Packers Select Ty'Ron Hopper in 2024 NFL Draft - Round 3
Ty'Ron Hopper, Missouri, Linebacker
MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:
6'2" 231 pounds. Ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds. RAS 7.38. 10 yard split 1.64.
CAREER NOTES:
Five-year player who started in Florida before transferring. In 2022 led the Tigers with 14 tackles for loss. In 12 starts had 78 tackles with 2.5 sacks, INT, 4 PBUs, A South Carolina native, he comes from a family of football players. Named a Tigers captain in 2023.
NFL SCOUTING REPORT:
NFL.COM https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ty-ron-hopper/3200484f-5064-0560-858f-6453...
FIT WITH THE PACKERS:
Speedy linebacker with coverage skills, to complement the earlier draft of Edgerrin Cooper, who is primarily outside run coverage and blitzer. Excellent pursuit speed, and played a lot of special teams.Missouri played a similar 4-2-5 scheme to what the Packers are expected to do more of, he aggressively responds to both runners and backs moving out into coverage. According to Dane Brugler of the Athletic, who mocked him to Green Bay: "Overall, Hopper needs to be more consistent at the point of attack and as a finisher, but he is a fast-flowing athlete pursuit skills and blitzing talent to find a home in the NFL."
COMMENTARY:
Interestingly, Brugler had both Cooper and Hopper mocked to Green Bay. Our own draftnik Joseph Randolph had him as a potential "Joseph's Gem." I thought Hopper and Junior Colson much more matched Green Bay's upcoming scheme, but doubling up on the position with players of different strengths is smart. Hopper missed his final three games with a shoulder injury, but there do not appear to be lingering concerns. Hopper has developmental needs, and won't be ready to take the field for awhile. He needs to fill out his frame and get better at finding the ball over his shoulder in coverage.
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__________________________
Jonathan Krim grew up in New York but got hooked on the Packers — and on hating the Cowboys — watching the Ice Bowl as a young child. He blames bouts of unhappiness in his late teens on Dan Devine. A journalist for several decades who now lives in California, he enjoys trafficking in obscure cultural references, lame dad jokes and occasionally preposterous takes. Jonathan is a Packers shareholder, and insists on kraut with his brats. You can follow Jonathan on twitter at @Jkrim.
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Comments (53)
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 10:14 pm
What is wrong with Wilson- Drugs?
A reach here especially after you drafted Cooper
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 10:17 pm
Gute is rebuilding the position. Wilson was likely at best going to be a Reserve/ST guy.
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 10:23 pm
He just went to the Steelers.
Never pass on talent -
This is why the Lions are
in first place.
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 10:31 pm
I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I thought he was referencing Eric Wilson. But Payton Wilson's lengthy injury history turned off many teams.
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 10:40 pm
His shoulders were operated on.
Not his Brain. PFF rated him as the top LB.
Since when is Pff wrong?
This is more than competition.
His film was terrific.
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 10:56 pm
Two surgically repaired knees and a shoulder (which is used on every tackle) is definitely a cause for concern. He almost fell out of the 3rd Round so don't just put this on the Packers, the entire league wasn't too keen on taking him Day 2.
AnotherPackFan
April 26, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Joseph, don't feed the trolls. This "stock" moron is just a troll who posts a dozen times a day and they are always negative. I think he's a vikings fan so I guess we should cut the loser a little slack. But why he wastes his life trolling here I can't figure out. Sad little boy I guess.
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 11:12 pm
So the Steelers are Morons for taking him?
You are Gute's Borg.
It's sad that you have to see a losing
franchise, before the light goes on.
I'm a stockholder.
And I hate to see power abused when
other clubs get the better of us.
Coldworld
April 27, 2024 at 12:49 am
The Steelers took Darnell Washington last year after a similar drop for a likely to be degenerative condition, in his case his foot. They were pretty open about being willing to take the risk at a certain point. Perhaps we were too this time, but I doubt it. That point might be next year. It’s not long ago that we did release an ILB, Martin, picked in 2020 and released in ‘21 because of a degenerative injury.
Personally I am pretty happy with who we did pick. It’s easy to forget that Wilson is also going to need to add mass and strength most likely before he is fully effective at this level. Of course you seldom are happy with anything, though I did see you liked Lloyd.
