Tag: Jordan Morgan

OL Jordan Morgan gives Packers what they covet most: Flexibility

The addition of offensive lineman Jordan Morgan gives the Packers what they covet most in the trenches, which is flexibility and options.

The addition of Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan gives the Green Bay Packers what they covet along the offensive line: flexibility and options.

“The best five,” said general manager Brian Gutekunst about what the offensive line will look like. “We’ll wait until the coaches get their hands on him and see that. I think he can play all four spots. We’re fortunate enough that we’ve got a lot of guys in our group right now that can do that, and so I think we’ll kind of let the best five battle it out and see where that ends up.”

A three-year starter, Morgan comes to the NFL as a very experienced and productive player, with nearly 2,400 snaps at left tackle during his career. His 2022 season was cut short in November due to an ACL injury, but a quick recovery got him back on the field for the 2023 season.

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Morgan finished that season ranked 19th among all tackles in pass-blocking efficiency, surrendering only two sacks and 14 pressures, while 16th in run-blocking grade.

Beyond what Morgan showcased on the field, he was a two-time team captain, and the way he attacked his rehab during that ACL injury were two aspects that caught the Packers’ attention.

“Just a strong character guy,” said Gutekunst about Morgan. “Going through the adversity of the ACL and coming through the other side of it. Two-time team captain. The way the people at Arizona speak of him. Just the right kind of guy for our locker room. I think he’ll fit in great.

“Whenever you’re picking this high, that gives you a comfort level that whatever his ultimate potential is, he’s got the work ethic to get there and kind of put the team above himself. That was something that was obviously very appealing to us.”

Despite all of Morgan’s college snaps coming at tackle, some draft analysts believe he will be best suited to play guard in the NFL. In fact, Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Morgan as his second-highest-rated guard in this year’s draft class.

With arms under 33 inches, the general thinking among those who believe Morgan would be best inside is partly rooted in his lack of length compared to traditional tackles. However, to Morgan, his experience in space and how he uses his arms, coupled with his athleticism, will mitigate that potential issue.

“I have the confidence for sure,” said Morgan about playing tackle. “I’ve been playing it my whole career. It’s something that’s already second nature to me. I can get out there and do whatever I need to do. The arm length is no problem for me. I use my arm length pretty well, and I’m very athletic.”

On the flip side, for a player with no in-game snaps at guard, one could also wonder what the Packers see in Morgan that gives them the confidence that he can play inside. The answer to that question again goes back to Morgan’s athleticism, specifically his quick feet and strength.

“He played left tackle,” said Gutekunst, “he’s got left tackle feet, very athletic kid, very sturdy/strong lower body. And he did 27 I think on the bench as well so he’s a very strong athlete. When you move inside there things move a little bit quicker and you’ve got to handle a little bit more power and he certainly has shown the ability to do that.”

Despite the Packers’ offensive line potentially already being on the roster even before the draft began, this was one of the bigger positional needs that Gutekunst and Co. had to tackle. For a unit that thrived with heavy competition last season, there is very little of that on the roster–or least very little that has experience.

Adding Morgan to the mix puts the Packers in a better position to put the “best five” offensive linemen on the field, as we’ve so often heard Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur say.

Morgan could compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle, forcing him to earn that starting spot. Or the Packers could put Morgan at right tackle, allowing Zach Tom to potentially move to center. Or Morgan could challenge Sean Rhyan at right guard.

You get the idea–the Packers have more options now in how they go about building their offensive line this summer, which is what every GM and head coach wants.

Nothing is going to be determined at this time, and ultimately, where Morgan ends up will be dependent upon what’s best for the unit as a whole. Offensive line is very much the sum of the parts are greater than the play of one individual.

“I think you can do that,” said Gutekunst about moving Morgan around even though he’s a rookie. “I think obviously a lot’s going to depend on the player. He’s played left tackle, I think he’s got 37-plus starts at left tackle, so that’s what he’s done, but at the same time, he’s a really smart kid.

“I think that’s one of those things, I don’t know if you really know that, if he can do that early on, until you get him in the building and see how he grasps things and stuff like that. But we would expect he’ll be a quick learner and be able to pick up whatever they ask him to do.”

