The Green Bay Packers have found success drafting during the Brian Gutekunst era, despite often ruffling feathers with their draft strategy. After a first-round pick that many fans questioned, the Packers had to respond with a calculated draft plan to keep fans on board with this draft class. Now after day two which included four draft picks by the Green Bay Packers, Packers fans have come back around to the understanding of Brian Gutekunst thanks to multiple high-value selections.
Green Bay Packers Draft Consensus #1 Inside Linebacker
The Green Bay Packers were in the market for a middle linebacker heading into the 2024 NFL draft. After moving on from the former all-pro De’Vondre Campbell it was clear that the Packers were looking to bring new talent into the linebacker room alongside Quay Walker.
After many experts mocked the arrival of a first-round linebacker, the flow of the draft dictated a different opportunity for the Green Bay Packers. In the second round, the Packers moved down a handful of spots in a trade with the New Orleans Saints despite the availability of highly touted corner Kool-Aid McKinstry. The Packers proceeded to draft the top prospect in a position of need, a prospect few people expected to be available at pick number 45.
With the 45th pick in the 2024 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select LB Edgerrin Cooper from Texas A&M University!@amfam | #PackersDraft pic.twitter.com/PTt2xNSLQi
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 27, 2024
The Green Bay Packers were actually mocked to get Edgerrin Cooper in the first round by many, instead, they played the waiting game and were able to obtain him for the 45th pick as opposed to the 25th. The consensus number one off-ball linebacker in the NFL draft became the first off-ball linebacker off the board later than many expected.
The production of Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper in college was undeniable, leading the SEC team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and forced fumbles. With good size and top-tier athleticism that pairs perfectly with his desire to pursue the football, Cooper will find significant snaps in the linebacker position and likely special teams very quickly. Needing the direction and discipline to stay consistently in plays, Cooper is not a perfect prospect but is certainly an exciting one for the Packers to acquire at such a good value.
Green Bay Packers 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker appears very excited about the selection.
Got my partner in crime!
#PutCheeseOnEverything 🧀🧀🧀🧀 https://t.co/IccAFPsxqZ— 7 (@QuayWalker_) April 27, 2024
Much like the rest of the NFL world, he sees the potential with him and Cooper in the new Jeff Hafley system.
Green Bay Packers Draft Top-Rated Safety
Linebacker was not the only selection for the Green Bay Packers that positional rankings loved. Just 13 selections later, the Packers acquired another SEC talent that slipped deep into the second round at another key position of need. Despite the signing of star safety Xavier McKinney in the offseason, the Packers needed more depth and talent at the position.
The solution to this problem according to Brian Gutekunst was one of the top-rated safeties in the NFL Draft, number one according to many. Javon Bullard stood out on a talented Georgia defense, The versatile safety found snaps at both split safety spots as well as the nickel/slot which the Green Bay Packers desperately needed support in. Though Bullard is considered a little undersized, he makes up for his shortcomings with great athleticism and pure football instincts. His angles of pursuit and tackle abilities are highly touted and Bullard plays much bigger than he is.
For the Packers, this is a dream fit, as a player who can provide playmaking from the box as well as a committed tackler checks multiple important boxes for the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Draft High Ceiling Running Back
While on a roll with high-value picks, the Packers continued the trend with a splash playmaker in the third round of the draft. After the signing of superstar running back Josh Jacobs and the unexpected departure of homegrown talent Aaron Jones, the Green Bay Packers running back depth needed speed and dynamism, and at pick number 88 they found just that.
Marshawn Lloyd is a valued back out of USC (transfer from South Carolina) who demonstrated elite athleticism at the combine and pro days as well as legit big play ability off the run and catch in college. While slight injury concern hinders Lloyd, the splashy running back has generally low mileage for this point of his career and will be a breath of fresh air in the Green Bay Packers offense that lacks pure speed.
Lloyd was beloved by many scouts, including analyst from the NFL network Daniel Jeremiah who proclaimed him as the best back in the draft. Marshawn Lloyd agreed.
“I’m the best running back in the draft, for sure, and I think Green Bay got the best running back in the draft because they think the exact same,” Lloyd said during his Zoom call. “I’m super-confident with that. I think Daniel Jeremiah, that’s going to come up in the next few years, exactly what he says. I definitely do feel like he’s telling the truth on that part.”
With a great blend of skill and confidence, Brian Gutekunst has drafted three rounds’ worth of quality talent at good to great value.
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