Outside of one particular media member, the Green Bay Packers’ 2024 draft crop received above-average grades.
Now that the Green Bay Packers’ 11-man draft class is finalized, it’s time to check in on the knee-jerk reactions that the national media has to the new crop of talent. For the most part, the Packers rank slightly above the middle of the pack for their 2024 draft class, which is solid considering that their first draft choice came at 25th overall. There is one major exception, though, as one particular media member was not a fan of what general manager Brian Gutekunst did this week.
Let’s dive into the published draft grades so far and highlight the analysis from the biggest fan and biggest hater of the Packers’ 2024 class.
Packers Draft Picks
- #25: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
- #45: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
- #58: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
- #88: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
- #91: Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
- #111: Evan Williams, S, Oregon
- #163: Jacob Monk, OC/OG, Duke
- #169: Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State
- #202: Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State
- #245: Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
- #255: Kalen King, CB, Penn State
Packers Draft Grades
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has become my draft spirit animal. Loads of picks every year. Always takes fliers on athletic offensive linemen in the middle of the draft and Day 3 and constantly swings trades to move up and down the board.
Morgan was picked a tick early, while Cooper needs to improve in coverage but has freaky athleticism ranging to the football. Lloyd is the perfect add to Matt LaFleur’s zone-blocking scheme because he’s thick with elite burst and wiggle. Williams is one of the most active safeties in the class, and Oladapo is a true specimen at the same position. Matchup with tight end type.
After going skill-position heavy the past few years in the draft, Gutekunst prioritized the trenches and building out the secondary.
- B+: Nate Davis, USA Today
- B+: Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus
- B+: Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated
- B+: Mark Maske, The Washington Post
- B: Chad Reuter, NFL.com
- B: Bleacher Report Scouting Department
- B: Mel Kiper, ESPN
- B: Charles McDonald, Yahoo! Sports
- B: FOX Sports Staff
- B: Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press
- B: Ryan Dunleavy, The New York Post
- B: Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News
- C: Danny Kelly, The Ringer
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.
Three potential Day 1 starters, a quality backup in MarShawn Lloyd and the Day 3 upside of offensive linemen Jacob Monk and Travis Glover and cornerback Kalen King — who was considered a first-round pick this time last year? I’m not buying that that’s one of the worst draft classes in the 2024 class. For perspective, Kelly only had one draft class ranked with worse than a C grade: the Carolina Panthers’ draft.
What would you guys give the Packers’ draft after seeing how the entire class panned out?
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