The Green Bay Packers had a wild NFL Draft, selecting 11 total players and five in the first three rounds.
Who will play? Who will sit?
Here, I rank the draft picks in order of who’s likely to contribute the most — and the least — in 2024.
1. Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
Bullard was the third of Green Bay’s 11 draft picks, and the second of the Packers’ two second rounders. But Bullard will be given every opportunity to play from Day 1 and make the biggest impact in 2024.
Bullard (5-11, 199) played mostly slot corner in 2022 when Georgia won the national championship. The Bulldogs moved Bullard to safety in 2023 where he finished with career highs in tackles (56) and passes defensed (seven) and he was voted the top safety at the Senior Bowl.
Bullard’s versatility should allow new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to move him around the field and form a perfect partner for free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney.
“He’s a physical guy,” Hafley said of Bullard. “He can run, he can cover, he can play deep, he can play in the slot, he can blitz. He’s bigger when you see him. He’s thick. Strong.
“He’s a sharp guy. You get a guy who can play that fast and can take what he learned in the meeting room and bring it out to the field and he’s got a chance.”
2. Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Morgan, the Packers’ first round draft pick, has made it no secret he’s here to play left tackle.
“I’m trying to show that I’m a true left tackle and show I’ll be out there on the edge to protect the quarterback,” Morgan said.
Morgan will have to beat out 2022 seventh round pick Rasheed Walker to protect Jordan Love’s blindside. Considering that Walker was up and down, though, last year, and Green Bay used the 25th overall pick on Morgan, it’s a good bet that Morgan wins the job. Even if Walker prevails, Morgan could wind up starting at guard.
“Just watching him out there, he’s a natural on the edge,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Morgan. “He looks comfortable out there. There’s obviously some technique stuff we’ve got to clean up, just like anybody, but yeah, I’m excited to work with him.”
3. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Cooper was the first linebacker drafted, and unless he struggles immensely this summer, he’ll play early and often.
Cooper had 8.0 sacks in 2023 and finished his Texas A&M career with 204 tackles (30 ½ for loss), three forced fumbles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Cooper ran the 40-yard dash in a sizzling 4.51 seconds at the NFL Combine, and the Packers were drawn to his speed, athleticism and intensity.
“Cooper, that’s one of the main things that attracted us to him is his speed is different,” said Jon Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ Vice President of Player Personnel. “When he hits the gas and he’s running things down, there’s a whoa factor to that.”
4. MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
Lloyd could give A.J. Dillon a run for the No. 2 running back job.
Lloyd spent three years at South Carolina, then played the 2023 campaign at USC. Last year, Lloyd had his best college season finishing with 820 rushing yards, nine touchdowns and a 7.1 yards per yards per carry average.
Lloyd has struggled with fumbles, though, and must clean that element of his game up. But Lloyd called himself, “the best running back in the draft” and could be given a chance to prove just that come September.
“I can be used anywhere really,” Lloyd said. “Just being able to have that shiftiness, being able to have that quickness, that explosion. That’s a lot of what makes me different.”
5. Jacob Monk, OL, Duke
Monk, a fifth round draft choice, could very well be the next Jon Runyan or Zach Tom — a mid-round pick that winds up becoming a critical part of the Packers’ offensive line.
Monk is athletic, has explosive power and is both experienced and bright. Don’t be surprised if he makes his way onto the field at some point in 2024 and is Green Bay’s center in 2025 if Josh Myers leaves in free agency.
“Jacob Monk, he’s exactly what we saw on film, exactly the guy that we talked about,” Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus said of Monk after Green Bay’s recent rookie mini-camp. “You see that tough, you see that smart, you see that competitive kid that we saw on film. The little time that we spent with him, it was really neat to see that we made a good decision.
6. Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
Hopper, a third round selection, will have a tougher path to the field in 2024 than Cooper.
The Packers’ true base defense will be a 4-2-5, meaning they’ll play two linebackers and five defensive backs the majority of the time. With Quay Walker likely to be on the field at almost all times. Hopper would have pass Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie for snaps.
That’s certainly possible, as Hopper was a physical, highly productive player at Missouri the last two seasons. But most people timed Hopper in the 4.68-second range, so he’ll have to prove his speed isn’t a liability.
“I’d definitely just say the way I’m getting to the ball and striking and things like that,” Hopper said of what separates him from other linebackers. “I’d say that definitely stands out on my film. You can definitely tell that I’m a violent guy.”
7. Evan Williams, S, Oregon
Williams, a fourth round pick, is more of a box safety who plays with the mentality of a linebacker. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds at the NFL Combine, posted a vertical jump of 40.5 inches and had a broad jump of 10’ 6”.
Williams has struggled in space, though, and will have to improve his coverage skills to earn playing time. The Packers will find certain packages to utilize his physicality, but with a suddenly crowded safety room, his path to the field won’t be easy.
“Obviously there’s going to be competition in the safety room, but I think all coming in at the same time, it’s kind of a pretty unique opportunity just for us all,” Williams said. “I think it’s honestly a healthy source of competition, making all of us better. You see a guy doing extra in your room, it’s naturally going to make you want to do a little extra.”
8. Kalen King, CB, Penn State
King was just three spots away from becoming Mr. Irrelevant — the final pick in the draft. He could become extremely relevant for Green Bay, though.
King was the only cornerback the Packers selected. And considering Green Bay’s cornerback room has several questions, King could wind up contributing more than most would expect.
“Really not sure why he fell to when he did,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “But you know you have conversations with guys like that and at this point it doesn’t matter where you were drafted, it’s what you’re going to do now going forward. He’s got an opportunity now to do that.”
9. Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State
Oladapo was the third of the three safeties the Packers drafted. So he’ll have to outperform Bullard or Williams to wind up playing much in 2024.
Making Oladapo’s bid even tougher is he’s recovering from a broken toe and might not be ready to go when training camp arrives.
“All the coaches have faith in me,” Oladapo said. “They’re telling me to lock in and be ready when my opportunity comes.”
10. Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Pratt, a seventh round draft choice, is a longshot to beat out Sean Clifton for the No. 2 quarterback job. And the Packers would have to have a series of injuries for him to play in 2024.
Instead, the best guess is Pratt spends the year on the practice squad, learns the ropes and challenges Clifton in 2025.
“He definitely is a tough, fearless thrower and that to me is a prerequisite with the position,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said of Pratt. “You’ve got to be able to stand in there and throw in muddy pockets, throw in the face of pressure and I think he exhibited that. I think he’s a winner, so we were excited.”
11. Travis Glover, OL, Georgia State
The Packers replenished their offensive line depth earlier in the draft with Morgan and Monk, then added Glover in Round 6. Now, coming from a smaller school, Glover will have a lot to learn.
That means Glover is unlikely to have much of a role in 2024.
“The hardest thing is the plays,” Glover said. “Coming from Georgia State, it was kind of simpler.”
