Is Sean Rhyan Worth Re-Signing at Center?
Re-Signing Sean Rhyan should be an easy call for the Packers this offseason.
By Dan Saia
The Green Bay Packers are getting ready for another franchise-altering offseason. Their first and most important decision has already been made: who is going to be the head coach of this football team. That question was answered with an emphatic Matt LaFleur. The Packers handed him a reportedly lucrative extension to remain their head coach, and included in that was no requirement to make any changes to his staff. A sign that the team is going to be in the Matt LaFleur business for years to come.
The second most important decision is who is going to be his defensive coordinator. Jeff Hafley is now the head coach in Miami, leaving the Packers with an opening at DC. I would expect LaFleur to take his time and cast a wide search for the best candidate.
That brings us to the list of the Packers’ nine pending unrestricted free agents. A quick glance at the list and you can glean who is a lock to leave: Malik Willis, Rasheed Walker, and Romeo Doubs. Thank you for your contributions and good luck in your future endeavors, but the Packers are not going to shell out big-time contracts in their cap-strapped state to those three. The one player I can’t make heads or tails of is Sean Rhyan. The former third-round pick is hitting free agency for the first time in his career and is one of the more interesting choices this team is going to need to make early in this offseason.
Rhyan started the season as a guard, rotating in with former first-round pick Jordan Morgan. It wasn’t until former guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins was lost for the season with a severe ankle injury that Rhyan was forced into a starting role. The results were a mixed bag overall. His PFF grades at center showed significant inconsistency, with strong performances such as the Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions with a 70.4 grade and an 82.2 grade versus the Bears in Week 16, as well as some poor performances, such as his 28.3 pass-block grade in Week 14 in the first Bears matchup.
For a player who hadn’t played center at the NFL level until midway through his fourth season, I don’t think the Packers could have asked for much more. After all, it’s not like Jenkins was lighting it up there either. Rhyan at least brought them a younger, more athletic option. Throw in the fact that he can swing over and play an adequate level at guard, and it gives the versatility-loving Packers even more options as they look to rebuild their offensive line after a disappointing 2025 season.
The real question in my mind isn’t so much whether the Packers would want Rhyan back; it’s more a question of what the number is going to be to make that happen and if it makes sense. Spotrac estimates him to land a three-year, $19.7 million deal on the open market. At a $6.6 million AAV, which is similar to the contract former Packer center Josh Myers signed with the Jets, I think the Packers jump at that.
The Packers could decide to promote Jacob Monk to starter. He did have an impressive showing in his lone career start in Week 18 against Minnesota, but I’m skeptical they would entrust such an inexperienced player (57 career snaps) in what’s shaping up to be an increasingly important Super Bowl-run season. Monk is a fine backup and will likely stay that way. Behind him, there isn’t any additional competition, and with a limited array of draft picks thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, the Packers will need to use the picks they do have to fortify other roster holes such as defensive line, cornerback, and other parts of the offensive line.
If the Packers wanted to go the draft route, there are only two centers ranked in the top 100 prospects, and one of them, Connor Lew, tore his ACL in October and won’t be ready to start the season, still leaving them with a hole at center.
It’s hard to see Green Bay opting to use their limited free-agent dollars on the top free agent on the market, Tyler Linderbaum. Spotrac is projecting him to receive a deal in the $17 million-per-year range. That’s way too rich for Green Bay given their cap constraints. Connor McGovern, Ted Karras, and Ethan Pocic round out the rankings of the top five free-agent centers (in addition to Rhyan), but McGovern will be too pricey, and Karras (age) and Pocic (Achilles injury) will likely take them out of consideration for a Green Bay offense that loves it's youth and doesn’t need any additional rehabbing players. Rhyan's knee injury suffered on the final drive of the season isn't anything of long term concern by all reports.
Factoring in the lack of free-agent options and dollars, along with the dearth of prospects in this year’s draft, it makes all the sense in the world to bring back Sean Rhyan if they can make the numbers match up. Out of all nine of the Packers’ pending unrestricted free agents set to hit the market this offseason, bringing back Sean Rhyan to help provide some level of stability should be an easier decision for Brian Gutekunst.
-Dan Saia
Comments (40)
crayzpackfan
January 22, 2026 at 02:43 pm
Two articles on the exact same subject on the exact same day? Glad things are getting back to normal around here (I say jokingly).
