Green Bay is down two key off-ball linebackers, and a third-year player tied to a 2023 deadline deal stepped up against Carolina.
A past trade is finally paying off in a big way for the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper had a fantastic performance in Thursday's game against the Carolina Panthers
, finishing with an interception, his second of the season, and three pass breakups.
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"Our guys are resilient. I can't say enough great things about Ty'Ron Hopper and the night he had," head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. "What a great performance."
Hopper generated four pressures, five stops, and allowed a 56.3 passer rating when targeted on Thursday. Where Hopper came from is particularly interesting in this case. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst took heavy criticism for the trade that eventually produced the pick used to select him, and that deal is now delivering real value for Green Bay.
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The Rasul Douglas trade
The Packers started the 2023 season with a bad record. At the trade deadline, Gutekunst sent veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills, and the compensation was a swap of third- and fifth-round picks.
With the third-round pick acquired in the Douglas deal, Green Bay selected Hopper in the 2024 NFL Draft. Now in his third NFL season, the linebacker is breaking out.
His first two years were a different experience. Hopper barely played defensive snaps and was mostly a special teamer. This season, he has stepped up and played at a high level on defense, and his impact on the team has become essential.
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Perfect timing for Green Bay
Hopper's performance against the Panthers couldn't have come at a better time for the Packers. Green Bay lost Edgerrin Cooper for the season
with a ruptured Achilles, and veteran Zaire Franklin missed
the Carolina game with a shin injury.
That leaves the Packers thin at off-ball linebacker. Hopper stepping up and playing at this level has helped mitigate those injuries.
Green Bay does have a smart linebacker in Isaiah McDuffie. But more than that, Hopper brings a different element to the position with his explosiveness and athleticism. He is also improving in several areas and has been a great fit in Jonathan Gannon's defensive structure.
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Future in Green Bay
Hopper still has two years left on his rookie contract, which runs through 2027. His recent play, however, could make his future in Green Bay longer than expected. Hopper and Cooper come from the same draft class. Both are under contract through 2027, and both will be extension eligible next offseason.
If Hopper keeps playing at this level, the Packers could reasonably consider a scenario where they try to keep him with an extension. He isn't a player of the same caliber as Cooper. Nonetheless, his athleticism, his development, and his fit in the defense make a strong case for a longer stay.
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Gutekunst's deadline move was easy to criticize at the time. Now, three years later, the return on the Douglas trade is helping hold the Packers' defense together through a difficult stretch at linebacker.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Packers finally cash in on heavily criticized Brian Gutekunst trade as young defender's breakout arrives at the perfect time
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