The Green Bay Packers have had a fascinating trajectory in recent years that has coincided with the dawn of left tackle Jordan Morgan's NFL career. Now, it's all culminating in a pressure-packed third season for the 2024 first-round pick.
Morgan was a vintage draft selection by the Packers brass. They emphasize offensive line as much as any front office when dipping into the pool of collegiate talent. After starring as a left tackle at the University of Arizona, though, Morgan transitioned to more of a utility role in the pros.
A right shoulder injury cut Morgan's rookie campaign short, but he witnessed Jordan Love and the Packers' youth movement make a surprise run to the Divisional Round. On the heels of a playoff collapse to the rival Chicago Bears, however — and in the midst of a stacked NFC North division — the margin for error in Titletown feels razor-thin.
There's no longer any ambiguity about Morgan's role. After bouncing him around to every position but center, Green Bay is entrusting Morgan with the left tackle job. Can he handle it?
Morgan is Jordan Love’s most scrutinized protector
Green Bay is known for reshuffling its offensive lines to get the best five men on the field. Look no further than how the Packers deployed Elgton Jenkins all over the place before he moved on to the Browns this offseason in free agency.
Whereas Jenkins was more of an interior offensive lineman who could play tackle in a pinch, though, Morgan came up playing left tackle. He just couldn't line up there with Rasheed Walker occupying that spot.
But now Walker is out the door, opting to sign with the Panthers on the open market. It's all on Morgan to protect Love's blind side.
Left tackles can often be among the most handsomely-paid players in the NFL. It's also straight-up ugly when they fail to make the grade.
Morgan has only played 51 snaps for the Packers at left tackle in the regular season, per PFF. He had to adjust to the speed, tenacity, and brute force of pro football whilst cross-training at right tackle (148 snaps), left guard (191 snaps), and right guard (358 snaps).
If it was a mild leap of faith to select Morgan with the 25th overall pick a few years back, putting an inexperienced, soon-to-be 25-year-old in this bind feels analogous to Felix Baumgartner's skydive from space.
OK maybe that's a bit hyperbolic. You know what I'm getting at. Risky business! Except wait...Baumgartner had to be safer. To continue the imperfect metaphor (it's a sunk-cost fallacy at this point, let me be), at least when Baumgartner jumped from space, dude had a parachute.
For Morgan, there is nowhere to hide if he flops. Think we landed the plane on that one. I'll let you, dear reader, be the judge.
Why his Year 3 trajectory dictates Packers' ceiling
Look, the Packers have a pretty strong track record of drafting what i like to call KBLB players (Know Ball, Love Ball). In all likelihood, Jordan Morgan more or less fits that description.
Why else would head coach Matt LaFleur entrust Morgan with picking up four different positions, including both guard spots as a rookie? That's a lot to throw at a young player. Internal expectations must be high for Morgan if the coaching staff feels he can handle such an ambitious, multifaceted workload.
The offensive line is something of a question mark in Green Bay overall. Pricey free-agent signing Aaron Banks has struggled at left guard. Sean Rhyan got a contract extension this offseason to be the new starting center. Anthony Belton is only in his second year, and he was a left tackle at NC State who's going through some growing pains in converting to right guard.
Right tackle Zach Tom is the most accomplished player in the offensive trenches. Still, he's coming off a partially torn patellar tendon that required surgery.
In other words, it's not like Morgan has a bunch of proven teammates around him to pick up the slack if he can't hack it. Much will be in the hands of Love and LaFleur to ensure the protection calls are on point, and that the offensive operation is as flawless as can be so as not to put the o-line in bad spots.
Regardless of how the 2026 season plays out, it'll be fascinating to find out what the true return on investment is from drafting Morgan quite a few moons after the fact.
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