Packers' Top Trade Assets Offer Little Value Amid Concerns

Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins face uncertain futures due to high cap hits and injury history.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Green Bay Packers face difficult decisions regarding several high-priced veterans, including pass rusher Rashan Gary and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, who are considered prime trade candidates. However, their large salary cap hits and recent performance or injury issues make them unattractive trade options for other teams, potentially forcing the Packers to release them outright rather than recoup any draft capital.

Why it matters

The Packers' inability to trade these players effectively limits their roster flexibility as they navigate salary cap constraints, potentially forcing them to absorb financial burdens or release players to create cap space. This uncertainty has left Packers fans frustrated as the team's competitiveness in 2026 and beyond hangs in the balance.

The details

Rashan Gary, who will have a cap hit approaching $28 million in 2026, struggled to live up to expectations in 2025, recording only 7.5 sacks. Elgton Jenkins, who shifted to center this season but suffered a significant injury midway through 2025, carries an even higher cap number near $24.3 million. The Packers could save $11 million in cap space by trading Gary, but his large contract and inconsistent production make him an unlikely target for teams. Similarly, Jenkins' injury history and age over 30 make teams hesitant to absorb his costly contract, despite his positional versatility.

  • In the 2025 season, Rashan Gary recorded only 7.5 sacks and none after late October.
  • Elgton Jenkins suffered a significant injury midway through the 2025 season.

The players

Rashan Gary

A pass rusher for the Green Bay Packers who will have a cap hit approaching $28 million in 2026 but struggled to live up to expectations during the 2025 campaign.

Elgton Jenkins

An offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers who shifted to center this season but suffered a significant injury midway through 2025 and carries a cap number near $24.3 million.

Lukas Van Ness

A defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers who has not lived up to expectations over the first three seasons of his career but still has the draft pedigree of a first-rounder.

Alex Ballentine

An NFL analyst who identified Gary, Jenkins, and Van Ness as the Packers' top trade assets in a league-wide evaluation of trade prospects.

Micah Parsons

A linebacker for the Green Bay Packers who suffered an ACL injury, intensifying the team's need for depth early in the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Rashan Gary could still find himself in trade talks. Trading him would create $11 million in cap space and his production has not matched his lofty price tag.”

— Alex Ballentine, NFL analyst (theconwaybulletin.com)

“Elgton Jenkins' versatility could make him appealing to many teams, and the Packers would save $19.5 million in cap space by trading him.”

— Alex Ballentine, NFL analyst (theconwaybulletin.com)

What’s next

The Packers face salary cap constraints that necessitate tough choices on which players to retain or release, influencing roster composition heading into the next season. The inability to trade high-priced veterans like Gary and Jenkins effectively limits flexibility, with the organization possibly forced to absorb some financial burdens or release players to create cap space.

The takeaway

The Packers' inability to trade their top trade assets, Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins, due to their high cap hits and recent performance or injury issues, has left the team in a difficult position as they navigate salary cap constraints and roster composition for the 2026 season. This uncertainty has created frustration among Packers fans as the team's competitiveness hangs in the balance.