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst talks first-round pick Jordan Morgan

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst talked for 12 minutes about first-round pick Jordan Morgan on Thursday night.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst answered questions for almost 12 minutes after selecting Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Here’s some of what Gutekunst said about Morgan:

— “Versatile offensive lineman like we like. Really athletic. We feel he can play four positions for us. Two-time team captain. Our kind of guy.”

— “I think he can play all four spots (both tackle spots, both guard spots).”

— “He’s a really smart kid…we expect he’ll be a quick learner.”

— “Left tackle feet. Very athletic kid. Really sturdy strong lower body. Did 27 reps on the bench press, so he’s a really strong athlete. When you move inside, things move a little quicker and handle a little more power, and he’s certainly shown an ability to do that.”

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— Morgan tore his ACL to end the 2022 season. “It was remarkable how well he played early in the season coming off of it (injury). He kept getting better and better, so that gave us a lot of confidence about where he’s headed.”

— “The longer the better, but we’ve had a bunch of guys who have played outside without prototypical arm length and been fine. What makes up for it is usually feet and athleticism, and that’s what Jordan has.”

— Gutekunst admitted he considered moving around in the first round but the board held up strong. Considered moving down but couldn’t pass on Morgan. “I wanted to make sure we secured the player. I didn’t feel great about where we were going to move to and how the board might fall.”

— Gutekunst said offensive tackle is a “premium position” and there are only so many good big guys in a draft.

— Hard decision? “Where we had him valued, this was a pretty easy decision for us.”

— On Morgan’s strong character: “Two-time team captain. The way the people at Arizona speak of him. The right kind of guy for our locker room, I think he’ll fit in great. Whenever you’re picking this high, that gives you a comfort level. Whatever his ultimate potential is, he’s got the work ethic to get there.”

— “When you can protect your quarterback, particularly one like we have, you have a chance to win the football game.”

— “We needed to add some things to that (offensive line) group, and Jordan just fit us.”

— “I like our group of corners, but you’re always looking for corners as well…there’s some good corners in this draft. We’ll see how it shakes out over the next two days.”

— On versatility along the offensive line: “Having guys who can play multiple spots that are athletic enough to do it and strong enough to do it and smart enough to do it, it gives you a lot of comfort.”

— On Friday night (Packers have four picks): “We’re all eager to get back…the board has held up pretty well, so we feel good going into tomorrow.”

— Gutekunst said he’ll “explore some opportunities” in terms of moving up during Day 2.

— “He was solid the last few years of tape we watched…One of his strong attributes is pass blocking in space. He’s had enough competition out west to show us what we need. He did a nice job at the Senior Bowl too.”

— Gutekunst said he had a couple of players he would have traded up for had they fallen down the board, but they didn’t. Became obvious early that the Packers were going to either stay put or trade back.

Instant takeaways from Packers selecting Arizona OT Jordan Morgan at No. 25 overall

The Packers selected OT Jordan Morgan at 25th overall. Here is everything that you need to know about the selection.

The pick is in, and the Green Bay Packers selected Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Here is what you need to know:

– Morgan measures in at 6-5 and weighs 311 pounds. He posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.24, which includes a 5.04-second 40-yard dash. He does, however, have shorter arms at 32.8 inches.

– With a bit shorter arms, Mel Kiper Jr. mentioned on the ESPN draft broadcast that he views Morgan’s best position as a guard. Morgan is Dane Brugler’s No. 2 guard in this year’s draft.

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– Morgan is an experienced tackle from his time at Arizona. He played almost 2,400 snaps at left tackle. In the last two seasons, he has been effective as both a run blocker and pass blocker. In 2023, specifically, Morgan ranked 19th among all tackles in pass-blocking efficiency and 16th in run-blocking grade from PFF.

SHOP: Jordan Morgan GB Packers jersey

– We all know how important versatility is to the Packers, and Morgan brings that with his tackle experience and ability to play inside. Every time Brian Gutekunst has spoken to the media this offseason, versatility and competition, regardless of the position groups, have been two common themes.

– The big question now is, what does this mean for the offensive line configuration? If I were to make that guess on April 25th, I would say that given that tackle is a premier position and the Packers spent a first-round pick on Morgan, they will give him the chance to play there, whether that be competing with Rasheed Walker at left tackle, or perhaps this gives them the opportunity to move Zach Tom inside.

