How the Packers settled on Jordan Morgan and why *The Dream* remains alive entering Day 2

The Packers' selection of Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan reveals a considerable amount about the team's draft plans.

The Green Bay Packers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with 11 picks. General manager Brian Gutekunst still has 10 of those selections, but his decision to take Arizona State's Jordan Morgan reveals a considerable amount about both his draft plans and the direction of the team this season.

Putting the Morgan pick in perspective

For much of the draft process, Morgan's biggest question centered around his position at the next level. He appeared in 41 games and made 37 starts at Arizona, all at left tackle. Morgan performed well in that role, allowing just three sacks and three QB knockdowns over his final two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. Even his pre-draft testing came out well with Morgan grading as a 9.24 out of 10 by Relative Athletic Score. All of those data points suggest a prospect capable of handling tackle at the next level.

Still, Morgan's frame raised some legitimate concerns about that possibility. While his 6-foot-5, 311-pound frame does track with what the Packers and most teams look for at offensive tackle, his 32.88-inch arms fall well below the traditional NFL standard for the position (34 inches) and even Green Bay's more forgiving thresholds (closer to 33 inches). For further context, Zach Tom, a multi-position player in college who most projected as an interior lineman in the pros, has 33.25-inch arms. Even David Bakhtiari, while generally considered undersized as a prospect, still had 34-inch arms. Going back further, 2010 first-rounder Bryan Bulaga's arms measured 33.25 inches.

By comparison, Morgan's measurements share more in common with some of the college tackles that the Packers moved to guard. Sean Rhyan, a third-round pick in 2022, measured in the 32-inch range. Royce Newman's arms also fell below 33 inches, precipitating his transition from tackle to guard after arriving in Green Bay. While length doesn't guarantee that a player can or cannot handle tackle, it does tend to reflect which ones will ultimately end up at that position in the NFL.

Even so, the Packers do view Morgan as a tackle who can play guard as opposed to a player who has to move inside to survive.

"I think he can play all four spots," Gutekunst said of Morgan, referencing each of the tackle and guard positions.

"He played left tackle. He's got left-tackle feet. Very athletic kid. Very sturdy, strong lower body. He had 27 (reps) on the bench as well, so he's a very strong athlete. So, when you move inside where things move a little bit quicker and you got to handle a little bit more power, and he certainly has shown the ability to do that."