Packers First Round Pick Jordan Morgan Continues to Learn and Develop
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers first round pick Jordan Morgan is nearly halfway through his rookie campaign. Yet, the former Arizona star has yet to claim a spot in the Packers starting lineup as he continues to learn and adjust to a new position and life in the NFL.
Morgan mostly played left tackle in college. When the Packers selected him with the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, they liked his versatility. Many scouts felt he would be moved inside in the NFL to guard because his arm length was a little below the ideal number scouts prefer. But GM Brian Gutekunst values offensive linemen who can play multiple positions, so Morgan was a logical pick for the Pack.
At OTAs, the team announced they would start Morgan at tackle but give him reps at multiple positions along the line. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich liked what he saw from the rookie early, but wasn’t sure what his best position would be.
“He’s a natural on the edge,” Stenavich said during OTAs. “He looks comfortable out there. There’s obviously some technique stuff we’ve got to clean up, just like anybody, but yeah, I’m excited to work with him and just watch him and see. I wouldn’t say he’s a tackle, I wouldn’t say he’s a guard, I just want to see where he fits best for us and with our best five out there. So that may be at tackle. It might not be. But I’m excited to work with him and you can see his athleticism when he’s out there. He’s a pretty talented guy.”
But by the time training camp arrived, Morgan was playing mostly at right guard. He would compete with Sean Rhyan who was the favorite to take over the spot opened up by the departure of Jon Runyan, Jr. via free agency.
“We looked, and we thought the right guard position was the best spot,” Stenavich said early in training camp. “As of now, we’ll focus there. As he grasps it and gets better there, we can move him around if we want to. Or he does a great job there and we’re good to go. Right now, we’re focusing on keeping him at one spot that way he can really hone in on it and be the best he can be.”
Morgan was slowed by injuries during training camp and Rhyan won the starting job. The expectation was that Morgan would rotate in for several series per game much like Rhyan did last season when Runyan was struggling through some injuries and needed to be spelled.
In the season opener against the Eagles, Morgan didn’t start, but he played 42 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He played 29 percent of the snaps in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts before suffering a shoulder injury. As a result, he missed the next three games.
Morgan returned to the lineup Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. He played a season-high 52 percent of the snaps even though he didn’t start. Last week against the Texans, however, he played only 13 offensive snaps or 22 percent of the total.
Stenavich addressed Morgan’s progress this week. When asked why Rhyan was getting more snaps than the rookie right guard, the Packers offensive coordinator simply said, “I think Sean definitely is playing better than him right now.”
Pro Football Focus agrees with Stenavich. They grade Rhyan strong in pass protection and average when blocking for the run. Previously, his run blocking had been more of a strength while Rhyan had struggled to pass protect.
Meanwhile, Morgan has been average at best in pass protection while struggling to block for the run.
It will take some more time for Morgan to realize his potential. He is switching positions and switching sides along the line of scrimmage. Like all rookies, Morgan is also adjusting to the speed and skill of opposing players at the NFL level as compared to the college game.
For now, Morgan will continue to get a few series a game as he learns his craft. The Packers are hoping he eventually steps up and claims a starting job either at right guard or somewhere else along the offensive line.
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Comments (39)
PhantomII
October 26, 2024 at 11:00 am
I would say 1st RD pick is a disappointment he has not advanced to the starting line-up. I want the OL bigger, stronger and faster so maybe he gets to be a starter in 2025 instead after a year in strength and conditioning after all. Really happy with rounds 2-4 though. If our LT keeps getting penalties maybe he can take that position in the future. We look like we're in good shape for next draft, but we are lacking elite edge rusher and a better CB....again. Maybe another FA someone else has hit on. OL needs to get better in the draft as well as DL. Maybe we get the best OC in the draft this time for real.....maybe draft the consensus best OC everyone else knows, this time. GPG
PeteK
October 26, 2024 at 05:30 pm
I'm satisfied with Morgan as depth right now because we don't know what the future holds.