This is a really strong draft so far, even if, Lloyd aside, we haven’t picked any of my first choices that were available at the positions picked. I suppose I would agree Bullard might be the best dual role S prospect in this draft too. Those we have picked are all strong candidates with track records of actual play and all fit needs too. On top of that 2 more picks/ammunition gained for tomorrow.
Be happy. Try it, there’s nothing to hate or even particularly wacky in this draft to date. We are a better quality team for these picks and the holes are filling too. Remember, resistance is futile but so is conceding defeat before a cleat has even hit the practice field.
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 11:07 pm
High School surgery? Really -
The Steelers found a gem.
And to use your words.
That doesn't make him a bad pick.
I'll bet you, that he has a better and
longer career with the Steelers.
Then Hopper does with the packers.
AnotherPackFan
April 26, 2024 at 11:18 pm
The report on Payton Wilson. Athletic with great tape.
What concerns?
"Medical history is a bright red flag after double -digit surgeries since his senior year of high school. He missed the second half of his senior year of high school after tearing the ACL in his right knee (October 2017), requiring surgery; reinjured his right knee during
summer of 2018 and required another surgery, sitting out his first season at NC State;
underwent surgery on both shoulders after the 2020 season and sat out 2021
spring practices; missed most of the 2021 season after suffering his third shoulder dislocation (September 2021), which required surgery (Bristow procedure
performed by Dr. James Andrews) to repair shoulder blade issues (battled complications from the surgery, including infection)
… will be 24 years old on draft weekend
… arrested on misdemeanor counts of consuming alcohol, possession of a fraudulent ID, injury to personal property and resisting an officer (December 2019) after he ran from police, was struck by a vehicle and hid under a parked car."
And from Steelers blog tonight, "he has no ACL left" in one knee.
stockholder
April 26, 2024 at 11:32 pm
Well this is better than what was made public.
And every site then was wrong to position him so high.
Including PFF. Thank you.
Still rumors have a way of dropping players.
My point has always been if you need a position filled.
The player should be given the benefit of doubt.
I still stand stand on his college stats.
And Tape that justifies his selection by the steelers.
AnotherPackFan
April 26, 2024 at 11:47 pm
I think everyone agrees that he played great in 2023 and tests as an excellent athlete. Maybe he can stay healthy and be a great NFL player. We will find out in time.
jannesbjornson
April 26, 2024 at 11:13 pm
The Pack waxed them on Turkey Day.
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2024 at 10:51 pm
Wilson would immediately be the best athlete in the linebacker room, which is saying something because Walker and Cooper are massively athletic. Wilson paired with Cooper and Walker would have been disgusting. In stead, we got Cooper, Walker and....whoever the hell steps up at the third spot.
jannesbjornson
April 26, 2024 at 11:07 pm
Hopper may be the better LB. He looks fluid in coverage. Edge Cooper looks to be the guy I wanted as a gap shooting blitzer, inside/outside. The next round should bring in another Heavy DT to protect these guys, or teams will try to beat them with counter action.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
April 27, 2024 at 01:03 am
The guy has an injury list longer than a CVS receipt.
MilkCan44
April 27, 2024 at 06:09 am
The scouting report on Oren Burks was "extremely mobile sideline-to-sideline but is slow diagnosing plays and often arrives late". If you remember, Burks played himself off the field by being in the wrong place, especially in coverage.
I like all the picks before this, but this one is a Burks repeat.
NoNonsense
April 26, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Couple knocks against Wilson were obviously medical and age. He's gonna be a 24 yrd old rookie who's had 3 season ending injuries that required surgery, 2 ACLs. I would have rolled the dice and took Wilson over Hopper myself but they seem to have similar skill sets, with Wilson being the better athlete of the two.
Coldworld
April 27, 2024 at 01:00 am
He’s also rail thin. He seriously needs to add mass and power to handle the step up in level and have a hope of durability (generally, not related to prior conditions). He’s 6’4 and lighter than a couple of Safeties in this draft. He’s much thinner built than Hopper, who will also have to bulk up but over 2 inches shorter and only 6 pounds lighter at the combine. Yes, I like Wilson a lot, but there are still issues that need to be remembered to keep him in proper perspective.
splitpea1
April 26, 2024 at 10:36 pm
Oh my. The projections vary a little here, but many had him going in the fifth or sixth round. Maybe the rationale here is that McDuffie is a free agent after this season. Once again, tackling needs work. Hybrid-like in physical build. Maybe he'll turn into a special teams demon--we could certainly use one.
