Multiple offensive linemen, multiple wide receivers, cornerbacks, tight ends. Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the general manager in 2018, he has had an interesting trend. When attacking needs in the draft, the executive likes to add more than one player at the same position. And that's what he did once again in 2024.
#Packers select Mizzou LB Ty'Ron Hopper, with the 91st overall pick in the #NFLDraft
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) April 27, 2024
One round after selecting Edgerrin Cooper, Gutekunst drafted another off-ball linebacker, getting Ty'Ron Hopper, from Missouri, with the 91st overall pick — Green Bay's original third-round selection.
However, that was probably a significant reach for the Packers. On the consensus big board, Hopper was the 173rd prospect. According to James Foster, A to Z Sports’ video analyst, he was a sixth-round prospect.
Ty'Ron Hopper was drafted in round 3 pick 91 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 7.42 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 745 out of 2889 LB from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/DRhUu87rLM pic.twitter.com/fjdNbkhR3m
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2024
Strengths
In a vacuum, not considering positional value and impact, linebacker might have been the most glaring need for the Packers entering the draft. The projected starters were Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie, which was obviously not an ideal scenario. The situation got better with the selection of Edgerrin Cooper with the 45th overall pick, but he and Walker, the most talented players in the room, are too similar.
The Packers were highly interested in Hopper, as he was a top-30 visit. Besides his defensive contributions, Hopper can also play special teams — he had almost 500 special teams snaps in college football.
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