Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean had one hell of a 22nd birthday.
Playing in the Super Bowl is a lifetime accomplishment. Intercepting Patrick Mahomes and taking the ball to the house during said Super Bowl is a pinnacle. The rookie's excellent play helped solidify Philadelphia's lead and killed any potential momentum the Kansas City Chiefs could generate.
More than a few Green Bay Packers fans noted the accomplishment for other reasons. DeJean was a draft favorite for the Green and Gold nation. Green Bay’s cornerback depth was uninspiring heading into the 2024 season, especially at nickel. Alas, the Packers disagreed and went in another direction.
Seeing a draft crush make a game-altering play in the Super Bowl left many fans pining. Around Valentine's Day, it's hard not to think of the ones that got away.
But while Cooper's big play is fresh in everyone's minds, and the rookie had an excellent season, it's far too early to decry the Packers for not drafting him. Jordan Morgan's rookie season might not cause salivating in the same way, but it's nonsensical to already put DeJean/Morgan into the Watt/King or Humphrey/Meyers conversations.
The Packers made a smart, if not immediately exciting, move by taking Morgan to solidify their offensive front for the long term. Morgan was slated for a starting role before unfortunate injuries affected his season. Philly's postseason run should further demonstrate why investing in the trenches is the best move for the franchise.
I won't lie, I felt a tinge of envy seeing DeJean making a play of the game last Sunday. I thought the Packers needed help at cornerback, and I can never resist a good “Iowa.”
But I'm also guilty of not always eating my vegetables. It's hard to make big, exciting plays in meaningful games when your quarterback gets knocked on his derriere or your front can't touch him.
Cooper may have had one of the game's most highlight-worthy plays, but Philadelphia won the game in the trenches. The defensive front fed on Kansas City's offensive line, keeping Mahomes from finding his groove. Philly's own offensive line kept Jalen Hurts afloat and in position to make the plays that earned him Super Bowl MVP.
One reason Howie Roseman is such a celebrated GM is his willingness to invest in the trenches. For years, Philadelphia has prioritized developing both of its lines. Not every team could lose Jason Kelce, a future Hall of Fame center, and not miss a beat thanks to finding and developing Cam Jurgens, an excellent replacement.
If the need for a stout offensive line isn't already clear, look no further than Green Bay’s postseason loss to Philadelphia.
After losing Elgton Jenkins, the Packers had no real answer for Philadelphia’s fearsome defensive line. Green Bay was already thin at interior offensive line thanks to Morgan being on IR and Jacob Monk consistently being a healthy scratch. The Packers threw various tackles into the lineup. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't enough to slow the Eagles' onslaught.
Would Morgan have made the difference? We won't know. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Morgan's rookie season. But it's not like Morgan was an injury-prone player. It can happen to anyone. Football is a very violent game! Sometimes, I'm miserable for a week if I sleep wrong. These guys hit each other for a living.
People forget Morgan was in line for a starting role before the season’s kickoff and was still rotating with the starters early on. He had his ups and downs through training camp as the Packers tried to find his best spot but settled in nicely at guard, with tackle upside.
Some may lament that the Packers had other options if they wanted an offensive lineman. I, too, was intrigued by Duke's Graham Barton, who went one pick after Morgan.
However, the Packers absolutely love versatility on the offensive line, and Morgan had a long history of success at tackle in college. Morgan was absolutely the type of pick the Packers like, and it's not like he was a reach.
Morgan is already being propped up as a breakout candidate for the Packers in 2025, and for good reason. He was in line to start as a rookie and will be a starter in 2025. If Josh Myers doesn't return, there will be a shuffle along the line, and the only question is whether Morgan will be a tackle or a guard.
“I’m very encouraged for the future,” offensive Adam Stenavich said in December. "Whenever he gets healthy, we’ll get him back out there and just keep working with him, but I’m very excited about Jordan."
If Morgan develops into a decade-plus starter on the offensive line, will anyone really care that he didn't have a great rookie season? Let's give the guy time to pan out before throwing his name out with other “could have beens.” Cooper DeJean already looks like a great player, and I would have loved having him in Green Bay. It doesn't mean Jordan Morgan isn't an exciting prospect with a bright future.
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