Getty Packers first-round pick Jordan Morgan was projected to be a draft bust.
The Green Bay Packers are hoping for big contributions from rookies in 2024, including first-round offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
However, not everyone is optimistic about Morgan’s NFL future. Gilberto Manzano with SI.com listed his top five NFC rookies who are likely to be draft busts. The list started with Morgan.
“I can’t help but wonder whether the Packers selected the right offensive lineman,” Manzano wrote on May 2. “It’s difficult to knock the pick, but maybe the Packers passed on a prospect with more upside at tackle.”
Other rookies on the list included New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Where Will Jordan Morgan Play?
The Packers are known for playing their offensive linemen at multiple positions. The biggest question now is where the team will want to play Morgan as a rookie.
Morgan was a full-time left tackle in college when healthy, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 after starting all 12 games for Arizona.
However, Morgan also has less-than-ideal physical measurements to play left tackle at the NFL level. His overall size is decent at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, but his sub-33-inch arm length is less than ideal.
The Packers don’t appear to be certain about where Morgan will play. He’s played every position but center during offseason workouts.
During mandatory minicamp, head coach Matt LaFleur pointed out that Morgan was still getting acclimated to the mentality of playing at the NFL level.
“Certainly, he has a long way to go in terms of just mentally,” LaFleur told reporters. “Physically, he has all the tools that you look for. We’re going to keep pushing him.”
There’s still a lot of time before the Packers have to make a decision on where Morgan will play. The good news is that the coaching staff has always focused on getting the best five lineman on the field. If Morgan can prove he’s one of the best five, he’ll find his way onto the field in some capacity.
Who Else Could the Packers Have Drafted?
The logic behind Morgan being a potential bust by Manzano was that the Packers could have drafted a different lineman in the first round.
However, only a handful of prospects would have made sense with the 25th overall pick. None of them appeared to have the positional versatility that Morgan brings to Green Bay.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Graham Barton one pick after the Packers selected Morgan. While Barton played left tackle in 2023 for Duke, Tampa Bay announced him as a center when they picked him. It’s possible that the Packers could have also viewed Barton as primarily a center, opting for the tackle upside of Morgan instead.
A few picks later, the Dallas Cowboys took tackle Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma. There’s tremendous upside for Guyton, but at 6-foot-7 and 322 pounds, his frame will likely only allow him to play tackle at the NFL level.
Versatility is a crucial trait for Packers linemen. Guyton and Barton are talented prospects, but general manager Brian Gutekunst appeared to trust the ability of Morgan to play multiple positions compared to other available prospects.