Injuries derailed a chance at the top spots, but the rookie class of the Green Bay Packers still ranked in the top 10 at NFL.com.
Gennaro Filice of NFL Media ranked all 32 rookies classes coming out of the 2024 season, and the Packers — who saw injuries mostly ruin the rookie seasons of their first-round pick and one of their third-round picks — came in at No. 10.
Filice pointed to the contributions of All-Rookie team picks Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams and the versatile starting ability of defensive back Javon Bullard as top reasons why the Packers were a top 10 rookie class.
Cooper looks like a future star after finishing with 13 tackles for loss. Williams was a promising mix of playmaking and reliability as a rookie starter next to Xavier McKinney. And Bullard was a preferred starter — whether it was at safety or nickel — from start to finish as a rookie.
It’s possible the Packers would have had a top-10 rookie class had offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, the team’s first-round pick, and running back MarShawn Lloyd, the team’s first of two third-round picks, been healthy for the full season. Morgan injured his shoulder at least three times before needing surgery after only six games, while Lloyd was dealt one unfortunate injury situation after another and ended up seeing action in just one game.
Morgan could have been an important rotational player at guard for the Packers offensive line. Lloyd has all the explosive ability necessary to create big plays as a runner or receiver. The Packers will have to wait until 2025 to realize their value.
Injuries impacted the rest of the class, too. Cooper missed three games with a hamstring injury. Williams suffered two different lower-body soft-tissue injuries and ended up missing four games. Bullard injured his ankle and missed two games. Injuries are a part of professional football, but missing time is especially difficult on young players who need the on-field experience.
It will be interesting to see where this class goes in 2025. Third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper might have a chance to be a base defense starter at linebacker while retaining a major role on special teams. Fifth-round pick Jacob Monk could be an option at center if Josh Myers departs or a key interior offensive line backup. Fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo looked good in the season finale, and the Packers might want to find ways of getting him on the field defensively in 2025 despite all the depth at safety. Others, including Travis Glover and Kalen King, will have opportunities to stick as important backups.
The top players will determine how good this class ends up being. If Morgan develops into a quality starting offensive lineman, Cooper continues to be a difference-making linebacker, Bullard, Williams, Hopper and Oladapo settle into roles for Jeff Hafley’s defense and Lloyd gives the offense an explosive weapon, this could be an excellent class that keeps the Packers competitive for years to come.
So, who took the top spot in the rankings? The Washington Commanders, who got franchise-changing quarterback Jayden Daniels, plus three other immediate starters. The Los Angeles Rams (No. 2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 5), two other playoff teams in the NFC, also cracked the top five.