Todd Monken Raised Some Eyebrows With Elgton Jenkins’ Projected Position on Browns

In the midst of an offseason with the offensive line as one of the Cleveland Browns’ top priorities, it might be moment to take a step back and reassess what we think we know about the unit heading into the 2026 regular season, after a comment made by new head coach Todd Monken raised a few eyebrows at the owner’s meeting in Phoenix on Tuesday.

According to Monken himself, he would “love” for Elgton Jenkins to play guard.

Browns HC Todd Monken mentioned that he'd love for Eglton Jenkins to play guard. But it's something they still need to sort through.
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Monken’s comment might be a bit surprising given that the generalized opinion was that Jenkins -- who signed with the team during the first wave of free agency to the tune of two years and $24 million, including $20 million in guarantees -- would slide into the center position vacated by the loss of Ethan Pocic in free agency.

Throughout his pro career, Jenkins played all over the offensive line for the Packers, who picked him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Although Monken’s assessment doesn’t contradict general manager Andrew Berry’s view that the Browns consider him an interior lineman, it’s still mildly surprising that the team is focusing on Jenkins as a guard.

What Todd Monken’s Comments on Elgton Jenkins as a Guard Mean for the Browns

Basically, it means the Browns still have an open spot at center. Now this would seem to contradict Berry’s stance after the Browns’ general manager stated he felt he could line up and play today with the O-linemen already on the roster.

Unofficial depth charts like those posted at ESPN and CBS Sports have Jenkins penciled in at center already. Should Jenkins be shifted to guard, the center position would automatically go to veteran backup Luke Wypler, a 2023 sixth-rounder who suffered a traumatic knee injury during Week 18 of last season, being replaced by backup guard Zak Zinter. Berry also stated he sees Zinter as solely a guard.

Up until this point, common sense pointed towards Zion Johnson, another big-name free agency acquisition, starting at one of the guard spots, with him already talking about it being “an honor” to potentially replace Joel Bitonio on Cleveland’s offensive line. The Browns also re-signed Teven Jenkins at guard, after replacing an injured Wyatt Teller last year on the right side for the last few games of the season.

This led many to speculate that Teven Jenkins had been re-signed to take over the right spot permanently, with Elgton Jenkins being brought in as a center, and Johnson taking over the left side. As for the tackle positions, the right side seemed to be Tytus Howard’s to lose, after Cleveland acquired him in a trade with Houston, leaving the left side to be addressed in the first round of the upcoming draft, after last year’s starter Dawand Jones missed practically the whole season with injury.

Now, we may have to re-think that all over. Berry already stated that Jones will get a shot to retake his left tackle role, but suggested that Howard could move there, as well. So shooting for a right tackle instead of a left tackle in the opening round could be on the table, depending on how the dominoes fall.

And if Monken wants Elgton Jenkins at guard, then Teven Jenkins would be headed back to the bench, with a vacant spot at center. As things stand, betting on Wypler -- who has started only six of the 22 NFL games he’s played -- doesn’t look like sound judgement.

What Options Can the Browns Bring In at Center?

Cleveland took a swing at Tyler Linderbaum -- free agency’s most coveted lineman -- early on, but that was before he nuked the entire center market with his new Raiders’ deal.

Graham Glasgow looks like the best veteran option still out there, but his price tag might come in at around $7 million per year. Cheaper options could include James Daniels and Andre James.

The NFL Draft 2026 could be another option, where Iowa’s Logan Jones could make sense at the right time, probably the third round. Other notable prospects could include Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, Florida’s Jake Slaughter and Auburn’s Connor Lew, with all of them expected to be taken within the third to fourth round range.

And of course, Monken could always change his mind and go back to the seemingly obvious path should the Browns find it easier to add another guard, and shift Elgton Jenkins to center, which is what most observers thought would happen in the first place.