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Special teamed drafted in the third round with much better players across the board available and many much better athletes, this was the worst pick Gute has made in a few years.
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 10:51 pm
Better players such as? And according to who?
Just because it's not who you wanted doesn't make it a bad pick.
NitschkeFan
April 26, 2024 at 11:11 pm
JosephR I appreciate your work here at CHTV but this is the first pick this year that has me stumped. I do not do the research you do but subscribe to a ton of material (too much time on my hands).
The first 4 picks by the Packers this year are not controversial at all. There were many many researchers that placed those prospects in the range where Green Bay picked them. But this guy Hopper does not fit that profile.
In the later rounds there is a much wider variation on where players appear to be ranked. But still...
CHTV Draft guide had Hopper ranked as the 21st LB prospect.
The Athletic had him as 11th LB prospect.
PFF had him as 13th.
I guess I'd like to know what you saw in him and that would lift my spirits about this pick (though I feel the Packer nailed all of their other picks so far!).
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 11:45 pm
Hopper was the 5th Ranked LB on my personal board.
Hopper isn't a high end athlete, but he does a very good job of diagnosing the play and getting the runner down behind the line of scrimmage.
People focused on his 18 missed tackles throughout a SEASON, that's essentially 1.4 missed tackles a game. I can live with that. If he cleans it up marginally, that's maybe...0.9 missed tackles a game?
I would also like to point out he's never surrendered a TD in his career.
Hopper could possibly he our new SOLB, which means he'll probably be on the field for 20%-35% of all defensive snaps, but he has the ability to move inside and play MLB and WOLB as well. Gutey likes guys who can play more than one position. And because of his excellent nose for the football, we can probably count on him as a ST ace sooner than later.
This is a solid pick. I had him mid to late 4th Round, but I expect Gute to say that he didn't think he would survive til 126th; which is a very fair assessment.
Thegreatreynoldo
April 27, 2024 at 06:04 pm
At this point, whether a particular player is a good or bad pick is a matter of pure opinion. The Packers, Pauline, and Joseph R for example are of the opinion that Hopper is a good pick. That's all well and good. Others, including CHTV's own guide, seem to suggest that he is a reach if selected in the late third. I myself wonder how drafting multiple will linebackers rounds out the ILB room. Hopper looks like a facsimile of McDuffie athletically, although Hopper is slightly better.
I definitely think he has a chance to play in the NFL. I am not against drafting him altogether, even while I wonder how many will ILBs a team needs.
Oppy
April 27, 2024 at 06:14 pm
"I myself wonder how drafting multiple will linebackers rounds out the ILB room. Hopper looks like a facsimile of McDuffie athletically, although Hopper is slightly better. "
This could be an indication of exactly what Gutekunst and the coaching staff has been telling us for months- they expect to create strong competition at all positions.
It could also be a matter of specific traits that make certain players valuable within the scheme in certain situations or formations.
Lastly.. LB /TE body type is the core ST body type, so stockpiling these guys is easier to do because bottom of the roster can be kept/developed and utilized on STs and called upon if injury so demands down the road.
jannesbjornson
April 26, 2024 at 11:11 pm
Pauline had him rated as the 6th best LB. #93 in the order.
PackEyedOptimist
April 26, 2024 at 10:47 pm
It's interesting that Hopper started his college career as a cornerback, and his greatest strength is coverage. Honestly, on tape, he looks like a defensive back. I wonder if they are trying to put a bunch of fast, coverage-type guys on the field behind their four pass rushing linemen? They seem to be building a defense that is going to struggle against power running games. Virtually ALL of the starting defenders other than Clark are "light and fast."
Doofapotamus
April 26, 2024 at 10:48 pm
I don't know a lot about Hopper, but I know I dislike this pick. Most analysts had him ranked between rounds 5-6. When you factor in his age (23) his missed tackle percentage (22.7) his terrible coverage grade (39.6) and his overall performance grade (51.5) it makes you wonder what Gute saw in him. With guys who could possibly come in and start immediately like Wilson (who is 24, by comparison so the "age" knock on him is irrelevant in this case) Trotter JR (21) and Gray (21) it just seems like a terrible pick and a huge reach to #91 overall. I hope I'm wrong but this has all of the makings of another Oren Burks selection.
