Packers Pick Arizona Offensive Tackle Jordan Morgan in Mel Kiper Mock
INDIANAPOLIS – Speaking to reporters at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said offensive tackle is one of the strengths of the 2024 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper took advantage of that strength in addressing one of Green Bay’s big questions. In his second mock draft of the year, Kiper selected Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan.
Left tackle isn’t necessarily a weakness for the Packers. But it is a question with the presumptive release of former All-Pro David Bakhtiari. Rasheed Walker, a seventh-round pick in 2022, came off the bench to start the final 16 games of the regular season plus two playoff games. He wasn’t Bakhtiari-level great but he rarely was a big issue, either.
Morgan was a 37-game starter at Arizona, with almost all his action coming at left tackle. After tearing his ACL late in the 2022 season, he allowed two sacks and 14 total pressures in 2023.
The Scouting Combine measurements will be important, because he might not have ideal height, but his high-level play in the Pac-12 and at the Senior Bowl should weigh in his favor when evaluators consider his best positional fit in the NFL.
“His footwork in pass protection is outstanding, and he can stay in front of speedy edge rushers because of his arm length and quickness,” Kiper said as part of his explanation.
How deep is the offensive line class? Morgan was the ninth off the board.
At defensive back, Cooper DeJean was off the board but just about everyone else was available.
NFL.com: Iowa DB Cooper DeJean
Bucky Brooks was paying attention to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s opening press conference, when he talked about “vision and break” in the secondary. DeJean “could be a star” in that role.
The Athletic: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton
The Athletic’s college football gurus did this mock. The selection was Guyton, who played right tackle at Oklahoma. Zach Tom is a standout at right tackle and Walker grew throughout the year at left tackle, but Green Bay’s offensive line lacks depth.
DeJean and Morgan were available for this selection but four corners were not.
CBS Sports: Washington OL Troy Fautanu
Fautanu was voted the Pac-12’s best blocker by the conference’s defensive linemen. He played left tackle at Washington and could stick there, or he could move inside and let Walker and Tom handle the edges, Garrett Podell said.
Fautanu was the pick over Morgan. DeJean was off the board but most of the cornerbacks were available.
The Draft Network: Georgia OT Amarius Mims
Just like our Jacob Westendorf, Brentley Weissman went with the massive Mims, a supremely talented player with very little experience. He played right tackle at Georgia. “Mims is a high-upside player whose lack of snaps is the only reason he is still available. He'd give the Packers a foundational player up front.”
Pro Football Network: Miami S Kamren Kinchens
Kudos to Oliver Hodgkinson for avoiding groupthink. That was evident by who he took No. 1 overall. While NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah didn’t have a single safety in his top-50 prospects, the Packers took Kinchens at No. 25 overall.
The Packers, obviously, have massive questions at safety with Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens all headed to free agency. The Packers need to do better, anyway.
“Between his coverage ability and physical presence as a run-stopper, there’s not a lot he doesn’t add to a defense,” he wrote.
Two quality corners went after Kinchens but eight offensive linemen were off the board.