Leatherhead
October 26, 2024 at 11:40 am
If you draft an OL at #25, it just doesn't make a lot of sense to me unless you plan on him being a starting LT. These other positions....you can draft a guy on Day 2 (Jenkins, Myers, Rhyan), or even Day 3 (Tom, Walker) for the other spots. I've always been taught that the Order of Battle on the offensive line is LT, because he protects the QBs backside, Center, because they handle the ball on every play and call out the blocking assignments, RT, LG, and finally, RG, the inevitable weak link. Ron Wolf used to say he could find a RG anywhere, and I agree, and don't think it makes any sense to draft a RG with the #25 pick.
So I have to believe a shuffle is coming, but it's probably not going to happen until we take an injury to a starter. The Oline we're putting on the field, with or without Morgan, is protecting the QB and paving the way for one of the league's best running games.
I really don't know what their plans for Morgan are, unless it involves moving Walker.
SicSemperTyrannis
October 26, 2024 at 12:21 pm
It seems really strange to put Morgan at RG to me too. They were really hoping to get better, which Sean Rhyan has done. So I guess they figure more of the same until it doesn't work?
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 03:11 pm
There were plenty of people that said he'd move to guard in the pros before the draft including some that thought he was the best G prospect. I'm kind of tired of the whole "move a T to G" concept because it's outdated. There were plenty of guards(and centers) that met the Packers athletic thresholds. Like Wahle said this week he's not great at guard right now because he needs work on his footwork and it requires a different mentality. Unlike tackle there's a bigger, stronger guy in your face instantly and if your technique is bad your athleticism isn't going to help you recover like it can at tackle.
porupack
October 26, 2024 at 06:01 pm
Like your train of thought.
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 03:12 pm
If you draft a great player in the 1st round it's a win, it doesn't matter what position they wind up playing. You've been saying the same thing since the draft and have been wrong. If Walker went down I bet they'd move Jenkins or Tom to LT 1st. Morgan needs time to work on his feet. Maybe he challenges Walker next year but by then Walker will have a lot of experience on his side.
greengold
October 26, 2024 at 12:05 pm
The thing I question with Steno is Gutekunst picked a historically solid LT statistically, with +80% run and pass blocking grades for 2 consecutive years entering April's NFL Draft.
Put him at OG?
Ugh. FFS. While Morgan can be plugged in at OG, we're talking about a career LT, with exceptional gifts and the resume to go along with it to play LT at a top level of proficiency. Why throw. him at OG? I do question that a bit for a 1st Round selection.
Rasheed Walker is turning out to be a really good pass blocker, and he does bring the physical prototype every team looks for in an LT. Maybe that is the answer. However, Walker's run blocking carries the lowest grade per PFF on our OL, at something like 44.8. Lower than Josh Myers' 48.9, if I recall those numbers correctly.
When you sign a player like Josh Jacobs, I'd think you'd want not only your best pass blockers up front, but also your best maulers.
I believe Steno is missing the mark with this. Possible too that Jordan Morgan's shoulder injury has played into their decision making a bit, but... it seems the decision making on our OL has been suspect for a while. I believe we can assemble a more reliable OL, run & pass, with a different arrangement of our current players there. Play more to their strengths....???
SicSemperTyrannis
October 26, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Morgan hasn't been playing physically enough. I'd prefer that were due to still being hampered by injury rather than either low effort or simply being overpowered at his best. Either way, he doesn't seem ready to try T right now.
greengold
October 26, 2024 at 01:44 pm
Yeah. He's definitely not a low effort guy. Most OL require a solid year to get the NFL level of sand in their pants before they are really effective. Bakhtiari was indeed and outlier.
Another OT who was a R1 pick, Bryan Bulaga, also started playing on the Packers OL at OG, then jumped into the starting RT job when Tauscher went down for the year in 2010...
Never know what will unfold, but, I'm not worried about Jordan Morgan at all, as long as he heals up that shoulder on the quick.
jannesbjornson
October 26, 2024 at 02:13 pm
He should be placed to move Walker to the backup spot, or inside. Morgan had the best feet in the draft.
No doubt, the injury has held him back. You can say the same about Alt. Some of these projected One Picks at OT are playing the right tackle, or injured. After viewing two fails on the Home Field, during the Playoffs with Rodgers and also against the 49rs when Tom left the field; due to playing with guys off the scrap heap. You would hope the brain trust has enough acumen to protect Love more efficiently as the season moves into playoff qualifications. Tighten up the Mosh Pit.
greengold
October 27, 2024 at 06:27 am
Yes to that, jannes. Protecting Jordan Love is without a doubt, huge. At least this current starting OL has some decent pass blocking grades...
