Overview
Rare five-year starter and two-year team captain with explosive power and plus athleticism. Right off the bat, Monk will be dinged for his lack of ideal size as a center. He's going to have trouble with bulky two-gappers who can snap a punch into him and quickly separate. However, one-gapping defenders will have their hands full, as he's more than capable of washing them down or outright pancaking them. Monk can slide and redirect A-gap rushers, but an offensive line coach must get him to protect with inside hands. Monk's blend of football IQ, nimble feet and power give him a realistic chance to compete for a job, no matter how he gets into a camp.

Strengths

• Five-year starter and two-time team captain.
• Weight-room warrior possessing explosive hips and upper-body power.
• Athleticism pops in pass slides and as a pulling/screen blocker.
• Uses hand strength and leg drive to connect and sustain.
• Wipe-out power to bounce A-gap blitzers out of the club.

Weaknesses

• Addresses pass rusher with wide hands and an open frame.
• Absorbs first contact more often than dealing it in protection.
• Needs to eliminate the leaning and reaching.
• Could struggle to impose power on defenders with length.
• Moves well but might have trouble collecting second-level movement.

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Is this the new surprisingly good late-round OL?

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per McGinn:
JACOB MONK, C, DUKE
Rd. 5/Pk. 163.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 312.
40: 5.05.
Hometown: Clayton, N.C.

Fact/Stat: Arms were 32 3/8, fourth longest among the top 10 centers. Hands were 10, which tied for fifth largest. Started 58 of 59 games over five seasons, including 36 at right guard, 12 at right tackle and 10 at center. His starts at center were split between 2022 and ’23.

AFC scout: “He played center a little bit better although his skill set trends more to guard. He may get drafted late or he may end up a free agent. I think he’s going to make it and be on a roster for a long time. He’s big, strong, tough, smart and has exceptional wiring. This kid’s better than Sam Mustipher. He had a pretty nice postseason. His workouts were pretty good. He’s got great makeup. If you get this guy as a free agent he’s going to make your team. There’s not enough centers ever. He’s done it, and he’s not bad at it.”

AFC scout: “We didn’t have great grades on him (in the fall). Probably should have, after the fact.”

NFC scout: “He’s an athletic zone-scheme center who flashes good initial quickness to get in front and cover guys up. Marginal play strength. Struggles to sustain blocks at all levels. Gets in the way and the runner must quickly hit the hole behind him. Well-respected for his work ethic. Smart player who can make the calls, if needed. Best projects to center.”

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As a Day 3 selection fans shouldn't expect Monk to displace one of the current starters. Backing up both the C and G positions should be enough for him for a year or two. Keep in mind if he was a surefire starter he would have been in the draft last year. He used up 5 years of college eligibility and was taken in the 5th round. Hopefully he will develop into a decent player.

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I assume he's the backup Center and there to develop into a starter should they decide to not re-sign Myers.

If he's ready sooner, he can compete at RG.

Some writers are pushing the Tom to Center based on the storyline that the Packers see Tom as a future HOF Center. Which I still think was BS to get writers distracted and off their backs...

Tom faced some of the best pass rushers in the NFL, for some reason going against the RT, not LT. And Tom did better than just holds his own... you don't take that and put it at a less valuable position. Especially when he's the best you got.

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