Green Bay keeps winning, despite injuries to their draft class of 2024

The Green Bay Packers are 11-5 and headed back to the NFL Playoffs, despite several injuries to last year’s draft class. The Packers have now made the post season in five out of six years under head coach Matt LaFleur. 

Over the past several seasons, the Packers have been able to add depth through the draft and with 11 draft picks in 2024, the sky was the limit. The Packers owned five of the top 100 picks in 2024, but injuries may have slowed down the progression of several prospects.

Here’s a quick review for Packer fans of each of their 11 picks and how they have performed so far in 2024:

Round 1 - Pick 25 – OT - Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Jordan Morgan’s rookie season was ruined by a shoulder injury which sidelined him during training camp and three early season games before sending him to the injured reserve on Nov. 16.

A left tackle at Arizona, Morgan was anchored mostly at guard this season. For five games, he split snaps at right guard with Sean Rhyan. In the home game against Detroit, left guard Elgton Jenkins shifted to center and Morgan made his first (and only) NFL start at left guard.

According to Pro Football Focus, he did not give up a sack in 104 pass-protecting plays. When he played, he flashed starter-worthy potential.

Morgan is still a big part of the future, most likely at guard, not tackle.

Round 2 - Pick 45 – LB - Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

Edgerrin Cooper has been the Packers best rookie all season long. He has shown elite athletic ability and in 12 games with two starts, he has collected 69 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. 

Cooper showed his capabilities in week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks. He made plays all over the field and ended up with seven tackles, one sack, one interception and two passes defended. He followed that up with a career-high 10 tackles against the New Orleans Saints in week 13.

Cooper is the future starting middle linebacker for Green Bay and could see some future Pro-Bowls based on his production as a rookie.

Round 2 - Pick 48-  S - Javon Bullard, Georgia

Bullard has become the team’s slot defender and has played well when healthy but is about to miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.

He had started 10 of 13 games and had been a reliable tackler with 74 on the season. The problem with Bullard, however, has been his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage or in the passing game. Out of his 74 tackles, only one has been for a loss. In the passing game he has been non-existent with only one pass defended. 

Bullard has shown enough when healthy that he can grow into a starting role at safety. At worst, he will be a solid nickelback who can be counted on to make tackles. 

Round 3 - Pick 88 – RB - Marshawn Lloyd, USC

Marshawn Lloyd’s rookie season has been a disaster. Lloyd suffered a hip injury while working out with other rookies before the start of full-squad training camp. In his first preseason game, he sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the rest of training camp and the first game of the regular season. In his NFL debut against the Colts in Week 2, he suffered an ankle injury that sent him to injured reserve. Just as the Packers were ready to add him to the 53-man roster, Lloyd needed an appendectomy.

Lloyd remains on the non-football injury list. On the season he has six carries for 15 yards, but the Packers are still excited about what he can bring to them in the future. 

Round 3 - Pick 91 – LB - Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri

Hopper has played in all 15 games on special teams but has not seen much time on defense. He is tied for third on the team with six tackles on special teams.

Hopper has come in and made a difference on kick coverage and is still looked at as a future contributor at the linebacker position. He possesses upside and will be given every opportunity in 2025.

Round 4 - Pick 111 – DB - Evan Williams, Oregon

Evan Williams has played in 13 games with six starts at strong safety for Green Bay. Williams has been a solid contributor, tallying 49 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and three passes defended.

It looks like the Packers have found yet another future starter on defense with the fourth round pick out of Oregon. The combination of Williams and Javon Bullard could be the tandem we see for many years on the frozen tundra.

Round 5 - Pick 163 – OL - Jacob Monk, Duke

Monk has dressed for nine games but has not seen any action. In practice he has played all three positions and appears to be a solid depth piece down the road.

Round 5 - Pick 169-  DB - Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State

Oladapo has dressed for seven games and has two tackles limited time. The future of Oladapo is a bit clouded with the depth that Green Bay has acquired over the past couple of seasons. He appears to be behind the other two rookies—Bullard and Williams on the future depth chart.

Round 6 - Pick 202 – OT - Travis Glover, Georgia State

Glover has dressed for five games but has not played one snap. He was considered a project when he was drafted, and Green Bay seems to be bringing him along in that style.

Round 7- Pick 245 – QB - Michael Pratt, Tulane

Pratt was released in August after the Packers traded for Malik Willis. The youngster from Tulane was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad and has spent the season there. 

Round 7- Pick 255 – CB - Kalen King, Penn State

King was released in August and then re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the gameday roster in week 14, but did not see any action. He is 7th on the depth chart and will have his work cut out for him in 2025. King was a highly touted prospect early in his collegiate career at Penn State but has not played up to his capabilities over the past couple of seasons. 

Overall, the Packers have drafted starters at linebacker, safety and nickelback and have a couple of prospects in Lloyd and Hopper to be excited about. 

Draft Nation gives this class a C+ with the potential to be a solid B down the line.