Green Bay doubled dipped at the linebacker position, adding both Ty’Ron Hopper and Edgerrin Cooper on Friday.
The Green Bay Packers turned heads on Friday when they drafted linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper out of Missouri with the 91st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team had previously addressed the linebacker position on Day 2 of the draft with the selection of Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper. Hopper was ranked 160th overall on the consensus draft board, equal to a fifth-round pick’s value. Green Bay must have felt the need to take him two rounds earlier with the selection that they acquired from the Buffalo Bills via the trade for cornerback Rasul Douglas at the deadline.
Hopper began his college football career at the University of Florida, where he played in 28 games and started four under then-head coach Dan Mullen. When Mullen was let go, Hopper jumped into the transfer portal and landed at Missouri, where he would go on to start 22 games in his final two seasons of college football. As a senior with the Tigers, he was named a team captain and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors.
Hopper surprised many at the combine, as he showed up at 231 pounds, seemingly significantly larger than his playing weight at Missouri. On film, he looked more like a long cornerback than a true stack linebacker. At his pro day, Hopper shed some of that weight and was measured in again at 228 pounds. During that pro day, Hopper recorded a 4.68-second 40-yard dash.
The former high school All-American was brought in on a visit by the Packers this offseason, making him the second player to make the trip to Green Bay to be taken by the franchise. The other player was Cooper.
The highest-ranked players on the consensus draft board who reportedly have had visits with the Packers and remain on the draft board following the 91st selection are:
- QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (#71)
- DE Austin Booker, Kansas (#75)
- RB Ray Davis, Kentucky (#116)
- CB Jarrian Jones, Florida State (#138)
- S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State (#154)
- DT Kristian Boyd, Northern Iowa (#172)
- S Jaylon Carlies, Missouri (#237)
The assumption is that Hopper will likely compete with Isaiah McDuffie, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, for immediate playing time. With Cooper and returning starter Quay Walker locked into spots going into the 2024 season, the question now is who will be the third and final linebacker in the team’s 4-3 base looks.
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