When Elgton Jenkins and Tytus Howard were both coming out of college and preparing for the NFL draft, they first met at the Senior Bowl and trained together, developing a friendship.

Fast forward almost eight years later, Jenkins received a call from Howard about the possibility of signing with the Browns in free agency. Howard also shared his experiences of working with offensive line coach George Warhop, who joined the Browns' coaching staff under new head coach Todd Monken.

Jenkins researched Warhop and learned more about his former players and how he coached his players. Jenkins not only liked Warhop's coaching mentality, but also the idea of reuniting with Howard. So, he ultimately signed with the Browns.

"I feel like it was a perfect place for me to be, especially trying to just work on my game," Jenkins said. "Just being able to play together again and build this offensive line and take us to where we want to go. (Howard) was very enthusiastic about us moving forward, so I was on board and we're here now."

Jenkins is entering his eighth NFL season after spending his first seven seasons with the Packers. Green Bay first drafted Jenkins in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he started 94 of 96 career games played. While with the Packers, Jenkins moved around the offensive line over his seven seasons, playing at left guard, left tackle, right tackle and center, and is a two-time Pro Bowl honoree (2020 and 2022).

Jenkins developed his position versatility while he was in high school at Clarksdale High school in Mississippi. In 11^th grade, he played left tackle. Then his senior year when his high school team moved to a run-heavy offense, he switched to play guard. When he went to college at Mississippi State University, he started off as a swing tackle, playing at left and right tackle, before he filled in for an injured teammate at guard. Then during his final two years, his coach moved him to center.

Jenkins was then drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his seven-year NFL career, Jenkins said he has taken a number of snaps at left guard. He then went back to his collegiate roots and played 537 snaps at center for the Packers during the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus. He has built a comfort level at multiple positions and is open to playing any position that will help the Browns in this next chapter of his career.

His versatility proves beneficial as the Browns work to revamp the offensive line. Their early additions in free agency with signing Jenkins and Zion Johnson, re-signing G Teven Jenkins and acquiring Howard in a trade with the Texans, showcase the commitment to rebuilding the offensive line.

"That's where it starts," Jenkins said. "It starts up front on the O-line and on the D-line. And having the skilled guys that we got in the building right now, I think with a good O-line and us building chemistry and playing good football is going to help us out a lot and help us win a lot of games."

Jenkins continues his recovery and rehab from a fractured lower leg and ligament damage injury that he endured in November 2025, which ended his season early. However, Jenkins said he believes he is on pace and continues to make progress in his recovery.

Jenkins said he plans to be at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus working through his rehab process when the team returns for OTAs. Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2025 regular season can begin offseason workout programs on April 6. And with a new coaching staff in Cleveland, the Browns have the opportunity to hold those early volunteer workouts for players.

"It's going to help us out a lot just being able to get that jump, having two weeks on people," Jenkins said. "We're new in here, so honestly, I'm going to ask for the playbook before I leave just to get on top of that. But it's going to be very key for moving forward, for us to do what we want to do moving forward. "