The Green Bay Packers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with a bevy of picks and used them to great effect. The team took Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan in Round 1 to fill in vacancies on the offensive line and Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to take over for De’Vondre Campbell.

It was a strong draft overall for the Packers, who continued to add talented rookies with the signing of numerous undrafted free agents ahead of mini-camp. Last year, linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. and wide receiver Malik Heath both made the final 53-man roster for Green Bay despite not being selected in the draft. The franchise has a history of production from undrafted players. Recent undrafted free agents who became notable starters for the Packers include Keisan Nixon, Allen Lazard, and Robert Tonyan.

Green Bay added 10 rookies after the draft, and in this group, Northern Illinois defensive tackle James Ester has the best chance of making the Packers’ final 53-man roster.

1 undrafted free agent who will make the Packers’ roster

The Packers added significant depth on the defensive side of the ball in the 2024 NFL Draft. But one position they did not address among their 11 draft selections was the defensive line. Green Bay did add two rookie players after the draft though: Northern Illinois defensive tackle James Ester and Ohio defensive lineman Rodney Mathews.

Ester was a four-year team captain for NIU and a three-time all-conference choice in the MAC. He was also a second-team All-MAC selection in 2023 and a two-time NIU team MVP. Ester fits the profile of many of Green Bay’s selections in the draft: veteran players with four-plus years of college experience who were team leaders.

James Ester had 49 tackles as a senior, including 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks. It was his third straight season as a starter for the Huskies. He was part of an NIU defense in 2023 that finished 28th in the nation in points per game allowed and 23rd in total yards allowed per game as the team went 7-6 and won the Camellia Bowl 21-19 over Arkansas State.

Though he did not earn an invite to the NFL Combine, Ester met with at least 14 teams at the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game in January. At 6-foot-3-inches and 298 pounds, the five-year player should have value in a draft class that was thin at the defensive tackle position.

Unfortunately, Ester suffered an upper-body injury at mini-camp over the weekend, which could hamper his ability to make the final roster. Organized team activities continue for Green Bay at the end of May and into June, before the team’s mandatory mini-camp begins on June 11.

His path to the Green Bay roster will be difficult, but if James Ester can demonstrate ability as a run defender, he could crack the final 53-man roster — especially given the Packers’ lack of additions on the interior of the defensive line.

Lions stole Packers draft target with timely trade

The Lions stole Terrion Arnold from Green Bay.

The 2024 NFL Draft had plenty of twists and turns. There were a number of trades early on, including the Detroit Lions moving up in the tail-end of the first round to select Alabama star Terrion Arnold. As it turns out, they might’ve poached him from the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers.

Arnold, who had plenty of high grades coming into the draft, was also reportedly a top target for Green Bay, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

‘It’s possible the Lions jumped an NFC North rival for a top corner. As Detroit moved from No. 29 to 24 to snag corner Terrion Arnold, the Packers at No. 25 were among the teams that Arnold’s camp had firmly on the radar entering the 20s. The belief is Green Bay had Arnold rated highly.’

So, the Lions moved right in front of the Packers to select Arnold, and the Packers ended up selecting Arizona OL Jordan Morgan. It was the opposite of the 2018 NFL Draft when Green Bay selected Jaire Alexander two picks before the Lions. Since then, Alexander has become a star, so perhaps Detroit didn’t want to see that take place again.

Terrion Arnold is a huge pick for the Lions

Terrion Arnold was a consensus first-round choice coming into the NFL Draft. He played in 25 games in his final two seasons, recording 108 total tackles with a sack, 20 PDs and six interceptions for the Crimson Tide. So, the Lions moving up to select him is a big deal, especially after they made a run to the NFC title game and have been enamored with Alabama players lately.

The Lions selected Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and now Arnold in the first round over the past four drafts, so it isn’t surprising to see them draft another former Crimson Tide star.

Arnold even had scouts raving about him as the best corner in the class, as one AFC scout said, per Fowler:

“As far as talent, speed, coverage, ball production, tackling, size, ability to play inside and outside — I had him as the best corner.”

Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo was the first cornerback selected in the draft, going at No. 22 to the Philadelphia Eagles. After that, it was Arnold, who became the second at his position taken in an offensive-heavy beginning of the first round.

Nonetheless, the Lions not only got a star cornerback, but they also prevented a division rival from grabbing him, making things even better all around. The Packers wound up selecting three safeties in the draft: Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Kitan Oladapo. They also grabbed Penn State’s Kalen King with their final pick coming in the 7th round, but it was clear Terrion Arnold was high on their wish list.