Not sure Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst would admit this, but you wonder if his heart sank when the Phliadelphia Eagles jumped in front of Green Bay’s 41st overall pick to take Packer fan favorite Cooper DeJean of Iowa. Undaunted, Gutekunst believed there were still several defensive players of value on his board and he found an anxious partner in New Orleans ready to climb up a few spots. Gutekunst agreed giving up pick 41 to drop four spots to number 45 but getting a 5th and 6th round pick from the Saints as well. New Orleans snapped up another highly regarded defensive back in Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama.
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Waiting only a few more selections, Gutekunst took Texas A&M off-ball linebacker Edgerrin Cooper with the first of his two choices in the second round. Cooper was a tackling machine for the Aggies, leading the team with 84 and when the coaching staff really cut the junior loose a year ago, he piled up tackles on both sides of the line of scrimmage with a team high 17 tackles for losses and a team high 8 sacks. The 6-2, 230 pound linebacker has outstanding range and a bust to the ball carrier and he told reporters in Green Bay Friday night, that 8 sack season wasn’t a fluke, he’ll run down anyone where ever he starts out.
Standing pat with the 58th overall choice, Gutekunst went to the back end of the defense, going back to Athens, Georgia for another Bulldog, taking safety Javon Bullard. He becomes the 4th former Georgia drafted high by the Packers in the last three years, Eric Stokes, Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. The 5-11, 195 pound defensive back handled several roles, from the very back end, to playing in the box while at Georiga. In the Bulldogs’ run to the National Championship in 2022, Bullard was named the Defensive MVP in both Georgia’s semifinal win over Ohio State and for coming up with two interceptions in the title game against TCU.
Bullard can’t wait to learn everything he can about his new home from his old friends.
Javon Bullard, DB, Georgia
The Pack’s Assistant Director of College Scouting, Patrick Moore came down to the media auditorium at the conclusion of Round 2 to talk about the pair of defenders:
It sounds like the scouting department got over losing out on DeJean but they filled the two most pressing holes on new Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit. A safety who can learn from and play alongside veteran free agent Xavier McKinney and a fly to the ball, off-ball linebacker to pair with Quay Walker in a scheme that will utilize speed to attack and pressure.
Comments