Packers Trade Up To No. 163, Draft Duke C Jacob Monk, Packers Find Elite Value In Day 2 of NFL Draft
The Packers saw the need to move up five spots in the 2024 NFL Draft today, sending the Bills pick Nos. 168 and 219 in the fifth and sixth round, respectively. The move up resulted in Green Bay adding Duke center Jacob Monk to the roster.
Monk was a five-year starter for the Blue Devils, utilizing his extra year of eligibility thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season. He started 58 of 59 game appearances during his time at Duke. Not only does he bring extensive starting experience, but he also brings experience all along the right side of the offensive line. After starting all 12 of his freshman year games at right tackle, he spent the next two years starting at right guard before splitting his time over his last two seasons between right guard and center.
The Packers have Josh Myers as their starting center as the last three years. He’s never graded out phenomenally, according to Pro Football Focus, but he’s not bad enough that Monk should be expected to start in 2024. Monk likely comes in as a backup center and a sixth-man on the offensive line.
Due to his versatility at Duke, Monk has the ability to fill in in a pinch at any position on the line as a backup. If he develops strongly over the next year, there’s a chance that he can take over for Myers, who is playing in a contract year. This gives Green Bay a year to determine its plan at center moving past the 2024 season.
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The Green Bay Packers have found success drafting during the Brian Gutekunst era, despite often ruffling feathers with their draft strategy. After a first-round pick that many fans questioned, the Packers had to respond with a calculated draft plan to keep fans on board with this draft class. Now after day two which included four draft picks by the Green Bay Packers, Packers fans have come back around to the understanding of Brian Gutekunst thanks to multiple high-value selections.
Green Bay Packers Draft Consensus #1 Inside Linebacker
The Green Bay Packers were in the market for a middle linebacker heading into the 2024 NFL draft. After moving on from the former all-pro De’Vondre Campbell it was clear that the Packers were looking to bring new talent into the linebacker room alongside Quay Walker.
After many experts mocked the arrival of a first-round linebacker, the flow of the draft dictated a different opportunity for the Green Bay Packers. In the second round, the Packers moved down a handful of spots in a trade with the New Orleans Saints despite the availability of highly touted corner Kool-Aid McKinstry. The Packers proceeded to draft the top prospect in a position of need, a prospect few people expected to be available at pick number 45.
The Green Bay Packers were actually mocked to get Edgerrin Cooper in the first round by many, instead, they played the waiting game and were able to obtain him for the 45th pick as opposed to the 25th. The consensus number one off-ball linebacker in the NFL draft became the first off-ball linebacker off the board later than many expected.
The production of Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper in college was undeniable, leading the SEC team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles. With good size and top-tier athleticism that pairs perfectly with his desire to pursue the football, Cooper will find significant snaps in the linebacker position and likely special teams very quickly. Needing the direction and discipline to stay consistently in plays, Cooper is not a perfect prospect but is certainly an exciting one for the Packers to acquire at such a good value.
Green Bay Packers 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker appears very excited about the selection.
Much like the rest of the NFL world, he sees the potential with him and Cooper in the new Jeff Hafley system.
Green Bay Packers Draft Top-Rated Safety
Linebacker was not the only selection for the Green Bay Packers that positional rankings loved. Just 13 selections later, the Packers acquired another SEC talent that slipped deep into the second round at another key position of need. Despite the signing of star safety Xavier McKinney in the offseason, the Packers needed more depth and talent at the position.
For the Packers, this is a dream fit, as a player who can provide playmaking from the box as well as a committed tackler checks multiple important boxes for the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Draft High Ceiling Running Back
While on a roll with high-value picks, the Packers continued the trend with a splash playmaker in the third round of the draft. After the signing of superstar running back Josh Jacobs and the unexpected departure of homegrown talent Aaron Jones, the Green Bay Packers running back depth needed speed and dynamism, and at pick number 88 they found just that.
Lloyd was beloved by many scouts, including analyst from the NFL network Daniel Jeremiah who proclaimed him as the best back in the draft. Marshawn Lloyd agreed.
“I’m the best running back in the draft, for sure, and I think Green Bay got the best running back in the draft because they think the exact same,” Lloyd said during his Zoom call. “I’m super-confident with that. I think Daniel Jeremiah, that’s going to come up in the next few years, exactly what he says. I definitely do feel like he’s telling the truth on that part.”
With a great blend of skill and confidence, Brian Gutekunst has drafted three rounds’ worth of quality talent at good to great value.
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