Unpacking every pick in Packers 2024 NFL Draft: Deep dive into all 11 selections

Coming off spectacular 2022 and 2023 draft classes and a playoff victory with the youngest offense in football, the Green Bay Packers took to the 2024 NFL Draft with a few key areas to bolster.

Typically, the Packers do not draft for need. However, with the 2024 class, general manager Brian Gutekunst leaned into filling roster needs and especially loaded up new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley with versatile talent.

Gutekunst has seen his two recent drafts play out very well over the past two seasons, so he continued his trend of drafting as many immediate impact players, most with vast starting experience, to keep the team moving in the right direction.

This class also continued the Packers' trend of drafting versatile, highly athletic, and high-character players. Head coach Matt LaFleur preached the importance of high-character players in his post-draft press conference, so it makes sense the Packers selected six team captains.

Let's take a look at the Packers' 2024 draft class and what to expect from each pick.

Round 1 (25): Jordan Morgan, T, Arizona

• Excellent pass-protector and run-blocker
• Experienced left tackle
• Could eventually move to guard for Packers

The former Arizona Wildcat left tackle was certainly not the pick that many Packers' fans expected, but he's one they should comfortably get on board with. While the Packers may have selected him a few picks earlier than where most draft experts projected him, they stayed true to their offensive line draft strategy: drafting players with positional versatility.

Morgan's 84.3 PFF blocking grade, 77.0 run-blocking grade, and 87.3 pass-blocking grade led the Wildcats offensive line. His overall blocking and pass-blocking grades both ranked fifth in the Pac-12 conference last season, and he was one of only two players in the 2024 draft that ranked inside the top 10 in both run- and pass-blocking. Los Angeles Chargers fifth overall selection Joe Alt was the other.

After an ACL injury in November 2022, Morgan returned to college in 2023, where he put on his best season yet and logged the most snaps in any single season of his career—confirming beliefs that with his rapid recovery, the injury is behind him.

Morgan logged 2,163 career snaps at left tackle for the Wildcats, but mostly due to short arms for a tackle, many project he will effectively slide to guard in the NFL. Even then, Morgan should have few issues becoming a day one starter, and he is an excellent mover in space who also picks up blocks tremendously well on screen passes. For a Packers' offense that utilized zone run schemes almost 50% of the time in 2023, Morgan will comfortably fit LaFleur's system.

Where Morgan needs to improve is with lengthy pass rushers. He can be late engaging his hands, and at least while lined up at tackle, this is where he gets beat. His tape also shows him getting beat inside quite a bit, but both problems should be reduced with NFL coaching and a move inside.

That said, players with Morgan's size and athleticism don't grow on trees. Having only allowed three sacks and three quarterback hits in the past two seasons, along with run-blocking finesse, Morgan is a tremendous addition to the Packers offensive line.

Round 2 (45) Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

• Best linebacker in the class
• Day 1 starter
• Can make an impact as a pass rusher

The 2024 draft was far from a strong class for off-ball linebackers. But if there was any player from the group that teams coveted most, it was Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper. The Packers also traded back four picks to scoop him, making this one of the ultimate value grabs in the first two rounds.

Cooper is the prototypical athlete the Packers look for, posting a 4.51 40-yard dash and 9.34 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds. He has unparalleled sideline-to-sideline abilities. And while he's not known for his cover skills, with his athleticism, he's effective at tracking running backs or tight ends on routes and spying mobile quarterbacks.

The strengths of Cooper's game revolve around being wherever the football is. He led the SEC in tackles for loss last season (17) and put up sack production that reads as a premier edge rusher (8.0). He's also a tone-setter on defense, regularly delivering big hits that haunt ball carriers.

Where Cooper will need to clean up is not getting washed out of a play by blockers. This is primarily due to him trying to get too flashy at times, causing self-inflicted bad plays. He also plays extremely free, similar to new running mate Quay Walker, which comes with the downside of putting himself out of position or taking poor pursuit angles. It's an area the Packers have been cleaning up with Walker, who should provide great mentorship to a young player needing to make similar adjustments.

