Packers May Have Already Deemed Former Top Pick a ‘Bust’

Green Bay didn’t go into this offseason seemingly confident that he would be able to live up to his first-round billing, making offensive guard Aaron Banks’ signing a top priority in free agency, which added a roadblock to Morgan’s path to playing time and a meaningful role along the offensive line.

Bleacher Report NFL analyst Matt Holder lists Morgan as one of the second-year players across the league hoping to avoid being labeled a ‘bust’ by season’s end.

“Morgan still doesn’t have a clear path to the starting lineup heading into year two,” Holder writes for B/R. “The Packers signed guard Aaron Banks in free agency while using a second-round pick on tackle Anthony Walker this offseason. Additionally, Sean Rhyan took command of the starting right guard spot last year, and first-string tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are back in the fold. That pushes Morgan into the sixth offensive lineman role heading into training camp this summer.”

At the time Morgan was chosen in the first round, the Packers’ selection was met with skepticism that Green Bay may have reached to select him.

Even though Morgan didn’t allow a sack as a rookie, he still managed a meager 59.2 grade from Pro Football Focus for his 186 offensive snaps.

By prioritizing Banks, rather than leaning on a player they chose in the first round, the Packers seem to be telegraphing that they are legitimately concerned about his upside and hedging against playing a player they aren’t confident can perform at a high level in a critical position for quarterback Jordan Love and the rest of the offense.