The Green Bay Packers want first-round pick Jordan Morgan focusing on one position early in his NFL career, so when Adam Stenavich and the rest of the offensive staff reviewed the possible pathways to a starting role in 2024, they settled on right guard as Morgan’s best chance to crack the top five along the offensive line.
On Monday, Stenavich said the Packers will have Morgan — the team’s first-round pick in 2024 — settle in within the right guard competition and then go from there.
“I think with that with young guys, you want to start them at a spot. You don’t want to move them around as much just so they can hone in on the techniques and the assignments and all that stuff,” Stenavich said. “And when you look at the big picture, where we think he would compete best this year for a starting role, we looked and we thought the right guard position was the best spot. As of now, we’ll focus there. As he grasps it and gets better there, we can move him around if we want to or he does a great job there and we’re good to go. Right now, we’re focusing on keeping him at one spot that way he can really hone in on it and be the best he can be.”
The majority of Morgan’s training camp reps have come inside at guard. A college left tackle at Arizona, Morgan is still adjusting to life inside at guard at the NFL level.
“He’s done good. He’s flashed some really good things,” Stenavich said. “There’s a lot of technique stuff he still needs to learn, just like any young offensive lineman, and especially with him going from tackle to guard, there’s a learning progression there that you just have to go through.”
Morgan’s top competition at right guard will be Sean Rhyan, a 2022 third-round pick who rotated in and out of the lineup with Jon Runyan Jr. for a big chunk of last season. Runyan signed with the New York Giants in free agency.
Stenavich believes the depth and talent of the Packers defensive line — especially inside — will give Morgan “good competition in practice,” potentially accelerating his development.
“I think he’s done a really good job so far, just learning, and going through the growing pains and things like that,” Stenavich said. “But I do see a lot of really good flashes from him, and I think he’s got a bright future.”
During Sunday’s practice, Morgan won a pair of 1-on-1s against 2022 first-round pick Devonte Wyatt.
“He’s been predominantly inside,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think he’s starting to feel more and more comfortable inside, but I think he’s talented enough that if we need to kick him outside, we can do that.”
Without Morgan factoring in at offensive tackle, Stenavich said Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta and rookie Travis Glover are all competing for the role of swing tackle behind Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom.
