Green Bay Packers: A Look at UDFA Jacob Capra & What he Adds to Offense

The Green Bay Packers already have plenty of options along the offensive line to choose from — especially when it comes to interior players — which is going to make it difficult for their few UDFA signings to crack the top-53. With four of the Packers’ five starters back for 2021, and the fact that they’ve spent six draft picks on offensive linemen the last two years, there isn’t exactly a ton of playing time or even roster spots up for grabs.

But for UDFA Jacob Capra from San Diego State, the versatility that he possesses is something that we know the Packers covet. Most of the offensive linemen on Green Bay’s roster have the ability to either play both guard and tackle positions or if they are strictly an interior player, both guard and center. And it was the overall versatility of this group that allowed the Green Bay offensive line to remain elite last season despite dealing with a number of injuries.

When it comes to Capra, he has experience at four of the five offensive line positions, and that will certainly serve him well. Although that may not equate to an initial roster spot, it could very well keep him on the practice squad.

Capra spent his first three seasons at Oregon, where he saw some playing time during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, although he wasn’t a full-time starter. He took a bulk of his snaps over those two years at right guard and allowed two sacks and four pressures, according to PFF.

Capra then transferred to San Diego State, where he spent his final two seasons. In 2019, he played both right tackle and left tackle, taking 312 snaps at right and 198 at left. That season on the edge, he would give up two sacks and 11 pressures. He would then spend most of the 2020 season at left guard, where he allowed no sacks and just two pressures in 233 pass-blocking snaps.

By PFF’s grading system, Capra was a more effective pass-blocker than a run-blocker over his career, but nearly 62 percent of his total run-blocking snaps came in the zone blocking scheme–which as we all know, the Green Bay Packers run a wide-zone blocking scheme under Matt LaFleur.

Although Capra has shown his positional versatility, at the NFL level, he is most likely an interior player given his athletic testing numbers. His overall RAS score of 4.11 is considered below average — and keep in mind this is as a guard; as a tackle his score would be worse — with his 40-time of 5.34 being just above average; however, his 10 and 20-yards splits were considered “poor.”

At his Pro-Day he recorded only 19 reps on the bench press, and his 3-cone time was also “poor” by the RAS scale. Capra would score slightly above average in the vertical and broad jumps as well as in the shuttle. He has good size standing 6’5″ and 33 1/4 inch arms, but he is a bit on the smaller side for an interior player at 300 pounds.

For a closer look at Capra and what he offers the Green Bay Packers, here is what Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network had to say about his game in his pre-draft report:

"“Positives: Oregon transfer who started the past two seasons at both tackle spots as well as guard. Explosive and fundamentally sound blocker who gets the most from his ability. Stays square, keeps opponents in front of him, and works well with linemates.Quick out to the second level, fluid pulling across the line of scrimmage, and works to get a pad on defenders. Blocks with proper pad level while also effectively placing his hands into opponents. Displays outstanding vision as well as instincts and patience and works hard with teammates.Negatives: Average strength and struggles finishing blocks. Needs to sink his butt more at the line of scrimmage.Analysis: Capra is an underrated blocking prospect who is often dismissed in scouting circles. He possesses size and movement skills as well as growth potential, and he’s a developmental prospect for a zone-blocking system.”"