Eugene Monroe signs and ends holdout
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed tackle Eugene Monroe, their first-round pick, to a five-year contract worth up to $35.4 million, according to Michael C. Wright of the Florida Times-Union. The deal includes $19 million in guaranteed money.
After the team's OTAs, Monroe was number one on the depth chart at left tackle. However, he's missed 22 practices during his holdout and Tra Thomas, who was acquired in the off-season, has been playing well.
Monroe was at practice today, but he is unlikely to play in Monday's pre-season opener against the Dolphins, per Wright.
“It’s been proven that guys who miss time suffer,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. “You’re talking about a position where you’ve got a lot of volume, a lot of thinking and you need to be part of a cohesive unit.”
“About 75 percent of our offensive system is put in,” Del Rio said earlier this week. “It’s getting to the critical time where realistically how much is he going to help you starts becoming a question you have to ask.”
With Monroe signed, the only remaining unsigned first-rounders are Andre Smith (Cincinnati), Michael Crabtree (San Francisco) and Aaron Maybin (Buffalo).
