The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is Florida International quarterback James Morgan:
What he can do
– Can tell he grew up in Green Bay watching Brett Favre. Playstyle resembles a young Favre
– Ball just explodes out of his hand. Has an NFL-caliber arm in terms of being able to get it out quickly with elite velocity. Can drive it to all areas of the field and fit throws into small windows
– Little to no touch on any throw. All fastball, no changeup. Throws nearly every pass at maximum velocity. Resulted in a lot of unnecessary drops and erratic throws. Developing a feel for when he needs to throttle it down will be critical to his development
– Also must develop a better balance between ball placement and just throwing the ball to an area as fast as he can get it there. It always gets there in a hurry but reliance on velocity often disrupts accuracy and run after the catch opportunities
– Really trusts his arm and it gets him in tons of trouble. Attempts to fit the ball into non-existent windows, resulting in turnovers or near turnovers. Will chuck it deep into a crowd. Way too many forced throws into coverage. Very Favre-like
– However, his arm strength really surprised some collegiate defenders. Many took chances and missed, creating big plays
– Accuracy just isn’t good enough right now. Needs massive improvement. Ball placement is nothing if not erratic. Consistency must also improve
– Completion percentage was better in 2018 when supporting cast was better and could throw to spots. Offense was a mess in 2019
– Likes to play on time. Gets into his drop and is ready to get the ball out. Extending the play isn’t really his game
– Stands tall and confident in the pocket and will use subtle movements to create space and throwing lanes, but isn’t going to escape many sacks. Breaking contain and getting outside the pocket doesn’t look natural. Took most sacks without moving off the spot. Pass-rushers know where he’ll be and can adjust target accordingly
– Will stand in there and deliver, even with defenders closing in. Can be fearless
– Gets it out quick and hot on quick screens. Generally accurate here. FIU created chunk plays this way
– Ran some quarterback keepers but athleticism with the ball in his hands looks limited
– Toughness need not be questioned. Played through injury. Took plenty of punishment. None of it really seemed to bother him.
– Needs to improve reading the field and looking off defenders
How he fits
Developmental backup all the way. Morgan has some traits – like arm strength, size and toughness – that NFL teams will really like. He needs to land in the right program with the right structure to fully maximize his best traits and improve his many problem areas. Confident teams with strong quarterback-development structures should be interested. He has some impressive tools but needs to add a lot more, and great coaches that know how to develop the position will believe in their ability to add the right tools to his game. Morgan probably isn’t a franchise quarterback, but he’ll likely be a cheap lotto ticket at the position, and that’s the kind of developmental quarterback teams like to draft. At the very least, he’d add competition for Tim Boyle and Manny Wilkins behind Aaron Rodgers.
NFL comp
Tom Savage. Like Savage coming out of Pitt, Morgan has some nice tools to work with and is capable of becoming a long-time NFL backup if he develops in certain areas. Savage was a fourth-round pick. He’s only played in 13 career games since 2014.
Where Packers could get him
Day 3. Any earlier would be a big reach. Based purely on tape, Morgan looks like a late-round pick or a priority free agent. There’s perceived upside, and upside in the quarterback position creates buzz, so he’ll probably go in the middle rounds.
Previous Prospects for the Pack
WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.