– With Morgan being viewed so highly as a guard, at least on the outside, we don’t know what the Packers think as of now, they could also have him compete with Sean Rhyan if they want to keep Tom and Walker at tackle.

– These last two bullet points go back to the original point behind all of this–the addition of Morgan gives the Packers options and flexibility, which they absolutely covet along the offensive line.

– The board fell pretty kindly for the Packers. Along with Morgan, Tyler Guyton, Graham Barton, Cooper DeJean, and Kool-Aid McKinstry were among the players available.

– Morgan was the 47th-rated player on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board. Here is what Jeremiah had to say about the pick in his pre-draft report:

“Morgan is a very athletic left tackle with average size. In pass pro, he is quick out of his stance to meet and cover up speed rushers. He can sink his weight and drop levels when bull rushed. He also does a nice job re-working his hands when he gets knocked back to regain leverage. He struggles to redirect inside when facing counter moves, getting beat on that inside shoulder too often. He also will occasionally duck his head, which is correctable. In the run game, he is more finesse than power. He can use his quickness to cut off the back side and he takes excellent angles to the second level to wall off linebackers. He doesn’t have a lot of knock-back power to displace defenders over his nose. Morgan is just over a year removed from ACL surgery, and I’m hopeful he can add more strength/power now that he’s healthy. Overall, he has starting tackle ability.”

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Green Bay Packers select Arizona OT Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall pick. Grade: B

The Packers got their David Bakhtiari replacement in Arizona OT Jordan Morgan.

The Packers needed a replacement on the left side of their offensive line with David Bakhtiari out of the picture, and with the run on offensive line that had already happened in the first round, they did a nice job in the person of Arizona left tackle Jordan Morgan. Morgan has positional versatility to possibly kick inside to guard, but I’d leave him outside and develop his smooth pass-blocking style, work on his power and leverage, and wind up with a top-tie starter. Morgan is also great on the move and in the screen game.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 7, Arizona OL Jordan Morgan

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers have had a ton of success drafting college offensive tackles and kicking them inside to guard. 

A college offensive tackle whom the Packers could have earmarked for a shift inside is Jordan Morgan. The Arizona offensive linemen checks in at No. 7 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. 

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Morgan finished his career at Arizona with 37 career starts at left tackle. He missed four games during his first three seasons on campus and suffered a torn ACL at the end of the 2022 season. A year removed from the season-ending injury, the Arizona native started 12 games during his final season as a Wildcat. 

“After returning from a season-ending knee injury in 2022, Morgan used the entire spring and early part of preseason training camp to gradually ramp up his physical activity and participation in practice,” Justin Spears, the Arizona football beat reporter for the Arizona Daily Star, said. “Former Arizona offensive line coach Brennan Carroll called Morgan’s recovery “a NASA launch” due to the amount of attention Morgan’s knee received between team trainers, doctors and other medical staff members. Morgan didn’t just have another successful season as one of the top pass-blocking tackles in college football, he improved his draft stock. Morgan led an Arizona offensive line with budding talents such as Jonah Savaiinaea and Raymond Pulido and positioned himself to become the first UA offensive lineman taken in the NFL Draft since Eben Britton in 2009. Unfortunately for Morgan, he’s in a draft class that’s loaded with offensive linemen. If this was any other year, Morgan would be a sure-fire first-round pick.”

Morgan is nimble on his feet and has excellent range as a run blocker. He has excellent quickness of the snap to get on top of defenders. He has strong hands and can seal off running lanes. Morgan plays with good pad level and has the grip strength to control defenders. 

“He has the ability to move to the second level with ease and is very fluid,” Spears said. “He doesn’t look stiff. Morgan was undersized when he first got to Arizona, so he’s always had the athleticism and mobility for a guy his size. It’s not his strength, but it’s not a fault that should knock him beyond the early second round of the draft.”

Morgan has the foot quickness to shut down speed on the edge. He plays with good knee bend. His feet and hands stay coordinated in his pass sets. The Arizona OL can be trusted on an island and more often than not wins his one-on-one matchups. According to Pro Football Focus, Morgan gave up two sacks and 14 pressures in pass protection this past season. 