Rasheed Walker: 79.6
Elgton Jenkins: 83.2
Josh Myers: 69.3
Sean Rhyan: 70.6
Zach Tom: 80.9
As for Josh Morgan, he's not getting starter reps with pass blocking grades in the 50s. He needs the time to heal, and get acclimated to the NFL level. Everybody has bad games. Zach Tom posted a 53.4 pass blocking grade v. LAR... and not much better in run blocking that day. Myers had a tough go that day as well with a 38.5 overall grade. Yikes. However, Myders did post good numbers v. Colts, Vikings & Texans. The entire unit has struggled at times, and I don't believe we've seen the cohesion we all are wanting to see as fans. At the same time, it is a home grown OL, and I believe they can improve.
Adding a top level player to this mix via trade could tip the scales in 2024.
Gman1976
October 26, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Having Morgan makes our OL richer and deeper. Since we can move OL around, we are are more adaptable if an injury occurs. Great move by Gute.
TKWorldWide
October 26, 2024 at 07:09 pm
That’s my take as well.
Ferrari-Driver
October 26, 2024 at 01:01 pm
If Morgan winds up playing guard for the Packers, I will feel that somewhat disappointed unless he turns out to be an all pro at that position. Perhaps that shoulder injury is hampering him more that I think.
For the most part I would think that a GM would be filling future guard positions with 3rd, 4th, and 5th round draft choices.
TKWorldWide
October 27, 2024 at 11:19 am
Maybe they thought he’d beat out Walker at LT and Walker improved and held him off. Then Rhyan at RG was maybe the most likely spot Morgan could break in at and injuries and Rhyan’s performance have made the current situation what it is. I don’t see a net negative.
stockholder
October 26, 2024 at 01:33 pm
Ok Morgan is learning.
Yet, Rhyan will be the RG.
jannesbjornson
October 26, 2024 at 02:20 pm
The head scratching deal was Van Ness over Broderick Jones in the 2023 draft. BAg him and you're covered to address the guard & center depth in 2024. In any event, Morgan should be at LT. Now we re seeing the accumulation of penalties by Walker and he is being subject to stunts to get at Love. They list Dillard as the backup LT. Better hope he doesn't see the field.
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 03:19 pm
You mean the Broderick Jones with the 38 pass blocking grade from PFF that plays for the Steelers? No thank you.
stockholder
October 26, 2024 at 05:36 pm
Morgan won't be the Lt as long as Walker is 100%.
Rhyan is the RG now.
Most scouts projected Morgan at LG.
And IMO, Gute will not make the same mistake
he did with Bahk.
So I'll bet he replaces Jenkins.
greengold
October 27, 2024 at 06:57 am
I believe your last bit on Jenkins hits the mark, sh. Likely the reason we currently are seeing Rhyan & Morgan sharing OG snaps.
Our Packers seem to be holding to a draft-built OL, while allowing their players the time to develop. It might be a bigger problem than we can know with so many top talents assembled to go for the gold. I am curious to see what happens prior to the Nov. 5th trade deadline. I think Brian Gutekunst needs to strike while this iron is hot, and make a significant trade to help his team reach the prize.
Keeping a C who consistently breaks down via the run, and is just OK in pass pro has been the elephant in our OL room for years now.
Fix that. Gutekunst should not hang onto his mistakes. If he's willing to build and improve our roster with a fervor elsewhere, why not at C? He ought to just shrug it off and fix the problem there now. Improvement at the C position could help the entire OL.
Humphries signed the richest C deal in NFL history. Selected immediately following Gutekunst's Myers pick... F. F... F.... Fix the problem, please, Brian Gutekunst. Don't waste Josh Jacobs... and this golden opportunity.
Leatherhead
October 27, 2024 at 09:47 am
Here's the deal. Jon Runyan was a Day 3 pick who ended up being a serviceable guard and he was signed in FA for $10M/year. IMO, this means that you probably can't afford to resign/extend more than about one guy on the OL, and most of your OL is going to be guys on their rookie deal.
