The NFL’s 11 best offensive guards

Guards are no longer the anonymous guys who toil away without recognition, and here are the best in the NFL to do it right now.

10. Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers

(Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

All Jenkins had to do in his rookie season was to come from Mississippi State to a new and complicated Packers offense under new head coach and play-caller Matt LaFleur, with the added pressure of protecting Aaron Rodgers and integrating himself into an intricate running game. No big deal, right? Not for Jenkins, apparently. While he played multiple positions in college, he slotted into the left guard position when Lane Taylor suffered a season-ending biceps injury in September, and Jenkins managed to look like a multi-year veteran. He didn’t allowed a single sack all season in 694 pass-blocking reps, allowing just one quarterback hit and 23 quarterback hits — a remarkable feat for a rookie going up against so many new and difference blocking schemes. Some have argued that Jenkins was helped by Green Bay’s quick passing game, but per Sports Info Solutions, only the Chargers and Saints had more passing attempts with drops of 5-7 steps than did the Packers.

Besides, as they say, the tape never lies.