With the 25th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Jordan Morgan, a left tackle from Arizona. Even though many fans wanted general manager Brian Gutekunst to take a star defensive player (i.e., Cooper DeJean), the team felt that restocking the offensive line with a premium pick in an effort to protect franchise quarterback Jordan Love was the better option.
Related: Green Bay Packers Select Jordan Morgan with 25th Overall Pick; Fans Unhappy
During the course of the offseason, the Packers offensive line lost David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman (Carolina Panthers), and Jon Runyan Jr (New York Giants). With offensive line depth a serious question, and because third-year guard Sean Rhyan has not yet proven himself, it is a safe bet that Morgan will not be the last lineman that Gutekunst takes in this year’s draft.
Green Bay Packers Fans Are Upset with the Jordan Morgan Pick
As mentioned previously, Packers fans were incredibly disappointed by Gutekunst’s decision to draft an offensive lineman. Many believed that Morgan would have been available to the team with the 41st overall pick, the second round pick Green Bay got from the New York Jets as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade.
I spent hours/days/weeks breaking down game film but never watched any Jordan Morgan film because I never heard of him.
My Packers Round 1 grade: F#Packers #GoPackgo #PackersDraft #NFLDraft
— NFL DRAFT INSIDER (@kurly99) April 26, 2024
Jordan Morgan: B
Probably a reach at this point and over Guyton is interesting, but he’s a good overall talent and would have went top40 but DeJean was there for you. Also could of looked to trade down and grab him
— Will (@WillNC32) April 26, 2024
NGL Jordan Morgan was the worst pick of the draft
— big papa chuck (@chuckdatruck69) April 26, 2024
My least favorite picks from Day One:
Chop Robinson – Dolphins
Michael Penix Jr. – Falcons
Jordan Morgan – Packers— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) April 26, 2024
The important thing to keep in mind is that the Packers (and all NFL teams, for that matter) have different ways of measuring and valuing players than fans or so-called draft “experts.”
In Morgan, Green Bay has an offensive lineman that can play every position on the line except center. This versatility is something Gutekunst mentioned in his press conference after the first round when explaining his decision to take the former Arizona captain.
Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst Reveals Reasons Behind Jordan Morgan Selection
On the decision to draft Morgan instead of trading down, Gutekunst said: “Where we had him valued, this was a pretty easy decision for us.” He also mentioned that the Packers had been offered various trades that would have allowed them to move down in the draft with some extra capital, but that he did not feel it was worth the risk of missing out on Morgan.
When asked about the decision to take an offensive lineman over a defensive back, Gutekunst said, “I don’t feel like you can have enough of them. When you can protect your QB, particularly one like we have, you have a chance to win a football game.” Gutekunst also noted that Morgan’s ability to play multiple positions on the line is a trait that the Packers look for in linemen.
That all being said, Morgan has shorter arms than the Packers generally want their offensive tackles to have. When asked about this fact, Gutekunst said, “What makes up for it is their feet and athleticism, and that’s what Jordan has.” He also said that Morgan played left tackle well in college and has “left tackle feet.”
While it certainly seems possible that Morgan will end up playing right guard (Elgton Jenkins is a Pro Bowl left guard), it also sounds like Green Bay is going to give him a chance to earn a job at tackle, too.
The full interview with Brian Gutekunst can be seen here:
LIVE: GM Brian Gutekunst speaks to the media following the #Packers selecting OL Jordan Morgan in the first round of the #NFLDraft.@amfam | #PackersDraft
📺: 2024 #NFLDraft NFLN/ESPN/ABC https://t.co/LKq43BY87g
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 26, 2024
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