There's no question Cooper will be injected into a starting role on day one, and according to ESPN college football and NFL analyst Louis Riddick, he has the talent to be "the next great linebacker in the NFL."

Round 2 (58): Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

• Do-it-all defensive back
• Outstanding in coverage
• Can play deep, in the box, or as slot defender

While many Packers fans clamored for Iowa's Cooper DeJean, the team clearly had their eyes on someone else: Georgia Bulldog safety Javon Bullard.

One of the top do-it-all defensive backs in the draft, there was a chance Bullard could have been drafted in the first round, with many thinking he was the top safety in an otherwise not-so-great safety class.

Per PFF, Bullard allowed only a 34.0 passer rating in coverage last season while primarily lining up at safety, ranking seventh of qualified safeties. He also took snaps in the box and as a nickel corner in the slot. Last season, he posted stellar numbers in coverage, with an 88.4 PFF coverage grade, a 26.9% forced incompletion percentage, and zero touchdowns allowed.

He spent far more time in 2022 playing from the slot, a spot the Packers desperately need to improve on from previous seasons and where he'll likely spend a lot of time playing in his pro career. DeJean might have also been a good fit for that role, but Bullard is more prolific in man coverage, fitting better with how Jeff Hafley calls a defense.

In 2022, while playing more up towards the line of scrimmage, Bullard displayed his willingness as a tackler with seven tackles for loss (TFL) and 3.5 sacks. However, he will need to clean up his missed tackles, with 12 over the past two seasons. But for someone who played under 200 pounds his whole college career, Bullard was commonly referred to as a "stick of dynamite" for his ability to deliver big hits.

Like the Packers' first two selections, Bullard will also immediately step into a starting role and has similar versatility to new Packers safety Xavier McKinney to be moved all around the defense.

Round 3 (88): MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

• Daniel Jeremiah's top-rated running back in the class
• Could quickly become RB2 ahead of AJ Dillon
• Offers pass-catching potential

Hailing from USC, the former Trojan's running back MarShawn Lloyd was considered a top running back in the draft. In fact, draft expert Daniel Jeremiah claims he is the best in the class.

After parting ways with Aaron Jones, the Packers signed All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs to a four-year deal in free agency, re-signed AJ Dillon to a one-year contract, and now bring in Lloyd as the obvious long-term predecessor.

The Packers' deal with Jacobs is more of a juiced-up one-year contract, where they could get out after a season and incur roughly a $9 million cap by cutting ties after 2024. It's unlikely, but there's certainly a chance the Packers view Lloyd as a player who could be their starting running back sooner rather than later.

Last season, Lloyd averaged a staggering 7.1 yards per carry, forced 47 missed tackles, and averaged an impressive 4.0 yards after first contact en route to a career-best 87.2 PFF rushing grade. His .37 missed tackles per attempt also ranked in the top five in college football.

What's also exciting about Lloyd is what he will bring to the table as a pass catcher. Despite limited targets at USC, he regularly exhibited soft hands, turning dump-off passes into long gains—an area the Packers would have otherwise lacked with Jones departing.

Expect him to overtake AJ Dillon on the depth chart relatively quickly and to be heavily involved all season.

Round 3 (91): Ty'Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri

• Will immediately contribute on special teams
• Outstanding coverage numbers
• Packers banking on upside

After selecting Cooper, it didn't feel like Gutekunst was teeing up another off-ball linebacker so soon. And while Missouri's Ty'Ron Hopper might not have been viewed as great value as a top-100 selection, the Packers weren't willing to take chances he'd still be available a round later.

While Hopper is still a work in progress, he brings skills in pass coverage. Per PFF, in 825 career coverage snaps, he's only allowed one touchdown. Seen as more of a "ball-hawk," the Packers desperately need improved underneath coverage from their linebacking corps. Hopper may be the perfect complement to Walker, Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie.

