Round 5: Jacob Monk - C Duke
Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 7:21 pm
Discuss.
Sports is our Business
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=161&t=2374496
STRENGTHS: Checks boxes for functional size and movements … looks smooth in his change of direction and is a natural bender … gets out o f his stance quickly and easily expands his range as a puller … looks comfortable picking off defenders in space when climbing in the screen game … shows natural strength and doesn’t appear overwhelmed at contact … able to generate power from his lower body in the run game … delivers pop with his initial st rike and runs his feet on contact to steer rushers wide … shows the alertness expected of a player with his experience … two-year team captain and comes with strong character reviews … durable and started 58 games during his career … logged double -digit starts at three different positions.
WEAKNESSES: Short-armed, and his balance will rock when he leans and overextends … inconsistent timing with his initial strike … tends to carry his hands low, which exposes his chest … occasionally pulled inside on protections … speed-to-power pass rushers will bruise and batter him with bully length and force his anchor to work overtime … average twitch athlete, which shows in his mirroring skills and also creates delays in his recoveries … collected 20 penalties during his five seasons as a starter, including several holding flags in 2023 … missed two games in 2022 because of injury … started more games at right guard and right tackle in co llege but is viewed as a center-only prospect by several NFL teams.
SUMMARY: A five-year starter at Duke, Monk switched between right guard and center in former offensive coordinator Kevin Johns’ scheme. The h ighest-ranked recruit in the Blue Devils’ class five years ago, he earned a starting role from the get-go (played tackle for the first time as a true freshman) and then showed off his versatility between guard and center, depending on where he was needed (earned All-ACC honors in his final three seasons). Monk has graceful movements out of his stance (second-best 10-yard split among centers at the combine) and processes his surroundings quickly (coaches rave about him as a teammate and worker). His hands have moments where they are all over the place, and he gets himself in trouble when he lunges in attempts to answer power. Overall, Monk doesn’t have elite size and strength, which puts more of a premium on his technique, but his foot quickness and football IQ belong on an NFL roster. He projects best as a backup center who can fill in at guard in a pinch.
GRADE: 6th Round
Matches Malone wrote: