DETROIT, MI (WTAQ) – It’s been a dozen years since the Green Bay Packers selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL draft but General Manager Brian Gutekunst pared veteran depth in the off-season up front, letting go of David Bakhtiari, letting Jon Runyan sign with the Giants and Yosh Nijman off to Charlotte.
With a new franchise quarterback in Jordan Love seemingly in place, he stood pat at pick number 25 and added instant depth with offensive tackle Jordan Morgan out of the University of Arizona. Morgan started 37 games at left tackle for his in-state University team. The Marana, Arizona native was with the program for five years, growing to 6-5 and 311 pounds. He did suffer an ACL tear late in the 2022 season but was able to return and play games last year, earning first team All Pac 12 honors.
Scouts say he has excellent feet but with a shorter than most arm length, and he could use a dose of nastiness to his game. Even with 6 offensive tackles taken in front of him, the Packers still feel Morgan can immediately make a push for a starting job and become another versatile, multi-position player in front of Love. Morgan came out of the Scouting Combine as the 5th rated offensive tackle. Even with a safety like Cooper DeJean still on the board and only a couple of the top cornerbacks taken earlier, Gutekunst held firm on adding a quality big man, learning from his predecessor Ted Thompson, they are hard to come by. Gutekunst said from athleticism to character, Morgan fits the bill.
The Packers will have four picks to make on Friday night with two each in the second and third rounds.
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