Where he is similar to Walker and Cooper is physicality, stopping power, and sideline-to-sideline range.

Hopper's tape flashes a player who can do it all, with a high ceiling but needs to clean up the tackling in a big way. While he will certainly be a day-one contributor on special teams, with over 500 special teams snaps at Missouri, he also registered 65 pressures, 9.5 sacks, and 31 TFLs in his career. His 49 pressures since 2022 rank third among all SEC linebackers, featuring numerous first-rounders in that time.

With linebackers projected to go before Hopper still on the board, the Packers favored the immense upside with Hopper and were willing to overdraft slightly to get him. He needs to fill out his frame a bit more as well, but it certainly feels he could eventually claim the third starting linebacker spot in Hafley's defense. He'll provide meaningful situational and special teams snaps right off the bat.

Round 4 (111): Evan Williams, S, Oregon

• Instant special teams contributor
• Most likely to play as a box safety in Green Bay
• 'Brings the boom' as a tackler

Similar to Hopper going to Green Bay shortly after the Cooper selection, seeing the Packers double dip at safety so quickly was a surprise. But again, a welcomed one. This time, it was with Oregon Ducks safety Evan Williams.

Where Williams differs from Bullard is that he does his best work lined up in the box. Per Daire Carragher of Packer Report, Williams registered the highest pressure-to-sack conversion rate in college football. I remind you, he's a safety. He's another pick in this Packers class that leaves a mental scar after he hits you.

Williams's 35 stops (tackles that resulted in a 'loss' for the offense) led college football last season, and he was effectively used as a pass rusher in his lone season at Oregon, posting 4.5 sacks.

Williams is also an instinctual run defender, so it'd make sense that he will be played toward the line of scrimmage for the Packers while Bullard and McKinney patrol more in coverage. He will significantly help where the Packers' defense has struggled most in recent seasons: run defense and short-area coverage.

While, like Bullard, he can line up in numerous spots, he lacks the deep coverage skills of a free safety. But he brings the boom and toughness that anyone with a football in their hands would prefer avoiding. Having registered over 500 special teams snaps, expect to see a lot of Williams on special teams early on.

Round 5 (163): Jacob Monk, OL, Duke

• Team captain
• Experienced player with 58 college starts
• Has experience at tackle, guard, and center

An athletic, versatile lineman, former Duke Blue Devils center Jacob Monk is far from a household name but gives the Packers another player who can move all over the offensive line.

Coming off a college career with 58 starts, he's a three-time All-ACC player who started at center, right guard, and right tackle over his career.

Fresh off a 2023 season with 343 pass-blocking snaps, Monk surrendered only one sack. He brings the toughness you can't coach and has excellent footwork, evident by his near-perfect 10 RAS (9.74). For a 308-pounder, he is light on his feet and is effective at pulling but can stand to improve his run-blocking after an average 63.2 PFF run-blocking grade last season.

He is sometimes caught lunging and can have inconsistent hand placement, but coaches rave about his work ethic and leadership as a two-time team captain. With over 3,600 snaps under his belt, make no mistake that Monk is ready to play now and will push for the starting center role, a swing guard, and can start at tackle in a pinch.

Round 5 (169): Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State

• Will help Packers' run defense
• Instant contributor on special teams
• Delivers hits 'heard from the nosebleeds'

A third safety? Why not? This time, it's former Oregon State Beaver Kitan Oladapo, whom NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projected as a fourth-round prospect. That being the case, who could blame the Packers for triple-dipping at the position?

Like Bullard and Williams, Oladapo is a physical force that flies around before delivering hits heard from the nosebleeds. He's going to be an incredible asset to the Packers' seemingly always-struggling run defense.

But he is not just a one-trick pony. Oladapo posted an 88.3 PFF grade last season, fifth among all safeties, earning All-Pac-12 first-team honors. He reads pass and run well and attacks with the competitive urgency teams covet.