JerseyAl
January 22, 2026 at 02:56 pm
Timing could be better but it's ok to get two different writers' perspectives. It's allowed.
crayzpackfan
January 22, 2026 at 03:42 pm
It's actually refreshing. I'm exhausted with the last couple weeks regarding the HC. So, I wasn't complaining, as stated in my OP (I say jokingly). Stay warm.
Since'75
January 23, 2026 at 03:59 pm
Don't not make the CHTV writers angry!
Alberta_Packer
January 22, 2026 at 03:36 pm
Worse would have been 2 same articles on LaFleur or Policy - which would have triggered (again) my PPSD - Packers Post Season Depression.
PackEyedOptimist
January 22, 2026 at 03:03 pm
I think and hope they will resign Rhyan.
He’s probably our center for 2026, while also being
our top backup guard (if a young center is good enough).
Despite Connor Lew’s injury, I’d jump at the chance to pick him.
I’d like to trade down from 52 to get him later in the second round while picking up another choice.
He’s another Campen/Linsley type.
sugarbair
January 22, 2026 at 04:14 pm
Money needs to be right. 6 mil is too much. We need too many stop gap FAs at closer too veteran's min. Have to get 3 to 5 starters out of the next 2 drafts while we get the CAP back under control. My opinion is a 3 year roster rebuild. Hope I'm wrong.
dobber
January 23, 2026 at 10:07 am
It's hard to name a non-ST position where an AAV of $6M for an average veteran starter on a non-rookie deal isn't a little low.
https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2968/2025-average-nfl-salaries-by-posi...
Ihappydirt
January 22, 2026 at 11:42 pm
If GB can do 6.6MM for 3 years they will jump at the chance. Kid is ascending and that's dirt cheap. It might cost a little more.
stockholder
January 22, 2026 at 04:21 pm
He's the only Free Agent they can Afford.
The Rest are gone.
Doubs 13 mil. a year
R. Walkers 20mil. a year
Q walker 15 mil a year.
Gute needs money.
After Banks made a pigeon
of him.
EricTorkelson
January 22, 2026 at 05:14 pm
Agree you cant sign Doubs a player with a multiple concussion history to those numbers
while at the same time giving up a roster spot
Q Walker, I will give him credit he played hard and physical probably his best year but still read plays wrong at times and was slow to cover passing routes his achilleas heel.. If someone is going to throw that kind of money at him good luck to them....
Califan
January 22, 2026 at 05:14 pm
A lot of assumptions are being made about affordability. Resigning Rhyan may not be easy as some may think. The Packers inability to recognize his value only to come to that conclusion in the last 8 1/2 weeks in his contract year. Rhyan lost a $2 mil bonus for 2 snaps which he should have had if it wasn’t for the rotation to force a spot for Morgan. The constant rotation to insert Morgan contributed to a lost bonus he deserved. Rhyan started RG in every game last season but the Packers refused to identify him as a starter. Packers release Meyers who was good, signed Banks at a salary that made him one of the highest paid guards, and moved Jenkins to C. Packers blew up an already established Oline making them now one of the worst. And why do people think Rhyan would resign for less $? With a limited FA and draft class, Rhyan’s value could be higher than what is projected. Time will tell.
Ihappydirt
January 22, 2026 at 11:48 pm
Meyers was not good and got overpaid. Banks way overpaid so far. Jenkins move to center was ridiculous when GB could have picked up a center for way less than Banks, although it would have blocked Rhyan. Rhyan's lost bonus was early, not like a team screwing a guy over late to steal the money. I think GB gets him for a good price and he blossoms.
dobber
January 23, 2026 at 10:12 am
The bottom line is that resigning Rhyan before March is essentially buying out his ability to test the market, so you have to be at least about what he thinks his open market value will be--or close enough that it's worth his while to not try.
What does the league think he's worth?
What does HE think he's gonna get?
In the end, I think a short-term low-money offer will just drive him to test the market. Maybe he comes back to it. Maybe he gives the Packers a chance to match. I suspect he's going to get a better offer than that elsewhere.
Point-Packer
January 23, 2026 at 02:54 pm
The Banks signing is as confusing to me as drafting Josiah Deguara in the 3rd round. Didn't make sense at the time. Makes less sense now.
