Solid Starter
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona – Round 1
The Packers were in need of some offensive line youth and they targeted a long-term blind side protector for Jordan Love in the first round. Green Bay needs Love to continue to trend in the right direction or the hot seat will heat up under the current regime. Morgan has the ability to be a reliable blocker at the pro level.
In the passing driven NFL, the 6-foot-4, 312-pound Morgan has excellent athleticism to be an asset for against fast edge rushers. Morgan is a natural pass blocker that has quick feet that allow him to get depth in his drop and neutralize speed rushers. He is quick out of stance and reacts immediately to cut off the corner and prevent them from running the loop around the edge. With his quick feet and an ability to bend at the knee, Morgan doesn’t have to reach after rushers and is not a waist bender. He is a very smooth and in control blocker that glides with rushers and reacts quickly to pass rushing moves. Morgan uses his athletic ability well and does a good job of sustaining his blocks by staying in front of defenders. For the NFL, Morgan could be a very valuable to protect his quarterback against fast edge rushers.
As a run blocker, Morgan is not a bull in the ground game. He is not overly strong or physical to blast defenders off the ball and ride them around the field. That being said, he is not a liability as he ties up, twists, turns, and manipulates defensive linemen to keep them from getting to his back. Morgan shows some quickness to the second level, has agility to pull, and is skilled at hitting blocks in space. Right now, he would be better off in a zone-blocking system to use his athleticism due to not packing a serious punch at the point of attack.
At the NFL level, Morgan is a finesse blocker. He is not nasty and team sources have said that Morgan is not a finisher. Teams that want their blocker to have a mean streak will be turned off by Morgan. Powerful defensive ends can give him problems by tracking to overwhelm and go through Morgan. Another worrisome trait is extremely short arms at 32.88 inches. That is extremely short for a NFL offensive tackle.
I think Morgan will become a solid starter for Green Bay because of his quickness and athleticism, but the lack of power and physicality will keep him from being en elite tackle in the NFL.
2023: Lukas Van Ness, DE
2022: Quay Walker, LB
2021: Josh Myers, C
2020: None
2019: Rashan Gary, DE
2018: Josh Jackson, CB
2017: Montravius Adams, DT
2016: Kenny Clark, DT
2015: Damarious Randall, DB
2014: HaHa Clinton-Dix, S
2013: Datone Jones, DE
Most Likely To Bust
Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri – Round 3
It was a curious selection for the Packers to take another inside linebacker on the second day of the draft after selecting Edgerrin Cooper in the second round. With 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker only in his third season, it looks like Hopper is going to have a hard time getting playing time unless their is an injury or the Packers have privately soured on Walker. Hopper was a good college player, but he did not show the skill set or production that Cooper did. Thus, I think Cooper is more likely to star next to Walker. Of the Packers early-round picks, Hopper looks like the selection that could end up not making an impact for Green Bay.
2023: Jayden Reed, WR
2022: Devonte Wyatt, DT
2021: Amari Rodgers, CB
2020: A.J. Dillon, RB
2019: Jace Sternberger, TE
2018: J’Mon Moore, WR
2017: Jamaal Williams, RB
2016: Kyler Fackrell, LB
2015: Ty Montgomery, WR
2014: Khyri Thornton, DL
2013: David Bakhtiari, OT
Potential Boom Pick
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M – Round 2
The Packers were in need of an off ball linebacker to go with Quay Walker and they were able to land the best one in the draft with Cooper in the second round. It was an excellent value selection for Green Bay and Cooper could help them immediately with defending division rivals like Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Aaron Jones, and D’Andre Swift. While Cooper could use some development like all college players, he has the talent to be a very good starting middle linebacker.
As a linebacker Cooper (6-3, 230) is the complete package. He has good instincts and is very fast to read his keys to get in position to make plays. For a big and thick linebacker, Cooper has good quickness to get to the perimeter and he eats up space in a hurry. Cooper is explosive and really athletic for a thick build linebacker. In the ground game Cooper is a very good tackler that wraps up ball carriers and puts them into the turf with force. Cooper has the size and mentality to take on blocks, holds his ground, shed the block, and get in on tackles. Cooper is a tough run defender and projects to be a force to shut down and limit the offenses ground game.
In pass coverage Cooper has some ability to contribute but he is not natural in coverage. On dump off passes to the flat Cooper explodes into the ball carrier and is very good at making tackles in space. Cooper is going to need to work on his feet and dropping into coverage as a pro.
With Cooper added to the defense, Walker can move to be a starting Will (weak side) linebacker and that would be a more natural position for him. Green Bay has good defensive line talent as well to help occupy blocks in front of Cooper. With his skill set and quality players around him, Cooper could be a boom pick.
2023: Luke Musgrave, TE
2022: Christian Watson, WR
2021: Eric Stokes, CB
2020: None
2019: Darnell Savage, S
2018: Jaire Alexander, CB
2017: Kevin King, CB
2016: Blake Martinez, LB
2015: Quinten Rollins, CB
2014: Carl Bradford, LB
2013: Eddie Lacy, RB
Future Depth Player
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC – Round 3
The Packers dished out big money in free agency to land Raiders veteran Josh Jacobs. When healthy, Jacobs is one of the best running backs in the NFL and is capable of leading the league in rushing. While Jacobs can be a beast, he has had injury issues so it made sense to have a talented backup. Lloyd was a solid third-round pick to be the backup that can help keep Jacobs fresh. A.J. Dillon has been a disappointment since being a second-round pick. Once Lloyd gets comfortable in the NFL and has his playbook down, he should replace Dillon as the No. 2 back. As a pro, Lloyd could be a good secondary rotational back in Green Bay.
2023: Tucker Kraft, TE
2022: Zach Tom, OL
2021: Tedarrell Slaton, DT
2020: Josiah Deguara, TE
2019: Kingsley Keke, DE
2018: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR
2017: Vince Biegel, LB
2016: Dean Lowry, DE
2015: Brett Hundley, QB
2014: Jared Abbrederis, WR
2013: Johnathan Franklin, RB