Myers is in the last year of his contract. Tom, Rhyan, and Morgan all will become FAs after next year. Jenkins has a contract that's going to pay him well. and much of it is in salary and bonuses. There's about a $10M on the books from his signing bonus, and that would be dead cap.
The Packers are going to have to decide who to keep. If they keep Tom, and they should, they'll probably lose Walker. If they don't resign Myers,who is going to be the Center? Are we going to keep Jenkins? How?.
I think we're going to see a big reshuffle of this offensive line at some point, but not until it's driven by an injury. And we definitely should draft some Day 2 guys to the offensive line
stockholder
October 28, 2024 at 03:23 pm
The best way to protect Love is-
sign Tom.
I say that Center is going to be a FA signing.
( This will depend on who is available. )
Walker has the luxury of Jenkins next to him.
To properly evaluate Walker.
( As a franchise LT )
It depends on Morgan's ability to play LG.
Regardless- Gute cannot over spend on the OL.
He should over-draft it- instead.
Coldworld
October 26, 2024 at 01:57 pm
Play the best we have. If that’s not Morgan, so be it. If he’s the 6th OL as a rookie then that says as much about Tom and Walker and good health as anything. It also tells us Rhyan has progressed more than they were willing to gamble on. Next year who knows, but I’d certainly expect him to be in the Tackle mix if Stenavich gives him a chance. This year, we needed help inside most obviously.
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 03:22 pm
If they let Myers go, 🤞, I'd like to see them add competition at C, a real guard and an athletic backup tackle. They can lose Myers, move Jenkins to center and have a nice starting 5 but the depth is a hot mess.
porupack
October 26, 2024 at 06:16 pm
I can count on CW to make consistent pragmatic critique. Respect your input most always. Indeed a good problem to have. If Morgan's competition drove Rhyan to be worthy of the starting position, who cares that he was a firstt round pick still waiting in the wings. A good problem....as I said. Whether now or later, they'll find his sweet spot...and for now, just let the experts do their thing and give them at least another year before we roast them in hindsight for our future data (and we can keep our aura of genius with the smirk of hindsight.
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 03:32 pm
"As far as Arod in his prime ,the culprit was Tt ,Thompson! Yes! He never gave him a competent defence! Very true, He avaded free agency like the plaque,loved more quantity than quantity."
I just noticed this on a thread from yesterday and 🤯mind blown. I didn't even know this was possible. On the one hand you quantity but on the other hand you have quantity. How can you love one more??
porupack
October 26, 2024 at 06:21 pm
I apparently had one too many this evening and haven't a clue what your saying. I'll trust you more than Beam's Black extra aged. Go pack, yeah Chesty!
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 07:50 pm
It's simple, someone yesterday said TT didn't like plaque and preferred quantity over quantity. I've been trying to figure out the deeper meaning of their paragraph! 😉
bossofallbosses
October 26, 2024 at 03:35 pm
He's clearly a bust. Sean Freaking Ryan, are you kidding me? If you can't beat out an average at best dude then you're clearly a bust.
Packers need to start trading out of the first round as virtually all their draft picks have been busts in the first round recently:
1.) LVN=Major bust
2.) Stokes = scrub bust
3.) Quay=qorst starting LB in NFL
4.) Devonte=Average at best but at least not a total bust.
5.) Savage=Gutter trash bust
6.) Gary= Couple top 10 years but is looking like a recent bust due to injury
7.) Alexander: When Healthy he's elite if not he's either not playing or playing like shit.
So since 2018 I'd say 4 of the 7 have been complete busts. One of them became a bust due to injury in Gary. Jaire is on and off due to injuries and Devonte has been average at best qhich can be considered a bust also.
Stop drafting for size and athleticism. Go for skill, IQ, instincts, production, etc. They seem to do this in the later rounds but the first round they draft these monsters because they have elite potential that never comes to fruition due to them being dumb af. Quay might be the dumbest MFer in the NFL. Gary and Devonte are not far behind. Savage and Stokes also have an IQ of a rock. Alexander may not be a complete moron but he acts like one sometimes.
Has Gute landed a single good
cdoemel
October 26, 2024 at 05:08 pm
FO!!
