect your franchise quarterback? I wouldn't say so. After all, the Chargers are paying a combined $7.625 million against the cap in 2026 for Strange and Trevor Penning, two players who should never be blocking for Herbert in a consistent setting.
Unfortunately, all this guessing might be giving the Chargers too much credit. Insider Jeremy Fowler named the Baltimore Ravens as another team in on Jenkins, with no mention of the Bolts. Maybe they were operating in the shadows? Hopefully? Ah, probably not.
But alas, that was too steep a price to pay for the Chargers. Perhaps the team is going to draft two linemen in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft to start, and that's the masterplan. Either way, it would be nice to see the Bolts use the cap space on actual protection for Herbert.