GREEN BAY – Once again, General Manager Brian Gutekunst was a busy man during NFL Draft weekend.
The Packers made 11 selections over three days, marking only the second time in the modern seven-round era that Green Bay has drafted more than 10 players in three consecutive drafts (35 total). The only other trifecta occurred during former GM Ted Thompson's first three years on the job, resulting in the addition of 34 players from 2005-07.
Green Bay's 2024 rookie class consisted of three offensive linemen, three safeties, two inside linebackers, a running back, a quarterback and a cornerback. It was the first time since 2012 the Packers went through a draft without selecting either a receiver or tight end.
Here's one thing to know about each member of Green Bay's 2024 draft class:
First round, No. 25: Jordan Morgan has the X-factor.
Athletically, Morgan has first-round credentials. In addition to his 37 starts at left tackle for Arizona, Morgan solidified his draft stock after clocking a 5.04 time in the 40 at 6-5, 311 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 1.70 10-yard split.
But that isn't the only reason the Packers used the No. 25 pick on Morgan. What sold Green Bay on Morgan was how he battled his way back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in November 2022 to earn All-Pac-12 honors in 2023.
National scout Sam Seale, who specializes on the West Coast, liked both Morgan's balance and footwork but felt his determination also jumped off the page.
"To me, playing football is all about your heart," Seale said. "If you don't have heart, I don't care how big you are, how athletic you are, you can't play. And I think the kid has heart and that he wants to be good. And that's all you can ask for."
Second round, No. 45: The Packers see interchangeability with Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker.
Cooper is roughly two inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter than former first-round pick Quay Walker but has many of the same athletic traits, testing one-hundredth of a second faster than Walker (4.52) in the 40.
Texas A&M maximized Cooper's talents this past year, which led to the 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker amassing a whopping SEC-leading 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks after having just a half sack through his first three seasons.
As Green Bay transitions to a 4-3 defense, Gutekunst believes Cooper will fit right into the mix with Walker and fourth-year veteran Isaiah McDuffie.
"Certainly there's going to be some different responsibilities but what they're going to be asked to do, I think all our linebackers are going to be interchangeable," Gutekunst said. "I know they'll call them Mike, Will and Sam, and they'll have different responsibilities, but their skill sets will be the same if that makes any sense."
Second round, No. 58: Javon Bullard extends the Georgia-to-Green Bay pipeline.
The Packers have now drafted as many Bulldogs in the past four years as they did in the previous 50, with Bullard joining Walker, and recent first-round picks Devonte Wyatt and Eric Stokes.
Bullard earned every snap he took at Georgia. He started at nickel cornerback on the Bulldogs' 2022 national championship team before majoring in safety last season. The 5-foot-10, 198-pound defensive back racked up 102 tackles (eight for a loss) over 27 games (22 starts) the past two seasons.
"As you guys know, you don't play for Coach (Kirby) Smart and not be a good tackler. That's one of his strengths," said assistant director of college scouting Patrick Moore of Bullard. "Tackling will not be an issue with him. Everybody has to continue to work on tackling but that's one of his strengths. He's a solid, physical tackler."
Third round, No. 88: MarShawn Lloyd adds another dimension to backfield.
The 5-foot-9, 220-pound running back carried his early success at South Carolina over to the West Coast when he averaged 7.1 yards per carry in his lone season at USC.
For his build, Lloyd has the unique combination of speed (4.46 40) and strength (25 bench reps) that has Head Coach Matt LaFleur excited for the possibilities of what Lloyd could bring to a Green Bay backfield already consisting of All-Pro Josh Jacobs and fifth-year veteran AJ Dillon.
"He's got really good speed," said LaFleur of Lloyd. "I think he gives us an element out of the backfield – he really showcased that the week of the Senior Bowl, especially in the one-on-one situations that he was in – he gives us a little different flavor maybe."
Third round, No. 91: Green Bay clocked Ty'Ron Hopper in the 4.5s.
The 6-foot-1, 231-pound linebacker's speed and coverage ability are two reasons the Packers chose to double-down on the position during the second night of the draft.
Although it was widely reported the Butkus Award finalist (for the nation's top linebacker) ran a 4.68 time at his Missouri pro day, Gutekunst said the Packers clocked Hopper in the high 4.5s. A late-season injury forced Hopper out of the Senior Bowl. He also did not work out at the combine.
"He's an explosive athlete," Gutekunst said. "He runs fast on tape, he ran fast for us on the watch, so it all came together."
Fourth round, No. 111: The Packers have drafted another player whose father played in the infamous Cal/Stanford game.
