Cory’s Corner: Jordan Morgan’s Chip Is Growing

The Packers have a knack of mining guys with chips on their shoulders.

Call it a gift. 

First round pick Jordan Morgan was ranked as one of the top guards in the draft, but he is out to prove that he is much more than a guy with arms that are shorter than 33 inches. 

“I get that a lot – the short arms stuff,” said Morgan, who started 37 games at left tackle from 2019-2023 at Arizona. “It’s like you obviously haven’t watched film. I use them pretty well. I move people off the ball. I pass set really well, protect the quarterback. You see the stats. That doesn’t bother me, though. I’m just gonna prove everybody wrong.”

I have to admit, I wasn’t overly thrilled with the Packers taking Morgan with the 25th overall pick. There were plenty of great picks still on the board — namely Graham Barton, who went one pick later to the Buccaneers. 

But after hearing that, I am starting to change my tune. Granted, it is still rookie minicamp and we are a long way away from the season opener sometime in September. (The 2024 schedule hasn’t been released just yet.)

Morgan is the highest Arizona player drafted since 1999. He has already proven that he can be a very good left tackle. His pass blocking grade last year was 87.3 according to Pro Football Focus.

“I’m trying to show that I’m a true left tackle,” Morgan said. 

So go ahead and doubt him. All he’s done is prove everyone wrong up until now. He’s obviously heard the arm argument when colleges were doubting him. Many college coaches obviously didn’t want to give him a shot because his arms didn’t meet the specified length requirement.

Morgan is a perfect fit for this team because of the other Jordan. You know, the one that Morgan is tasked to protect. Not many people gave Jordan Love a chance to be successful.

They thought that he was a wasted pick when Aaron Rodgers was still on the roster. That’s when his chip was formed. Then he never even suited up his rookie season. The chip doubled in size. Then he had a passer rating of 69.5 in his one start in 2021. The chip became a sledding hill. Then he closed out 2023 with four-straight 100-plus passer rating games. By now, the chip is the size of Rib Mountain. 

And look at Love. He has arguably the most potential of any returning quarterback. People are expecting him to close out games and be the magician that throws at weird arm angles. 

So also, Morgan will succeed. And it’s not simply because of his skill. It’s because of the humongous chip that never leaves his shoulder. Even if Morgan does well, he will be criticized because many will likely say that it was just rookie minicamp. 

The Packers took Morgan knowing full well that every time he lines up at left tackle, he will be criticized. 

And the chip continues to grow…