The Green Bay Packers took a chance on former Duke offensive lineman Jacob Monk, who has one of the more unique allergies you’ll ever hear about.
Monk was picked by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Shortly after, Monk spoke to reporters about his allergic reaction to cold water.
Seriously.
“Before my first start, during the first-ever game against Alabama, I got into the cold tub and discovered I was allergic to cold water,” Monk informed reporters. “I ended up getting some hives before the game, before we flew out.”
For fans concerned about Monk playing in a cold-weather environment like Lambeau Field in the winter, he assured everyone that he’ll be fine.
“I can drink cold water, I can be in the snow and all that,” Monk said. “I think I probably just stayed out there for a little too long. It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the snow. I’m not afraid of the cold. I’m not afraid of cold water…But I’m not worried about being in the cold at all, honestly.”
Jacob Monk Scouting Report
Graham Barton was the Duke offensive lineman everyone paid attention to. However, Monk carved out a strong enough college career of his own to get drafted.
Monk was a 4-star recruit out of high school in North Carolina. His out-of-state offers included Oregon and Tennessee, but he chose to play for Duke in his home state.
A five-year starter, Monk played in 58 games for the Blue Devils. In addition to being a two-time captain, he was named a second-team All-ACC selection in 2023.
Monk was an excellent late-round draft pick for the Packers. He has great positional versatility with experience playing guard, tackle, and center. Additionally, he achieved an impressive Relative Athletic Score of 9.74 out of 10.
The Packers really needed more depth on the offensive line, and Monk is a perfect versatile developmental backup. However, it might take some time before he’s capable of being a starting-caliber lineman at the NFL level.
The Packers Needed Offensive Line Depth
Depth was a major concern on Green Bay’s offensive line, but they addressed the issue by focusing on prospects in this year’s draft.
The Packers used their first-round pick on Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan. While fans wanted the team to choose Barton, Morgan possesses great athletic ability and versatility to fit in wherever the Packers need him. The Packers intend to start practicing him at left tackle, but only time will tell where he will play in 2024.
In addition to Morgan and Monk, the Packers took a chance on Georgia State’s Travis Glover. He’s an experienced tackle with a 6’6″ frame, but may not be as versatile as the other prospects.
The Packers also signed a couple of promising undrafted free agents. Donovan Jennings performed well against Alabama as South Florida’s left tackle, while Trente Jones enters the NFL with a national title after playing for Michigan.
The good news for the Packers is that there will be plenty of competition up front after concerns about the team’s depth heading into the offseason.
