Reevaluating The Green Bay Packers' 2024 Draft

With the 2024 NFL season in the books and the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the Green Bay Packers’ draft strategy from last year. Given what we now know, let’s reassess their selections and consider the adjustments that could have been made.

Round 1
Original Pick: OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
Revised Pick: DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Heading into the 2024 season, bolstering the offensive line was a priority for the Packers, especially made clear after their struggles in the Wild Card round against the Eagles. With this in mind, they selected tackle Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall pick. Unfortunately, Morgan battled injuries for much of the season, and even when healthy, he saw limited playing time. His performance did not justify a first-round selection.
An alternative pick could have been Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean. Many speculated that DeJean would be Green Bay’s selection, as he was one of the top defensive prospects available. In his rookie season with the Eagles, DeJean tallied 51 tackles, forced one fumble, and showcased his skills as a punt returner. He consistently ranked among the league’s highest-rated defensive backs—a remarkable feat for a rookie.

Round 2
Original Pick: LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Revised Pick: LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Edgerrin Cooper proved to be a standout player and one of the biggest steals of the draft. No changes needed here.

Round 2 (Second Pick)
Original Pick: S Javon Bullard, Georgia
Revised Pick: S Javon Bullard, Georgia
While Javon Bullard didn’t make the same impact as Cooper, he contributed to the defense in 2024. His performance was inconsistent at times, but he demonstrated potential and brought an aggressive edge to the Packers' secondary. Given time to develop, Bullard could grow into a more reliable presence in the defensive backfield.

Round 3
Original Pick: RB MarShawn Lloyd, USC
Revised Pick: RB Bucky Irving, Oregon
MarShawn Lloyd’s rookie season was hindered by injuries, and when he was on the field, his performance was underwhelming. If the Packers were set on drafting a running back in the third round, Bucky Irving would have been the better choice. Irving, who slipped to the fourth round and landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, delivered an impressive season: 1,122 rushing yards (5.4 YPC), 8 rushing touchdowns, and 47 receptions for 392 yards (8.3 YPC). His impact was felt across the league, and he is now a strong contender for Tampa Bay’s starting role. While Lloyd still has potential, Irving would have provided an immediate boost to Green Bay’s backfield alongside Josh Jacobs.

Round 3 (Second Pick)
Original Pick: LB Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri
Revised Pick: WR Jalen McMillan, Washington
Ty’Ron Hopper saw very limited action in his rookie season, making it difficult to assess his full potential. However, when a player struggles to get on the field, it raises concerns about his long-term viability.
The very next pick after Hopper, Tampa Bay selected wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who made a notable impact in his rookie season. McMillan recorded 37 receptions for 461 yards (12.5 YPC), 8 touchdowns, and also contributed in the rushing game with 43 yards on four carries (10.8 YPC). The Packers entered the season with high expectations for their receiving corps, but the unit underperformed at times. Additionally, with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs approaching the end of their rookie contracts, Green Bay may only be able to retain one of them. Adding McMillan would have provided valuable depth and an affordable young playmaker for years to come.

Final Thoughts
Hindsight is 20/20, but looking back at the 2024 draft, the Packers had opportunities to make selections that could have had a more immediate impact. While some picks, like Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Bullard, were solid choices, others—such as Jordan Morgan and MarShawn Lloyd—proved to be less effective than expected. Players like Cooper DeJean, Bucky Irving, and Jalen McMillan could have strengthened key areas of need and helped push the Packers further into postseason contention.
​
As we head into the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay will need to learn from past decisions to continue building a competitive roster.