Packers rookie Jordan Morgan wants to be 'that one tackle' to protect Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers rookie offensive tackle Jordan Morgan will have big shoes to fill when he takes the field for the first time in 2024.

For the better part of the past decade, it was David Bakhtiari protecting the Green Bay quarterback’s blind side. With injuries piling up, Green Bay moved on from the former All-Pro and selected Morgan in the first round (No. 25 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. Though it remains to be seen if Morgan will be a day one starter at left tackle, a position he started 37 games at during his career at Arizona, Morgan has made it clear he wants to be “that one tackle” that protects Jordan Love for the foreseeable future.

“I followed the breakout,” Morgan of Love, via the team’s website. “I saw when that happened and that’s really special for him. Everybody loves him here, obviously, and I want to be that one tackle to protect him.”

Morgan, 22, earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors in his final season with the Wildcats, an amazing accomplishment considering what he had to overcome during his collegiate career. He sustained a torn ACL late in the 2022 season, derailing his preparations for the NFL Draft. Morgan instead returned to Tuscon for another year and made it back in time for Arizona’s season-opener against Nothern Arizona. Morgan allowed just three sacks in the 880 snaps he played the last two seasons.

Packers yet to decide whether Jordan Morgan will play guard or tackle

Though some are skeptical of his long-term projection at left tackle due to having short arms (32 7/8 inches), Morgan is confident he can be a standout in the NFL.

“I get that a lot, the short arms stuff,” Morgan said after getting drafted. “It’s like, obviously you haven’t watched film. I mean I use them pretty well. 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.”

Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said it remains undecided which position Morgan will play.

“He’s a natural on the edge,” Stenavich said this week. “He looks comfortable out there. There’s obviously some technique stuff we’ve got to clean up, just like anybody, but yeah, I’m excited to work with him and just watch him and see. I wouldn’t say he’s a tackle, I wouldn’t say he’s a guard, I just want to see where he fits best for us and with our best five out there.

“So that may be at tackle. It might not be,” Stenavich added. “But I’m excited to work with him and you can see his athleticism when he’s out there. He’s a pretty talented guy.”