Ten years after drafting California tight end Richard Rodgers, Green Bay traded up last Saturday to select Oregon safety Evan Williams.
How do their stories align? Well, Williams' dad, Garey, was teammates at Cal with Rodgers' father and namesake, who caught a pass and threw two laterals on what is commonly referred to as "The Play."
It became one of the most memorable plays in college football history after members of the Stanford band came onto the field midway through what turned out to be a kickoff return for a touchdown on the final play of the game, propelling the Golden Bears to a 25-20 win over Stanford. Garey Williams was on the field during the play but didn't touch the ball.
"I'd probably say, once or twice a month where we're pulling it up and it's on some TV somewhere, either on his phone or wherever we're seeing it," Evan Williams recalled. "Growing up, it was the coolest thing telling all your classmates that my dad was in the play. That was something I took a lot of pride in growing up. It was crazy to see him on the field while it all shook down (and the last Cal ball carrier) runs over the trombone player."
Fifth round, No. 163: Jacob Monk's strong character started at home.
The 6-foot-3, 308-pound offensive lineman is known for his tenacity on the field and his kind heart off it, characteristics he attributes directly to both his father, Stanley, and older brother, Miles.
"I have a brother with Down syndrome and autism, and he's taught me compassion," Monk said. "He's taught me how to be a good human being. I feel like he's taught me how to be patient with people."
A three-star recruit out of Corinth Holders (N.C.) High School, Monk followed in his father's footsteps at Duke. Stanley was a four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils, rushing for 1,149 yards and eight touchdowns over 294 carries. Monk's late uncle Quincy also starred at linebacker for North Carolina (from 1998-2001) and was drafted in the seventh round by the New York Giants in 2002.
"They taught me how to play this game the correct way – you have to flip that switch," Monk said. "You cannot go out there willy-nilly on Fridays, Saturdays and now Sundays for me. You can't do that. You've got to play the right way."
Fifth round, No. 169: Kitan Oladapo's mother warmed up to American football.
The safety's mom wasn't keen on the idea of her son switching from soccer to football when he was in elementary school but eventually came around on the idea. "She sees all those zeros in my bank account," said Oladapo, joking. "But yeah, she's good with it now."
The family has ties to the soccer pitch. Oladapo's brother, Kash, played goaltender at the University of Portland in 2023, posting six shutouts in 13 starts with a 0.91 goals against average.
Sixth round, No. 202: Travis Glover played more than just O-line at Georgia State.
At the tail end of a college career that saw Glover make 57 starts for the Panthers, the 6-foot-6, 318-pound tackle successfully executed a fake punt off a direct snap for a 5-yard pickup on fourth-and-2 against Troy last November.
Glover said he's open to running the ball again but also understands he must earn that opportunity in the NFL.
"I've got to get in there and show I'm athletic enough, and then maybe they'll throw me out there," Glover said. "I don't know if they use the shield (formation) in the NFL, but I can probably get a first down."
Seventh round, No. 245: QB Michael Pratt's inspirational story gets another chapter.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound quarterback's impact goes beyond the football field, as NFL Network showcased in a pre-draft profile of Pratt. Tulane's all-time leading passer has the word "Believe," with a "7" where the "L" would be, tattooed on his right bicep in honor of his friend and teammate, Bryce Gowdy, who died by suicide in 2019.
Gowdy, who wore No. 7 at Deerfield Beach High School, was committed to play football at Georgia Tech. After arriving at Tulane, Pratt switched his number to "7" to honor his former high school receiver. Pratt also played with a heavy heart this past fall after the loss of his older brother, David.
Through all the tragedy, Pratt kept his faith and was surrounded by family and friends when the Packers finally called Saturday evening to tell the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year that his NFL dreams have been realized.
"Just having that support system around me, it's definitely been a long day," Pratt said. "Just the uncertainty and not really knowing, just giving it all to God and trusting in Him that whatever team it ended up being. That's just the mentality I've had, and I can't wait to be a Packer."
Seventh round, No. 255: The Packers don't know why Kalen King fell but they're happy he's here.
The Penn State cornerback has plenty of motivation to prove his doubters wrong after getting drafted late in the seventh round last weekend. While Gutekunst offered no rationale for King's fall, the Packers GM told reporters he's excited to see the 21-year-old cornerback channel his disappointment into drive.
"We felt very fortunate to be able to pick him where we did. He's got a really nice skill set," Gutekunst said. "Has played some high-level football at Penn State. He's got some versatility to play outside and to play nickel as well. And again, I think his best football is ahead of him as well. He's a young player. He was a three-year player coming out. So, hopefully, that does drive him."