Gute is vastly overrated.
jannesbjornson
January 24, 2026 at 12:00 am
They won't miss them. Rhyan seemed to control the inside and still can move out on LBs. He probably gets a deal.
Plus he has attitude. If Tom goes down again, Belton would move outside? I still take Lee Hunter if he's there at #52, then snag another OT. The best CBs are going early, so he might as well get a veteran FA. Hobbs may have to stay onboard, but is his knee shot? Ball writes the Contracts, Gutey makes the car swap. Ball has caused quite a bit of the money problems and Gutedkunst can't trade guys a year early because the depth chart is thin.
See what Enagbare wants in cash and sign him. He made some big plays down the stretch.
RCPackerFan
January 22, 2026 at 05:00 pm
I will just say I have no clue what $ he will command and get. So if that part works out I would bring him back.
He to me improved as a center as the season went on, and giving him a full offseason to prepare to place C will make him a better player. I would bring him back, but it has to be for the price they like.
EricTorkelson
January 22, 2026 at 05:07 pm
Sign Rhyan... yes it is a must, why ... he is young, proven, BIG, physical prototypical center size
Rhyan along with A Belton, an improved second year A Banks provide a solid core in the middle of OL
No to Jacob Monk an undersized backup center ( hasn't GB had enough with undersized lineman )
You can sometimes get lucky and find a good center in the late rounds of the draft were Gute seems
to operate his best ...
ctpackman
January 22, 2026 at 06:12 pm
Rhyhan should be the guy!!!!
Cheesey51
January 22, 2026 at 07:38 pm
Ryan came out of nowhere
Take away the Denver and Baltimore games and he gad an excellent job as sub center
Keep em packers track record is poor lately in drafting centers
Humphrey vs Josh M
Like to keep Elton Jenkins move back to L guard with Morgan at Jeft tackle. With Tom RT and the guy we git in free agency move to R guard
Ihappydirt
January 22, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Jenkins is gone. 30, expensive and injured. Love the guy. GB made a bad decision to move him. But he's gone.
HarryHodag
January 23, 2026 at 11:51 am
If you don't sign SR, what's the next option? Jacob Monk?
They would be scouring the practice squads and waiver wires to find someone. The draft is a crap shoot.
Jenkins is likely gone. The o-line with Belton at right guard and a healed Zach Tom, along with Banks would be a solid, but not spectacular line.(Jury on Morgan at left tackle is still out). There are other options including putting Tom at center and Belton at tackle and finding either an affordable center or guard, but again that's more money spent.
Gool luck, Gute. You have your work cut out for you.
EricTorkelson
January 23, 2026 at 12:47 pm
HH , Moving Z Tom to center is not an option, his body type with slender lowers are not conducive with massive NFL interior DL. Tom has great balance and the quick feet to redirect end rushers but because he is a bit undersized at around three hundred pounds for a right tackle Tom will get bull rushed into J Love frequently..
Leatherhead
January 23, 2026 at 12:52 pm
HH....if things roll out the way that I think they will, we'll start Morgan, Banks, Rhyan, Belton, and Tom if they're all healthy. Our backups will consist of Monk, a Day 2 draft pick, and a FA. Walker will leave in FA, and Jenkins will be a salary cap casualty.
EricTorkelson
January 23, 2026 at 01:24 pm
I will take a 4 or 5 compensatory pick for R Walker any time ...
HarryHodag
January 23, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Agree with your assessment.
Strat
January 23, 2026 at 12:41 pm
I thought he did pretty well. I'd like to see him back. I wonder if he likes playing center, or if it matters at all to him. But he's definitely one of the guys that is reliable/solid on the OL.
Since'75
January 23, 2026 at 04:11 pm
I'm interested in what happens with Jenkins.
Before someone had the brilliant idea of moving him, he was one of the best guards in the league, from his rookie season on.
Leatherhead
January 23, 2026 at 06:33 pm
Listening to Tauscher and Wahle once on a Wilde podcast, they certainly gave the impression that Jenkins WANTED to play Center, which is a more important position than LG. WHAT he did not want was to be a one year salary cap casualty, which is what he's going to be unless some kind of miraculous salary realignment is done. Personally, I 'm concerned enough about his injury history at this point that I'm not willing to pay him $20M to play for us this year. I think it makes more sense to pay Rhyan $7M/year than it does to pay Jenkins.