LLCHESTY
October 26, 2024 at 05:41 pm
Gutey landed a single good a long time ago!
porupack
October 26, 2024 at 06:25 pm
Funny, and maybe you're right. I kind of thought the same. Trade the first round pick for as many 4th rounders as you can, to whomever has 2, 3 or whatever 4th rounders. NO Way deal for 3rd rounders. 4th rounders...baby...that is the packer's mother lode. Der's gold der.
PhantomII
October 26, 2024 at 07:35 pm
There is only one way for us to draft in the first round because we nearly are always bottom 5 in the first round. If we need an Elite player...we have to move up to go get them....at least 10 spots. We are so close to SB now I would burn 2-#1's and get an elite CB or Edge or even a top 3 LT if that was my need to push our OL over the top in the run/pass game. GPG
Dick-theBruiser-Afflis
October 26, 2024 at 10:46 pm
Bossofallbosses - great name.
Add Jordan Love to the list.
Many Packer fans, having watched Jordan in college, saw just what we saw much of last year with Jordan - including in the Packers most important game of the year in San Francisco against the 49ers in the Divisional round with the game on the line, just a quarter and a 1/2 away from the NFC Championship game against the Lions - and are seeing again this season with Jordan. We all saw it coming in the future from the moment Gutekunst drafted Jordan in April 2020 as as the QB that led all of college football in interceptions and is now leading the NFL in the same.
Gutekunst could do what Roseman did with Wentz and then Hurts with Malik, but Roseman had a track record of success as General Manager and Executive VP of Football Operations - having won a Super Bowl - that Gutekunst does not, thus Gutekunst will ride with Jordan to the bitter end as the Packers go down, taking what was a 13-3, 13-3, 13-4 team on the brink of Super Bowls down the drain - the process starting the moment Gutekunst took over in January 2018 and likely even earlier when Ted was out of it. It takes too much in today's Quarterback centric NFL for the remainder of the 52 man roster to carry the QB to the Super Bowl.
After the risk "Gutey" took in crapping on so many present and future Packer and NFL Hall of Famers and taking a 13-3, 13-3, and 13-4 team on the brink of Super Bowls and destroying it, Jordan has to be the one to lead the Packers to multiple NFC Championships and Super Bowls for "Gutey" to maintain his reputation and any future in the NFL in an executive position. This is Titletown after all.
Leatherhead
October 27, 2024 at 10:32 am
And yet, despite all these bad players and a bad GM/Scouting/Personnel group, the Packers just go out and win. Can you explain that?
ricky
October 26, 2024 at 05:45 pm
Morgan has less than half a season playing. As stated in the article, he is getting used to playing at a completely different level, against vastly superior talent. He has also switched sides, and moved inside to guard from being a left tackle in college. That he is a bit slow to make the adjustments is no surprise. This is time to observe for the fans, and for Morgan to learn from one of the best in Stenavich. Rhyan is doing better than him? It is also his third year in the league, and it also took him some time to become a reliable starter. And to expect Morgan to somehow be much better because of his draft position? About half of those choices either are busts, or at best disappointments to their team. Give the guy some time.
GregC
October 26, 2024 at 06:14 pm
I don't think it's really true that Sean Rhyan won the starting RG job. Morgan looked like he had won it before the first preseason game, then he got hurt. So Rhyan won the job by default. Morgan came back and played part time, then got hurt again. His rookie season has been a mess due to injuries. Rhyan has played better than expected, so probably the best Morgan can hope for is to be the first OL off the bench.
EricTorkelson
October 26, 2024 at 08:07 pm
The photo above is very revealing, look at the leg size difference between Tom and Morgan... Tom cannot anchor like Morgan and although a great technician with good feet Tom can get bullied backwards and move Love off his spot. This happens to Walker to.. Morgan has been moving people and so has Rhyan another player who has the lowers to anchor. Unfortunately Morgans shoulder injury if a ( rotator cuff ) tear are usually a 3 to 6 month rehab and if 100% torn surgery only .. They are painful... From what i have seen Morgan is stout and strong moving people around sometimes getting into the Def backfield and getting more... he could become a excellent guard and Rhyan a decent center..But In my opinion I would like to see Tom at left tackle next year and Morgan take his spot at right tackle... Morgan and Rhyan and Kraft could really move some people and make Jacobs life allot easier.