Packers may already have the perfect emergency option on offense, and he's an ascending piece with real breakout potential

During OTAs, Monk even had some reps at right guard, with Sean Rhyan at center. This is notable because the Packers clearly didn't want to use Monk at guard last season, and now he surpassed Telfort and Glover.

Eventually, Monk settled in as the center while Jenkins was out. And this is important considering the roster doesn't have primary centers. Beyond Jenkins and Monk, the only player listed as a center is Trey Hill, who is a long shot to make the 53-man roster. While Rhyan and Zach Tom have the ability to kick inside, that's something the Packers would probably prefer not to do — especially with Tom, who's a top right tackle in the NFL.

Last year, Jacob Monk had significant time in the preseason, and he played all around the interior of the line. As a fifth-round rookie, that would probably mean value to the team — which ended up not happening as expected. He had 82 snaps at center, 44 at right guard, and 29 at left guard in exhibition games.

"I really like him. He plays with a lot of effort, plays with a lot of intensity, finishes his blocks," offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said after the first preseason game in 2024, against the Cleveland Browns. "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."

In those three games, Monk allowed four pressures. According to PFF, he had a 57.4 run block grade and 54.3 pass block grade.

This year, preseason will once again be huge for Monk. Especially if Elgton Jenkins misses time, it's realistic to expect that the second-year player will help protect franchise quarterback Jordan Love whenever he is on the field.

Even if Zach Tom signs a contract extension eventually, Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan are slated to be free agents, and Jenkins is a potential cap casualty even if he agrees to an adjusted deal. The team needs offensive line options for the future, and Monk fits the profile to have a bigger role moving forward.