“Morgan has quick hands and can quickly swivel his hips so he’s a master of staying in front of edge rushers or blitzing linebackers,” Spears said. “After watching him perform at Marana High School in Tucson and the UA for the last several years, I couldn’t recall a time he got completely dominated in the pocket. In 477 pass-blocking snaps, Morgan surrendered two sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. The numbers don’t lie. Morgan is elite, despite what draft critics are saying about his “short” arms.”

Fit with the Packers

With his “shorter” arms (nearly 33 inches) the Packers may view Morgan as a guard. With his athleticism and veteran-like savviness, Morgan could be a plug-and-play starter at right guard with the ability to kick outside to tackle. 

“Morgan’s college career was unique,” Spears said. “He endured a pandemic-influenced season, a 20-game losing streak, three different offensive line coaches and an injury, all during the transfer portal and NIL era. The hometown kid stayed loyal to Arizona and became an NFL talent. Will he start as a rookie? Who knows? But whichever team drafts Morgan is getting a hard-working and loyal offensive lineman.”

If the Packers miss out on the first wave of offensive line talent in the first round, they could kick off Day 2 of the draft by selecting Morgan with the 41st overall pick.

Adding Morgan could help bolster Green Bay’s rushing attack and he’s proficient in pass protection. While he doesn’t have a “wow” trait, Morgan is a well-rounded player who could be plugged in at right guard for the next 10 years.

 

Tyler Smithisms: 2 Cowboys draft prospects with left-side versatility

The Cowboys like inside-outside versatility so Troy Fuatanu or Jordan Morgan could be attractive options. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys love versatility on their roster. Players with position flex allow Dallas to mix and match the best starting lineup possible. It also helps them adapt to injuries midseason and stay nimble in their offseason roster construction.

Versatility is largely what drove them to select Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. And versatility may also be what drives them to pick someone like Troy Fautanu or Jordan Morgan in 2024.

Flashing back to 2022, the Cowboys were already looking for the heir to Tyron Smith at left tackle. Smith’s mounting injuries made him an unreliable piece on the offensive line. Over the two previous seasons the veteran LT only played a combined 13 games, making LT high on Dallas’ priority list.

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While the Cowboys didn’t want to rely on Tyron Smith to stay healthy, they also weren’t willing to give up on the former All-Pro either. The versatility offered by Tyler Smith allowed them to straddle the fence and adjust based on Tyron Smith’s availability. As luck would have it, Tyron Smith significantly tore his hamstring two weeks before Week 1, forcing the rookie to move outside and assume the role of Chief Blindside Protector.

One year later, it was back inside for Tyler Smith and back to LT for Tyron Smith. The versatility paid off for both years Tyler Smith has been in the NFL, and figures to continue to pay dividends in 2024, given the unsettled nature of the current OL lineup.

Fautanu, 6-foot-4, 317-pounds, hails from Washington’s pass-heavy offense. A 29-game starter at LT, Fautanu brings high-end athleticism, solid strength, and explosiveness off the snap. Scouts are split as to what his best position will be but most also agree he can play anywhere on the line effectively. His 34.5-inch arms and excellent agility keep him in the LT conversation. It’s very similar to how many scouts viewed Tyler Smith as a prospect in 2022.

Dane Brugler sees him primarily as a guard. He doesn’t just project Fautanu as a good prospect there, but he projects him as the top guard prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. Rated No. 9 overall on his big board, Fautanu may not even make it to the Cowboys at 24.

His real value will likely come down to where teams think they can play the somewhat aged 23-year-old. LT is considered a premium position so it would likely boost his value considerably if that’s where a team projects him. The fewer the teams who think he can play outside the better for Dallas’ chances.

Morgan, a career LT at Arizona, comes into the draft with a similar profile in many respects. Considered by many to be a better guard prospect than tackle prospect, Morgan brings with him a wide range of outcomes which may not immediately be apparent.

Brugler, who projects Morgan as the No. 2 guard in this class, still feels as if Morgan can survive at LT in the pros. Likening him to Matthew Bergeron, Brugler makes quite the connection for Cowboys fans. The Cowboys were extremely interested in Bergeron last draft cycle and openly debated picking him instead of Mazi Smith in the first round. It’s clear the Cowboys have a “type” and both Fautanu and Morgan seem to fit that type quite well.

