The Green Bay Packers had five of the top 91 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was an opportunity to add even more firepower to one of the league’s most dangerous young rosters.
Instead, when the Packers play the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, it’s possible only one of those draft picks will have a key role.
The surging play of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, a second-round pick, could be the team’s ace in the hole for the final three games of the regular-season and whatever lies ahead in the playoffs. With elite athletic ability, he’s been sensational at times during what should be an All-Rookie season.
Injuries, however, have taken the sting out of what looked like a promising group.
First-round pick Jordan Morgan’s rookie season was ruined by a shoulder injury, which sidelined him during training camp as well as three early-season games before sending him to injured reserve on Nov. 16.
Morgan did everything he could to push through the injury but had season-ending surgery on Nov. 20.
The key for the rest of the season will be making sure he can hit the ground running from a playbook perspective next year.
“Unfortunately, he’s out right now but we’ve got to keep him involved,” offensive line coach Luke Butkus said. “We’ve got to make sure he’s in the meetings (and) he’s learning, just like he’d be playing on Sunday.
“As a rookie, it’s a lot of information. Coming in here for OTAs and training camp, it’s kind of overwhelming. Now, since he’s not playing, he’s got to be really good in understanding what we’re trying to accomplish up front. It’s a little different than college – calls, pressures, techniques. So, he’s got to try to absorb all of that and take it in without actually physically doing it.”
A left tackle at Arizona, Morgan was anchored mostly at guard this season. For five games, he split snaps at right guard with Sean Rhyan. In the home game against Detroit, left guard Elgton Jenkins shifted to center and Morgan made his first (and only) NFL start at left guard.
According to Pro Football Focus, he did not give up a sack in 104 pass-protecting snaps. When he played, he flashed starter-worthy potential.
