Paul Bretl | 8/13/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — When the Packers drafted offensive lineman Jacob Monk in the fifth-round of this past April’s draft, they weren’t only adding an experienced and versatile player to the offensive line room. Monk also brings to the table intangible qualities that can’t necessarily be coached up in his ability to be a leader and a mentality on the football field that has helped separate him from the rest.
“Jacob, he’s great,” said offensive line coach Luke Butkus on Monday. “Watching that film from the game on Saturday was an awesome – not a surprise because I know he’s a tough kid and he works his butt off. But before the game during warmups, the look on his face, he was ready to rip somebody’s lips off. That’s the way he played, and it was fun to watch. He loves playing the game. He loves the physicality of it and was really excited for him to get out there and play his first snap.”
During Saturday’s preseason opener in Cleveland, Monk played 61 snaps–the most on the offensive side of the ball for the Packers. Instantly, we saw Monk’s versatility, with him playing 11 snaps at left guard, 17 at center, and another 33 at right guard.
This has been the case in practice as well, with Monk routinely playing all three interior positions with the second and third offensive line units. Then during last Thursday’s practice, Monk spent the entire day with the ones at right guard, following an early false start by Sean Rhyan.
“Well, I think the versatility, again, from what we do, he was a 58-game starter in college,” said Butkus. “I believe 20 of those maybe were at center. I think naturally he’s more comfortable playing right guard but for us he’s played a lot more center. Again, trying to develop at all three of those inside positions for him to help us out.”
Monk is also an excellent athlete, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.74 during the pre-draft process, and we saw those movement skills on display with his ability to cover multiple gaps. Over 29 pass-blocking snaps, Monk surrendered only one quarterback hit, according to PFF, and was routinely finishing blocks in the run game, which included .
“I really like him,” said offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. “He plays with a lot of effort, plays with a lot of intensity, finishes his blocks. He has technique stuff to clean up, that most young guys do. But from what I’ve seen from him this first game, I was really excited about watching him. It was great.”
As already alluded to, Monk came to the NFL an experienced player, with 58 career starts during his time at Duke and having played 3,681 career snaps. During his final season in 2023, Monk played both right guard and center for the Blue Devils, allowing only one sack and 14 pressures on the season.
But beyond the on-field accomplishments and performances that Monk had in his college career, he is a two-time team captain at Duke and it’s also who he is as a person that also attracted the Packers to him in the pre-draft process.
“He’s quick, very quick, strong, aggressive play style, excellent motor, gets after it,” said Packers’ VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan after the draft. “He’s a snap-to-whistle kind of guy. Like I said, his play style and the way they talk about him, his wiring, he’s an elite, elite guy. He’s a leader and he kind of sets the tone at that program. Guys follow him and I think that kind of oozes out on his film when you’re watching him and this guy’s getting after it and he’s out there to win.”
With the Packers’ starting offensive line taking shape, this season for Monk he will likely take on a backup role, competing with Sean Rhyan to be the team’s No. 2 center behind Josh Myers, but also showcasing that he can take over at eight guard position if needed in a pinch as well. Next season, however, with Myers set to be a free agent, the opportunity for Monk to step into a starting role will likely be there for him.
As is the case with any incoming rookie, there is a learning curve that Monk is navigating and as Stenavich said, some technique stuff that will need to be cleaned up. But through how Monk plays on the field and who he is off of it, he has already shown that he’s the right person and has the right mentality for whatever role the Packers need him to fill.
“I think it’s just what’s demanded at the time,” said Monk when asked about being a leader. “I feel like when I’m at center, you have to be a leader. You have to be loud, you have to be vocal, you have to be present to make those calls. But I’m not going to overstep my boundaries or anything. I feel like the main thing is being the same person every day so my teammates know what they’re going to get out of me, and I expect the same from them.”