JosephR
April 26, 2024 at 10:53 pm
When was Hopper ever a cornerback? He was a OLB in HS, as a matter of fact he was the 11th-ranked OLB in the country as a HS prospect. You're the second person to say this and I don't understand why. Do you have a source?
jannesbjornson
April 26, 2024 at 11:27 pm
I see a 4.5, cover LB capable of running with TE/RBs and slot WRs in the short zones. More instinctive than Walker as an off-ball guy and not put on the field to stop the run. They can leave Walker closer to the LOS and Edge Cooper will play to his strength as a blitzer. I would still like to see Jaylan Ford come on board and Hatley can play stack with him and Walker, letting Cooper be the WLB. McDuffie will handle that assignment, more than likely. Looks to be fast and furious, not reading a book with Barry in charge.
MilkCan44
April 27, 2024 at 06:02 am
I agree totally with this comment. It's an Oren Burks repeat - except that Burks (outside of football) is much more academic than Hopper.
PackEyedOptimist
April 27, 2024 at 06:40 am
From DraftBuzz.com: "His (Hopper's) freshman year in 2019 saw limited action, with Hopper appearing in just one game and playing a total of 3 snaps at cornerback for the Gators. Despite minimal playing time, he displayed glimpses of potential."
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
April 27, 2024 at 01:06 am
They drafted him cuz hes an athlete. 4.4 speed without all the injuries Wilson has. The guy was a Butkus award finalist so I find it hard to believe he was as bad as those numbers you posted would suggest.
golfpacker1
April 27, 2024 at 09:22 am
Baloney, cmon man, 4.68 is much closer to 4.7 than it is to 4.4. And Hopper is recovering from shoulder surgery too.
Packers fans, you don't have to blindly agree with everything the Packers do or say. This was a real head scratching move to select Hopper in the 3rd round, when there were better LB players and other needed position players available. Mason McCormick just to mention one. There were top CBs available too.
I was, as I expect many other draftniks were, watching all 3 networks at once to see what players were picked and evaluations of them. The "so-called" experts, and I can hear the insults coming, pretty much thought this was a huge overreach on a 6th round player.
If we wanted another LB it should have been Gray or Wilson. Gray was younger and way more productive than Hopper. Or CB or IOL should have been addressed. This was pretty much a perfect draft up to this point, but Hopper was a big miss. You don't spend a 3rd round pick on a special teams player, especially one who hasn't even played special teams in 2 years. We deserve a D+ for this pick.
jannesbjornson
April 27, 2024 at 09:55 am
4.5 speed at his Pro Day. View his Film, forget the track meets & PF.F I liked Gray, but they liked The Edge in the blitz work. The goal is to get to the QB fast vs. these Air Raid offenses. I wanted Jonah Ellis. I also wanted Beebe with the #41. He likes His guy, Rhyan, in the RG spot. We will see...The front Four will have to keep these guys clean.
Coldworld
April 27, 2024 at 01:07 am
He was a safety in high school who became a hybrid type ILB that some would still have labelled an SS and gradually continued the shift. He fits the Hafley D very well as a sort of hybrid box cum situational Mike who excels playing down hill and making plays. He would be horrid in a reactive Barry type system. Needs to play aggressively and instinctively.
jannesbjornson
April 27, 2024 at 09:59 am
We've seen enough of P.Smith in coverage...
The_Justicar
April 27, 2024 at 06:42 am
Day 1 at Florida he was a linebacker. Practiced as a linebacker and played solely as a linebacker. Was rated as a top 100 player out of high school as a linebacker. (#84 overall. https://247sports.com/Season/2019-Football/RecruitRankings/?InstitutionG...)
He didn’t play or practice a single snap at cornerback at Florida nor Missouri. However, he was a cornerback in high school at some point.
Here is his 2018 high school profile. Kind of interesting 6 years later.
“Long, lean linebacker that is still developing physically and filling out his frame. Elite athlete that changes direction well and has great closing speed. Began his career as a cornerback before outgrowing that position, but still possesses plus coverage skills for a linebacker. Lack of weight to be a run stuffer is a concern. Will need to bulk up and add more strength. Should be an impact player at the Power 5 level and projects as mid-round NFL draft pick.”
