NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With the No. 44 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins out of Mississippi State.
"The coaches called me and told me they were going to pick me as their 44 pick and from there it was tears of joy," said Jenkins via phone.
The Packers are just as happy with their decision.
"We're fired up," said Green Bay Packers Southwest college scout Charles Walls. "We took him as a guard, but with a guy of that size, if you watch the tape, you feel comfortable putting him anywhere you need him to be."
The 6-foot-4, 311 pounder started every game at center for the last two years, but played all five spots at some point in his college career. Walls said his versatility made it a quick selection for the Packers.
"Definitely a light bulb goes off when a guy falls to you with that much value," said Walls.
Jenkins played in 49 career games with 34 starts, 26 at center, five at left tackle, two at left guard and one at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only one sack over 762 pass-blocking snaps at center over the last two years.
"He's powerful," said Walls. "He can control the line of scrimmage."
The Packers even had an inside source on the pick with their quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy, who coached Jenkins at Mississippi State.
"All positive feedback from a player and a person," said Walls.
Jenkins went from only having one scholarship offer and built himself into a second round NFL draft pick. He got emotional recalling his journey and describing what it means to be a Green Bay Packer.
"Coming out of high school I wasn't highly recruited, so I had to grind to get to where I am today," said Jenkins. "I'll give it everything I've got."
