2024 NFL Draft Grades: Green Bay Packers

Day 1 grade: B
Day 2 grade: B
Day 3 grade: B-

Analysis: Morgan's pass-protection skills give him a chance to replace three-time Pro Bowler David Bakhtiari at left tackle, or he could prove himself a nice positional blocker at guard, allowing the Packers to get their five best linemen on the field together. Cooper and Bullard were excellent picks in Round 2, with both filling needs, but I was a bit ambivalent on the team using third-round selections on a running back (albeit a good one in Lloyd) and a second linebacker.

Monk and Glover should provide depth on the offensive line, while Williams' reliable tackling should make him a good special teams player. Trading a pick to move up for a second safety didn't seem like the best value, though -- especially when you consider Green Bay took another safety just one round later. Oladapo is also a quality defender, but using three choices on the same position means the team must now rely on free-agent edge rushers and 3-techniques to round out the defense. Pratt was an excellent value pick late in the draft, as was King, who has more upside than his pre-draft evaluation might suggest.

Top needs entering the draft: Offensive tackle, defensive back, off-ball linebacker

If only every prediction in my mock drafts was as easy as Green Bay's this year. For months I've said the Packers needed to plug their void at left tackle in Round 1 as a result of this deep and talented OT class. Longtime starter David Bakhtiari is gone, and I thought they should identify the guy they liked most and take him. Turns out, that's exactly what GM Brian Gutekunst did.

Jordan Morgan (25) was a stalwart on the blind side for Arizona who rarely missed an assignment. He blew up edge defenders in the run game and made them look silly in pass sets. He'll be a plug-and-play starter. On Day 2, I loved the additions of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) and safety Javon Bullard (58), both of whom I ranked No. 1 at their positions. Cooper can be a three-down defender because of his coverage tools, while Bullard is a do-it-all defensive back who will assist a unit that intercepted just seven passes last season, which ranked 31st in the league.

MarShawn Lloyd (88) can be a solid backup running back to Josh Jacobs. Linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper (91) isn't the same kind of player in coverage as Cooper, but he'll thump backs in the hole. He was overdrafted, but Green Bay is making the switch to a 4-3 defense and needs more bodies, so I understand it. I was surprised quarterback Michael Pratt (245) lasted until Round 7, but he won't have much of a chance to play in Green Bay.

I was all-in on the Packers after their first three picks, but the rest of this haul leaves me underwhelmed, especially on Day 3. Cooper and Bullard save it from a C+.

THE PACKERS HIT FOR CONTACT IN THIS DRAFT—adding a couple of potential future starters at positions of need—but I'm not sure I see any home run picks. The team grabbed a versatile lineman in Jordan Morgan in the first round, giving the team flexibility at both tackle and guard. They nabbed an explosive, rangy linebacker in Edgerrin Cooper in the second round and then picked a versatile safety/nickelback in Javon Bullard in the third; both should compete for playing time early on. I'm a fan of USC running back MarShawn Lloyd, who will play behind Josh Jacobs but could compete for snaps with A.J. Dillon in year one.

Maybe not supremely sexy — again, no Round 1 wideout — but just another solid job by GM Brian Gutekunst. First-round OT Jordan Morgan (Arizona), second-round LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M), second-round S Javon Bullard (Georgia) and third-round RB MarShawn Lloyd (USC) should all be cheaper, more effective upgrades for David Bakhtiari, De'Vondre Campbell, Darnell Savage and AJ Dillon, respectively, Dillon the only who returns (and probably only for 2024). However nitpickers will note none but Morgan play a premium position. Still, last year's trade of QB Aaron Rodgers helped to enable this talent intake for a team that's looking increasingly bulletproof around second-year starting QB Jordan Love.

The Packers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with 11 picks ... and ended up making 11 while maneuvering up and down. Jordan Morgan should fit right in on their position-fluid offensive line. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper can be an excellent complement to Quay Walker. Now that Jeff Hafley is the defensive coordinator, the Packers needed to stock up on his favorite position: safety. They got Xavier McKinney in a splash free agency signing but still drafted three more players at the position. Javon Bullard out of Georgia at No. 58 overall is excellent value. The other big splash was USC running back MarShawn Lloyd, who will go up against his college quarterback twice a year now. Throw in a couple of additional offensive linemen for depth/competition and you have a perfectly solid Green Bay draft. GM Brian Gutekunst is notorious for getting production out of later round picks and this year figures to be no different. —Vitali

Best Pick: Second-round linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will pay off in a big way. He can fly and will add a ton of speed on the second level for the Packers.

Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of Jordan Morgan in the first. I know they need line help, more for depth, but I am not a huge fan of Morgan's game.

The Skinny: The Packers do a nice job with the draft, and this one will give them some players who could start as rookies. The Packers clearly drafted for need, landing Morgan, Cooper and second-round safety Javon Bullard. Running back MarShawn Lloyd will be a nice addition to the offense behind Josh Jacobs. Quarterback Michael Pratt in the seventh is a nice pick, even if he won't play other than for injury.

Analysis: GM Brian Gutekunst came through to fill key needs with the first three picks. Morgan can be their new left tackle soon to replace David Bakhtiari. Cooper and Bullard give them a lot more impact in the back seven. Lloyd can be a key cog playing off Josh Jacobs. The rest is shaky despite the volume, leading to a slip just below "A" status.

Analysis: Morgan was beloved by a few teams with coaches from the Kyle Shanahan tree thanks to his movement ability, which should really shine in the Packers' outside zone system. With some proper coaching—and Green Bay has an excellent offensive line staff—Morgan could end up being one of the best tackles in this draft class. Cooper was the first off-ball linebacker selected in the draft, and his relentless pursuit stands out on tape and should give the Packers a versatile defender who can remain on the field in multiple situations.

If Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was concerned about his team's screen game, the Packers did a lot to address that with the additions of Jordan Morgan (a great screen blocker) and MarShawn Lloyd (who is outstanding on the move). And new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley should absolutely love Javon Bullard, because Javon Bullard can do everything. Kirby Smart asked him to move from 80% box/slot in 2022 to 80% free safety in 2023, and Bullard handled it all with aplomb.

The two new safeties from the state of Oregon are also interesting, and I especially like Oregon State's Kitan Oladapo as a guy who can also get it done just about everywhere on the field. When you factor in the outstanding addition of Xavier McKinney in free agency, there isn't much Hafley won't be able to do with his secondary. And Edgerrin Cooper was my LB1 in this class; that guy is a guided missile ready to deploy all over the field. Folks, the Joe Barry era is officially over!

Michael Pratt gives the Packers a savvy backup quarterback, and the downfall of Kalen King continues to mystify — a couple years ago, he was thought to be a second-round pick. Overall, the Packers needed to create a new defensive identity, and that's what they did here.