He was 197 pounds in high school.
SDPack
April 27, 2024 at 12:01 am
Admittedly I know nothing about this guy. But in terms of roster construction, I think this pick would have been better with a CB or an OL.
Coldworld
April 27, 2024 at 01:18 am
There are some good IOL and CB types still out there, particularly ones with ability to play inside. One thing I think may be being missed is that the Packers picked up a guy last season called Robert Rochelle and I’m hearing that they are a lot higher on the former 4th rounder than we knew. High 9s RAS, even without the 4.39 40 reported after the combine. Flashed early, got injured, got squeezed out, bounced around with little opportunity. A bit like Douglas actually.
https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1382793349464137732
Alberta_Packer
April 27, 2024 at 01:39 am
Trevin Wallace @ 72 and Hopper @ 91! Is the LB class really this shallow?
Turophile
April 27, 2024 at 04:58 am
I'd rather have gone with Trotter as the fast chase linebacker myself..............but Gute has earned respect for his drafting, so I'll cheer Hopper on in the G&G.
jannesbjornson
April 27, 2024 at 10:26 am
Hopper is the taller guy. He can high-point with the TEs. He is a better cover guy. Trotter a better guy in run stop.
Turophile
May 01, 2024 at 03:11 am
Ty'ron has a couple of inches on Trotter and both are lightweight (228 Trotter, 233 Ty'ron).
I get the height helps with covering TEs. Trotter is the more instinctive though. His pass rush, run defense and coverage ranked an excellent 86%, 84%, 87%. Ty'ron's was 76%, 69%, 57%. That is a considerable difference..
Ty'ron might have more upside being taller and faster (ran a 4.50 40, to Trotter's 4.60). I guess its flavour, Which do you prefer...........the Packers obviously preferred Hopper, since Trotter was still on the board when they took Hopper.
HankScorpio
April 27, 2024 at 07:38 am
I wanted the Packers to double-up at LB and they did. Hopper was one of the frequent second LB choices during sims. Good deal.
jannesbjornson
April 27, 2024 at 10:32 am
Bring in another thumper, or Jordan McGee to run with these fast 3rd down RBs.
gsd3
April 27, 2024 at 07:39 am
This is the only pick that is a head scratcher to me. Would have preferred Gray or Mcgee.
MitchAnthony
April 27, 2024 at 08:17 am
Really like the first four picks made in the draft. Then Brian G was visited by the "Ghost Of Third Rounders Past" and reminded that it was still the 3rd round and Green Bay just had to do something a little confounding and select a player who could be had some 50-70 picks down the line.
Look, I hope Hopper works out. Just a little puzzled with this one.
golfpacker1
April 27, 2024 at 09:37 am
The first 4 picks were almost perfect, we filled 4 big needs and made 2 position groups, RB & Safety into strengths. I was falling off the couch thrilled, then pick #91 came up. I was hoping for a trade back to gain an extra 4th or 5th, but Mason McCormick was sitting there, so was Khyree Jackson & Cam Hart, 2 starting caliber CBs.
Then we overdrafted a 6th round LB and the air went out of the room. I fully support overdrafting a player slightly if he is someone we really need and he is really good. Hopper fits neither. There were at least 4 better LBs available and we picked Hopper.
Stop defending this pick with "The Packers know more than we do defense." This LB is coming off shoulder surgery,( the Wilson defense) has below average stats,(the Wallace defense) is too slow,(the Colson defense, misses too many tackles, ( the Gray defense. If you pick a player in the 3rd round, his best strength shouldn't be special team snaps. Which he hasn't played in 2 years.
It's disappointing to read the KOOLAID comments from the Packers can't do anything wrong crowd. Anybody, including all the commentators on NFL network, ABC & ESPN could see and said this was a huge overreach and the first bad pick by GB in this draft. We don't HAVE to like all the picks, it's ok to disagree. We are still having a great draft, so we have a lot to be happy about. GB could have done a lot better than picking Hopper.
Tex49
April 27, 2024 at 03:38 pm
Miz
gsd3
April 28, 2024 at 06:30 am
Gotta admit that I didn't like this pick. Still don't really. I like the aggression he brings to the table though. If he can improve as a tackler they may have something. Keeping an open mind.