Since'75
January 24, 2026 at 08:19 am
Whether he wanted to play center or not is immaterial.
His play at left guard was next level, plus, he helped the LT tackle.
I think it was pretty clear Walker had a worse season since Jenkins was moved.
Banks?....i don't think so.
I go with the old adage of 'don't fix, what isn't broke'.
Slim11
January 26, 2026 at 09:40 pm
I completely agree. Jenkins was a better LG. IIRC, he played LT, LG and C his rookie year. He did well at all three positions. Due to his performance, the Packers believed he could perform well at C. Jenkins was a victim of his own success. Now, he has fallen victim to that success abetted by his salary cap number/hit.
Rhyan is a better C than RG. The o-line solidified when he moved to C and Belton did so well at RG. The Packers have some stability at C/RG/RT and shouldn’t mess with it. The same can’t be said with the left side right now. Moving Jenkins back to LG might help improve the the left side but his injury and recovery make that move questionable.
Matt
January 24, 2026 at 06:57 am
If he can play for backup salary yes. I don't see the point of paying starting money for a guy who managed to play center. I'd rather draft a real center even round 3.
Since'75
January 24, 2026 at 08:26 am
If i'm Jenkins agent, and the Packers wanted to pay Jenkins back up money (at any position)
I'd tell them to kick rocks
Since'75
January 24, 2026 at 08:36 am
Sean Ryhan is back up money, because that's what he is, is a back up.
His overall PFF grade is 59.
His pass block grade was 38.5, or code for....you should be stocking shelves at Menards.
Since'75
January 24, 2026 at 08:33 am
Round 3 hasn't exactly exactly fruitful under Gute, sans Tucker
dobber
January 24, 2026 at 08:53 am
Walker apparently arrested on gun charges in NY last night.
A hit to his FA value, and to the Packers' ability to glean a good comp pick for him?
RobinsonDavis
January 24, 2026 at 11:17 am
Saw that Dobber. According to his agent he is licensed to carry in Wisconsin and by default makes it sound like he screwed up by not checking state laws. It ignores the fact that he was caught at LAGUARDIA AIRPORT!
I will likely reply a few times to the Sean Rhyan articles (I'm very late looking at these, due to several factors, but they will remain relevant over the next couple of months), but I will state this....Everybody has to be careful on their projections for releases, etc. We could get below the salary cap guidelines to start the new year through renegotiated contracts alone. Though, I do agree the path is likely that Jenkins and Gary are gone, they could do something with Jenkins contract, and release BOTH Gary & Aaron Banks with a post June 1st designation freeing up over $37 million.
Leatherhead
January 24, 2026 at 11:28 am
This shouldn't be a hit on him. He is legally licensed to carry. The gun was in a locked box in his luggage that he was checking in. He told people the gun was there. He wasn't trying to break the law or anything.
RobinsonDavis
January 24, 2026 at 01:18 pm
I agree, probably much about nothing, but he should check state/city police forces to ask when traveling.
RobinsonDavis
January 24, 2026 at 03:43 pm
My gut opinion is to resign Sean, if he wants to be here. There are numerous items that come to mind in this decision, but let's start with nearly everybody, including Spotrac, way underestimated the offensive and defensive line projected salaries for the top and mid-tier players last year. It will be interesting to see if that plays out this year, especially with the plethora of starting guards that supposedly will be available. As has been pointed out, available centers are few to have at the projected price. I agree with the thought that it may take a Jon Runyan like contract at $9-10 million per year, to land Rhyan, and if that's what it takes, I would support it, but not more. If that scenario does not agree with you, then consider the possibility of addressing center by converting a veteran guard not currently on your roster, using a day 2 draft pick for a rookie, or going with Jacob Monk as your starting center.
For me, I would like to see if the Packers can restructure Elg's contract first to create cap space, AND put him back at guard. 2nd designate Aaron Banks and Rashan Gary for post-June 1st cuts. That salary cap savings ($37 million) will not come until June 1st, but perhaps we can use it to fill LB, CB, TE, Edge or other needs, as well as extend or renegotiate other contracts, later in the year.
My gut tells me Elg is gone, but his release free's up enough cap room to perhaps sign Sean & another guard, CB, TE, LB, or a #3 edge.