Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Missouri linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper.
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 linebacker depth chart includes Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Christian Young and Kristian Welch. In other words, the Packers need to add to a linebacker or two in the 2024 NFL Draft.
A potential target on Day 3 of the draft is Ty’Ron Hopper. The Missouri linebacker checks in at No. 44 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A transfer from Florida, Hopper made an immediate impact as a Tiger in 2022. He started 12 games and finished the season with 78 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and five pass deflections.
This past season, Hopper recorded 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and three pass deflections.
“One could argue that Hopper has been the biggest transfer portal win of the Eliah Drinkwitz era thus far,” Parker Gillam, the Missouri beat writer for RockMNation.com, said. “It all started with his dominant showing against Louisiana Tech to begin the 2022 season in which he recorded two tackles for loss, a sack, a pass breakup and an interception. That merely served as a sign of things to come. He became one of the most productive linebackers in Mizzou history, and his highlight reel of forced fumbles, big hits, sacks and more will live on for a long time. The past two seasons, nobody worried about the linebacking corps in large part because Hopper was roaming the middle of the field.”
Hopper has a radar for the football. The former Gator linebacker has a great feel for the game and is quick to react to the action in front of him. Hopper has the lateral quickness to slither around blocks and sift his way through the trash to locate the ball carrier. He has a sideline-to-sideline range and typically takes appropriate angles to the football.
“Hopper shoots gaps like a safety but hits like a defensive end,” Gillam said. “His instincts are top tier and he can get sideline-to-sideline in a hurry. There have only been rare occasions when he’s been caught out of position, and when Hopper gets his hands on a runner, he’s not letting go. Hopper’s flashier highlights have defined his run defense in recent years, but his consistency has been just as valuable.”
Hopper is smooth dropping in coverage and has the athleticism to handle running backs and can carry tight ends up the seam. He has the movement skills of a safety.
“He’s reliable in pass defense but still has a ways to go in his development,” Gillam said. “His athleticism allows him to tread water against most slot receivers, and he has the size and strength to compete with most tight ends, but it’s not necessarily his strong suit. But, from my perspective, Hopper is willing to be coached and could certainly excel in pass defense in the future.”
During his collegiate career, Hopper logged 468 snaps on special teams. Even if Hopper doesn’t crack the starting lineup as a rookie, there is little doubt that he’d make an immediate impact on special teams. Gillam said that Hopper’s greatest strength is his desire to do whatever it takes to get better every day.
“Frankly, while his physical attributes and film are great, none of that is what I’ll tab as his biggest strength,” Gillam said. “His uncle, Tyrone Hopper, told me that Ty’Ron’s best attributes are his commitment to improving himself and his discipline. He’s generally a no-nonsense kind of guy who is willing to put in extensive work on his craft, a trait that NFL teams will likely fall in love with. While he may not have flashed in 2023 the same way he did in 2022, Hopper still made strides in terms of coverage ability and finding his voice, as he’s known as a quieter guy in general.”
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need playmakers and frankly bodies at the linebacker position. Hopper is a solid all-around prospect.
While he’s not a downhill enforcer type of linebacker, Hopper has the instincts and quickness to make an impact against the run. He has the movement skills to be an asset in coverage and he has the special teams experience to be a hired gun for Rich Bisaccia.
“Everybody could use a playmaker at linebacker, and Hopper fits that mold,” Gillam said. “A team would likely bring him in to be a specialty player until he adapts to the speed of play at the NFL level, but given his personality and flashy film, Hopper should impress scouts and become a real grinder once he gets into the league. I can foresee him becoming a consistently productive hybrid linebacker who lives to make plays around the line of scrimmage.”
The Packers will start the 2024 NFL Draft with six Day 3 picks at their disposal. With their need to add talent to the linebacker room, Hopper could be a potential target with one of those six picks.