Neither have the power of Smith as prospects (no one really does) but they come with the position flex to play both inside and outside making either of them a versatile piece on the Cowboys ever-changing OL landscape.

When Dallas drafted Tyler Smith, they were hoping he’d be the eventual heir to Tyron Smith at LT, but they were comforted he’d, at the very least, be a dominant left guard. Fautanu and Morgan project similarly. They can hope one of them can play LT at the NFL level but can feel comforted both also project as a high-end guards if all else fails.

The Cowboys would be extremely lucky if Fautanu fell to them in in the first round. Consensus draft boards have him at No. 18 so he’d have to fall six spots. And Morgan probably isn’t the best target for Dallas at Pick 24 since a number of higher rated players project to be on the board at that time. But in a trade down scenario, Morgan can offer strong value and the position flex the Cowboys crave on their OL.

In the past two consecutive drafts, the Cowboys have been attracted to offensive linemen who have inside-outside versatility. Will 2024 be Year 3?

Cardinals brought in Arizona O-lineman Jordan Morgan for visit

Morgan is projected to be drafted as early as in the late first round.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a look at a number of NFL draft prospects as the actual draft approaches in less than two weeks. The offensive line is an area they could add depth.

One player they have met with is Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan. According to Aaron Wilson, he was in for a visit.

Morgan is projected to be selected as high as the late first round or in the second round. The Cardinals have the 27th pick, which is late in the first round, and the 35 pick, the third pick of the second.

Morgan played left tackle for Arizona. He is 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, although he might be better suited to play guard in the NFL with 32 7/8-inch arms, which is short for tackles.

He ran the 40 in 5.03 seconds at the combine.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Report: Kansas pass rusher Austin Booker visiting Panthers today

Per NFL Network, the Panthers are getting a look at Kansas DE Austin Booker today.

Bank of America Stadium is a pretty busy place today.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Carolina Panthers are hosting University of Kansas defensive end Austin Booker on Wednesday. Per Pelissero, the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder has also met with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots and has visits set with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders next week.

A Greenwood, Ind. native, Booker began his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota in 2021. After not seeing the field in his first season, he appeared in just six games for the Golden Gophers in 2022.

Booker made the switch to Kansas for the 2023 campaign, where he’d receive many more opportunities. He played in 12 games for the Jayhawks—amassing 56 total tackles (12.0 for a loss), 8.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.

He was named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and earned a first-team All-Big 12 nod.

Along with Booker, the Panthers also seem to have Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott and Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan on hand today.

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Panthers reportedly have visit with Arizona OT Jordan Morgan on Wednesday

Arizona OT Jordan Morgan is reportedly visiting with the Panthers today.

How about a hog molly?

According to Sportskeeda consulting editor and NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline, the Carolina Panthers have a top-30 visit scheduled with offensive lineman Jordan Morgan for Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 311-pounder also met with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and is set to see the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets later this week.

Morgan attended Marana High School in Arizona, where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Tigers. He’d decide to stay local for college, committing to the University of Arizona ahead of the 2019 season.

The Wildcats started Morgan exclusively as a left tackle from 2021 to 2023, as he played all 2,153 of his snaps from the blindside. His work earned him AP first-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 and 2023.

In addition to Morgan, the Panthers seemingly have Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott on hand today. They also, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, are getting a closer look at Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker.

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Commanders to host Washington OT Roger Rosengarten on top 30 visit

Roger Rosengarten was a two-year starter for college football’s best offensive line.

We know the Washington Commanders will be heavily involved in the offensive tackle market during the 2024 NFL draft. While the Commanders will likely select a quarterback second overall, they also have two second-round picks and three third-round picks.

The Commanders hosted offensive tackles Jordan Morgan (Arizona) and Kiran Amegadjie (Yale) on top 30 visits. Morgan could go late in the first round or early second round, while Amegadjie will go sometime on day two.

Now, Washington will host another offensive tackle on a top-30 visit.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Commanders will host Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten on a pre-draft visit.

Rosengarten, a 6-foot-5, 308-pound redshirt junior, has started the past two seasons for the Huskies at right tackle. Like Amegadjiem, Rosengarten is expected to be drafted sometime on day two. Once all of the top tackles are gone, how high in the second round will Rosengarten go?

The Huskies won the Joe Moore Award in 2023, which is given annually to college football’s best offensive line.