Packers OL Jordan Morgan addresses critics of his play at left tackle

The Packers never made it a secret about their desire to select an offensive tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft. That’s why they used the No. 25 pick on former Arizona standout Jordan Morgan.

The draft definitely was the year of the offensive linemen, specifically at tackle. Morgan was the seventh tackle off the board and one of nine offensive linemen to go in the first round.

Yet, draft analysts wonder whether the newest Packers offensive lineman should stick to tackle in the NFL. Scouts tend to want their tackles to fit a certain physical prototype. The league wants a tackle’s arms to measure at least 34 inches. Morgan’s arms are 32 7/8 inches. Would an inch be the difference between a quarterback staying up right in the pocket or being sacked by a hard-charging defensive end?

“I get that a lot, the short arms stuff,” Morgan said at a Packers press availability. “It’s like, obviously you haven’t watched film. I mean I use them pretty well. I move people off the ball. (And) I pass protect really well, protect the quarterback, I mean see the stats. It doesn’t bother me. I’m just gonna prove everybody wrong.”

So Morgan gave an emphatic no about shifting inside to guard because of his arm length. Somehow, he managed to make first-team All-Pac 12 last season, even with his shorter arms. He started 37 of 41 games for Arizona. All of his starts were at left tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Morgan allowed only three sacks in the 880 snaps he played the last two seasons.

“I just didn’t care about arm length,” Morgan said. “I mean, I didn’t really think it was a big deal coming into college and hearing about it. They put me at left tackle, they thought I was a great left tackle, and sure enough I was.”

Last time Packers selected an o-lineman in 1st round was 2011

The Packers thought he was a great left tackle, too, otherwise why waste a draft pick? The team hasn’t used a first-round selection on an offensive lineman since 2011. They also need to replace David Bakhtiari, who had been a mainstay on the left side until a series of knee injuries forced him to retire.

Morgan lined up at left tackle when the Packers conducted their first session of rookie minicamp.

“I’m trying to show that I’m a true left tackle, show that I can be out there on the edge and protect the quarterback,” Morgan said.

“So my goal right now,” he said, “is to gain the trust of all the coaches, all the coaching staff, the players. Show everybody that I’m the player they think I am and I could pick this stuff up and be able to play.”