The Green Bay Packers have relied heavily on the NFL Draft. The selection will now be even more crucial because Jordan Love signed a record-breaking contract extension.
When asked how Love’s contract will affect the salary cap, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst responded, “It’ll be important that we continue to draft well.”
With extra selections after Rasul Douglas and Aaron Rodgers were traded, the Packers will need to have a strong class in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here is our first Packers Rookie Progress Report, with nine days of training camp under our belts and Packers Family Night on Saturday.
Initial Round: Jordan Morgan, G/T
You recall everything about the arm’s length. Despite having arms that are exceptionally short by NFL tackle standards, Morgan started as a left tackle for Arizona for three years. Can he become one of the very select few starting tackles whose arms measure less than 33 inches?
That question is moot at this point.
Morgan played guard and right and left tackle throughout the offseason. However, Morgan has only played one position during training camp. Although it’s early and there are still three preseason games and two sets of combined practices to come, Morgan has already surpassed Sean Rhyan at right guard. This week, throughout all three practice days, he received the No. 1 reps.
Coach Matt LaFleur stated on Thursday, “I think he’s learning something new every day, and he’s taken his lumps along the way, which is to be expected.” However, he possesses all the qualities you want in a player who has the potential to play in this league for a very long time. He merely needs to develop his physical prowess and learn how to battle against truly skilled opponents.
Round Two: Left-Back Edgerrin Cooper
It was anticipated that Cooper would battle Isaiah McDuffie for a spot in the two-linebacker nickel package and push past seasoned Eric Wilson for a starting position in the base defense.
Rather, Wilson is enjoying an incredible training camp, and Cooper has not been able to get any momentum against him. Cooper hasn’t always been a horrible person. Despite his frame giving the impression that he is weaker at the point of attack, his athleticism is evident.
All the eye candy that offenses utilize to divert defenders’ attention stresses out young linebackers.
“It’s the same as college,” Cooper remarked following his hip injury-related absence from practice on Thursday. All of the movements and other things aim to throw you off balance, sully your eyes, and divert your attention. I’m starting to grow used to it at this point. You may occasionally stumble, but as long as you concentrate on your task, I think you’ll succeed.
Cooper’s suitability for Family Night is dubious.
Round Two: S The open competition to be the safety opposite Xavier McKinney includes Javon Bullard Bullard. He has taken the top reps in four out of nine practices, including Thursday.
He has lived up to the hype. Bullard is not just a contender to start at safety but also to be the best backup in the slot. He was a standout in the slot in 2022 and a star safety at Georgia in 2023. Bullard, a “little stick of dynamite” at Georgia, is a regular presence at the ball. Bullard has undoubtedly made a tackle on about six swing passes or checkdowns when he was the first on the scene.
His explosiveness and instincts have shown through, and he won’t back down from a physical confrontation. On his first practice day in pads, he took down tight end Luke Musgrave.
Was he anticipating that particular moment?
Yes, without a doubt. It’s been a while since I hit somebody. You [can’t wait] for things like that if you’re competitive, a football player, or a physically fit guy.
He has struggled with his spot reps and has been outplayed in one-on-ones by some of the deep backups. He does appear to be doing better in that area, though.
Round Three: RB Shawn Lloyd
Following a hip injury that kept him out of training camp, Lloyd’s explosiveness has been on full display over the last several days. He took a bouncing run to the left on Thursday, going around fifty yards for a touchdown. After Corey Ballentine gained around five yards, it’s possible he would have made the tackle, but by then Lloyd was moving at full speed.
Whichever way that play would have ended in a live environment, it demonstrated what Lloyd could do for a backfield that was led by Josh Jacobs and AJ Dillon, two experienced players.
Lloyd stated on Thursday, “I want to have that playmaker mentality, being able to make defenders miss.” “I’m going when I’m going. I would really like to highlight that a lot. It was kind of cool to be able to go out there, make it happen, and let myself record that for film.
His early-season role will be determined by his ability to pass protect and catch the ball; on Thursday, he made a great all-hands grab.
Round Three: LB Ron Hopper, Ty
Hopper won’t have to play defense this season until injuries severely hamper the position, as second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper and veterans Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, and Eric Wilson are ranked above of him on the depth chart. But with McDuffie and Wilson’s impending free agency, it’s easy to assess his skill set and ball-snapping ability and see a potential starter, which the Packers may need next season.
Hopper stopped two runs by Emanuel Wilson for short gains in three plays on Thursday. His size and athleticism should help him make an impact on special teams as a rookie and prepare him for a 2025 start.
He proclaimed this week, “I love playing in the defense.” “Basically, I just try to get better at my game by trying to play every day at a faster pace and trying to understand what other people are doing around me.”
