When it comes to the offensive line, generally not knowing their names is a good thing.
There are a few exceptions, like fan favorites T.J. Lang and David Bahktiari, but that is more because of their social media presence and Pro Bowl-caliber play than it is for allowing sacks. When it comes to backup linemen, you generally want to know their names even less.
As the 2025 season wore on and the Packers' depth was tested on the line, fans in Titletown became all too familiar with the various members of the offensive line, especially on the right side.
Now, to the defense of Anthony Belton and Jordan Morgan, both were left tackles in college, forced to play on the right side of the line by necessity.
While it may not seem drastic, it is a night-and-day difference, especially when it comes to Belton, who went from left tackle to right guard. Footwork is significantly different, blocking patterns are backward, and, especially with the move to guard, there are different responsibilities.
Coming into the season, it seemed like Belton was going to start the season at guard, but 2024 fifth-round pick Jacob Monk has found himself in the starting five.
Jacob Monk might be the Packers' biggest winner of the summer
It's a name that some fans may not easily recognize, but Jacob Monk has emerged as the leading candidate to take over the right guard spot for the Packers. Monk was Green Bay's fifth-round pick two years ago. He entered the league after a great final season at Duke, where he was a second-team All-ACC. It capped off a five-year college career in which he started 58 of his 59 games.
Monk is the ultimate Packers lineman: Incredibly versatile. Monk logged snaps at right tackle in his first two years of college before transitioning to right guard and finally center.
Despite giving up seven sacks as a freshman, he would allow five total sacks over the rest of his days at Duke over the course of 1,500-plus snaps, and only one in his final two seasons.
Not only did he have the stats to back up his play, but he also tested incredibly well.
Monk logged a 9.74 RAS and had been the Blue Devils' primary starting center, getting the nod over teammate Graham Barton, who was the first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in that same 2024 NFL Draft. Barton ended up being an immediate starter for his team, whereas Monk took the longer route.
In his rookie season, Monk did not log an offensive snap and only played on 43 special teams snaps. In 2025, the special teams snaps fell to 26, but he did start in the season finale in Minnesota, where he impressed the Packers coaching staff.
As Year 3 approached, some began to speculate whether Green Bay would consider trading Monk, but instead, he has gotten a lot of the starting work throughout camp.
As it stands right now, Monk will likely get the first shot at the guard spot, where he excelled in college. He will have rookie Jager Burton breathing down his neck, who also impressed the Packers' brass throughout the offseason work and had a great college career himself.
There also could be the option for Monk to slide to center and allow Sean Rhyan to move back to guard, though that seems unlikely at this point.
The Packers kept a pair of undrafted free agents on their initial 53-man roster, with wide receiver J. Michael Stuardivant getting a lot of the headlines coming out of camp. While he may get some work, it will likely be as a depth piece and on special teams.
Make no mistake about it: Monk may be the biggest winner of the Packers' offseason.
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