Oladapo doesn't possess top-end speed or deep-range coverage skills to write home about, so similar to Williams, he will be used closer to the line of scrimmage to help the Packers improve their run defense and underneath coverage. Right away, he will earn his keep on special teams with the potential to quickly earn snaps on defense. With 39 starts and three-time All-PAC-12 honors, make no mistake that Oladapo will be ready to contribute immediately.

Round 6 (202): Travis Glover, OL, Georgia State

• Provides positional versatility
• Impressed at the Senior Bowl
• Poor RAS score

Another less-heard-of offensive lineman, the Georgia State product slightly breaks the mold of players Gutekunst targets on draft day. With a measly 4.71 RAS, there's a chance Gutekunst saw the towering, boulder-esque frame of Glover at 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds and couldn't resist.

Where Glover does fit the mold is, yet again, he has started at three different positions on the offensive line. He set a Georgia State school record for career starts (57), is coming off his best season, and has only allowed four sacks in the past two years.

Glover boosted his stock at the Senior Bowl after enforcing his punishing tenacity upon the nation's top pass rushers. He's a guy who loves to put people in the dirt, and you will never see him quitting his rep before the whistle.

With his massive size, he's not the most fluid athlete, and it will be hard for him to win the pad-level game. But his versatility, experience, and power give the Packers' coaching staff something to work with.

Round 7 (245): Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane

• Exceptional value in Round 7
• Could win backup QB job ahead of Sean Clifford
• 118 total touchdowns since 2020

A product of Tulane, Michael Pratt was expected to be the seventh or eighth quarterback off the board and one of the first to get selected after all the projected first-round quarterbacks had gone. But for seemingly unbeknownst reasons, he slipped to Round 7 despite an impressive college career that many believed would have landed him with a team for a shot at a starting job.

Not only did Pratt out-dual first overall draft pick Caleb Williams and complete a game-winning drive to seal a 46-45 victory, but he has 90 passing touchdowns since 2020, first of all Group 5 quarterbacks. He also added 28 rushing touchdowns, 9,603 passing yards, and a 60.6% completion percentage as a four-year starter.

He doesn't have a rocket arm, and he can be slow to process, resulting in holding on to the ball too long. But he's 21-3 in his last two seasons, exiting Tulane as their all-time leading passer, and is an immediate threat to take backup quarterback duties from Sean Clifford.

Pratt's situation in Green Bay has shades of Matt Hasselback behind Brett Favre before he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round draft pick and a first-round pick swap.

Round 7 (255): Kalen King, CB, Penn State

• Could be the steal of the NFL Draft
• Was considered a future first-rounder after 2022 season
• Offers rare upside for seventh-round pick

A 2022 All-American, Penn State Nittany Lion Kalen King may go down as one of the most mysterious draft stories in recent memory. Despite a 2023 season that took a step in the wrong direction, King was projected to be selected in the first round of this year's draft after a stellar 2022.

In 2022, he registered a 90.6 PFF coverage grade that ranked fourth among all cornerbacks and was third in the nation with 21 pass breakups. Despite fewer targets, that number dwindled to a mere two pass breakups in 2023, and his 4.61 40-yard dash is less than desirable.

King struggled against the Big Ten's top receivers last season, including fourth-overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Still, like other defensive backs taken by the Packers this year, he plays with a tenacity, swagger, and toughness that is hard to coach.

As a boundary cornerback, King must earn his way up the depth chart over Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes. He's a fluid athlete, but 2023 saw him surrendering too much space in coverage and inconsistent tackling. Nonetheless, King only surrendered a single touchdown over the past two seasons, and his 48.9 passer rating allowed in 2022 is another indicator that he has starting potential in the NFL.

After being selected by Green Bay, King got emotional talking about the opportunity after slipping far later in the draft than he expected.

"Enduring all of that, seeing that, I feel like it put a chip on my shoulder—a permanent chip that I got to keep there," said King.

Rarely does a seventh-round draft pick bring the type of upside King does. He could ultimately go down as the steal of the 2024 draft.

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