Round Four: S Evan Williams
There there was a rookie who always appeared to be at the right place at the right time and wore a No. 33 jersey. He seems to have recently discovered the ball. That was Dr. Jekyll.
Williams sports No. 33 as well. It appears that the ball finds him as well. He is challenging Javon Bullard and second-year player Anthony Johnson for the starting position opposite Xavier McKinney after recording a team-high three interceptions during training camp.
“He’s been excellent. He’s been excellent, according to McKinney. “He is going to be excellent. Since we started doing this, he has made numerous plays. He made a bunch of plays even during OTAs. He’s a good man since he’s intuitive and intelligent.
Williams has been locked in at safety, but Bullard has played a lot in the slot.
Regarding Bullard and Williams, LaFleur responded, “I’m very excited about both of those guys,” when questioned. They undoubtedly possess a skill set, but their mental aptitude has been exceptionally remarkable. Because of their adaptability, we are able to switch around the fasteners, making it impossible for you to predict who will be where. Several of our guys are currently challenging one another to roll in the other direction of X.
Fifth Round: C/G Jacob Monk Monk played in nearly 60 games during his time at Duke, but the ACC is a very different place from the NFL.
Monk received some first-team practice at center on Thursday while Josh Myers was absent due to personal matters and Elgton Jenkins was off the day. Things didn’t go smoothly. That being said, there’s no need to panic. Two experienced talents, TJ Slaton’s size and Devonte Wyatt’s athleticism, are a threat to seasoned veterans. Monk is strong, wise, and full of intangible qualities. There is an upside.
Round Five: S. Kitan Oladapo
Oladapo, the third safety selected this year, fractured his toe during the Scouting Combine and made his Packers debut this week.
“Many mental exercises,” he remarked. “Acquiring all of the meeting coaching points. I’m not watching myself, obviously, so any advice I can take away and get better at will be noted again, even if I’ve already written it down three times.
“Putting myself in their shoes, what would I do in certain situations, and looking at X, Bull, and the other safeties, what are they doing well, what are they doing wrong?”
All he has done for the past three days is solo drills.
“Everyday practice is frustrating, but at the end of the day, I’m lucky and thankful to be here,” he remarked.
Round Six: OT Travis Glover
At Georgia State, Glover started 57 games. Although he was a two-star in college, he has been locked into the right tackle position and has seen a lot of third-team reps there. Alongside players like Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort, Caleb Jones, and Andre Dillard, he will compete for a roster position.
LaFleur responded, “Just young players who are learning how to play this game at this level,” when asked about Monk and Glover on Thursday. They appear to have the physical characteristics and athleticism required for that position, in my opinion. They simply have a lot to learn, in my opinion. When the games start, it will be exciting to watch how they develop during the preseason and what they can accomplish.
Quarterback in the seventh round Remarkably, highly anticipated quarterback prospect Michael Pratt Pratt fell to the seventh round. Gutekunst, who expressed his desire to begin regularly selecting quarterbacks in the draft prior to it, made a move.
He’s got a strong start. Following Sean Clifford’s error-filled pre-camp debut, it appeared Pratt was prepared to fight for the No. 2 spot. Clifford did well enough this past week to gain some breathing room, but the struggle will go on all preseason long.
Adam Stenavich, the offensive coordinator, stated this week, “He shows really good arm talent, good arm strength.” “However, it’s not an easy task when you start going into all these installs and all these plays, as Sean Clifford kind of experienced last year. This is true for every quarterback.
“He’s really hardworking and has a great work ethic, so I’m excited to see where he is and how far he’s come by the conclusion of camp in about two weeks. He has a strong work ethic and can make all the throws on the field, so yes, I’m optimistic.
There are still four quarterbacks on the Packers roster. Pratt has lost some opportunities due to the presence of Jacob Eason, who was signed when Love was not practicing.
Seventh Round: CB Kalen King King was selected third-to-last in this year’s draft, despite being an All-American in 2022. In a two-minute drill pitting backups against backups on Thursday, he recorded an interception on Monday against Jordan Love and excellent coverage on third and fourth downs to help the defense win.
“Little KK, he’s going to be fine,” Keisean Nixon, the starting nickel, remarked. “He’s a youthful athlete. All he needs is confidence. I believe that the confidence boost he received from his recent run versus Love gave him a slight swagger. He will not suffer any harm. That’s a part of this league. You will be humbled early on; all you have to do is learn how to overcome it.
Robert Rochell, Carrington Valentine, and Corey Ballentine have all missed time due to injuries, therefore King has played a lot of slot and cornerback for the second team.
Although the preseason is crucial, King seems capable of beating his 40-time and draft fate.
King remarked, “I feel like there have been ups and downs, but this is my job at the end of the day.” “I’m happy to have this role. Ups and downs are a natural part of camp life, but all I can do is strive to improve every day and go one step at a time.
