'He’s Pro Bowler;' Former Green Bay Packers Linebacker Has Bold Prediction for Forgotten 3rd Round Pick in 2025

The Green Bay Packers focused on offense early in the 2025 NFL Draft, using two of their first three picks on wide receivers (Matthew Golden and Savion Williams) and the other on an offensive lineman (Anthony Belton).

This was surprising to many fans and analysts as Green Bay has, for the most part, selected defensive players early and often in the past few NFL Drafts.

This was particularly true in 2024.

While they used their first round pick on offensive tackle Jordan Morgan, they used five of their next seven picks on defensive players.

Running back Marshawn Lloyd and offensive lineman Jacob Monk were the only exceptions.

Of course, the defensive player that Green Bay selected last year that fans are most excited about going into 2025 is Edgerrin Cooper , and for good reason.

While playing in 14 games, Cooper amassed 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception.

But many are forgetting the linebacker the Packers drafted Cooper: TyRon Hopper.

TyRon Hopper Barely Saw the Field for the Green Bay Packers in 2024 The Packers drafted Hopper in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 91st overall pick.

And while he played in all 17 games, he did not see the field much.

Rather, he played just 2% of the defensive snaps will playing 49% of snaps on special teams.

Hopper amassed nine tackles in his rookie season.

And while the Packers starting linebackers appear to be set with Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie (who just signed a two-year contract), and Quay Walker, Hoppers college coach, himself a former Green Bay linebacker, does not think his protege should be forgotten.

Former Green Bay Packers Linebacker DJ Smith Believes TyRon Hopper Can Be a Pro Bowler DJ Smith was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played two seasons with the team.

Unfortunately, his NFL career ended in 2014 following a gruesome leg injury.

After a while, Smith became the linebackers coach at Missouri, which is where Hopper played his college ball.

In a recent interview with Ty Dunne, Smith revealed that he believes the sky is the limit for his former player: He is a dude, man, Smith told Dunne .

Hes a starter.

Hes a starter in the National Football League.

People are going to have to gameplan for him.

If he can get rolling? Hes a Pro Bowler.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the defense looks in Year Two of the Jeff Hafley Era.

If Hopper can take a few steps forward in his development, he will certainly be a name to watch.

More Green Bay Packers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics Aaron Rodgers Open to Playing for the Packers Again (Report) Packers Matthew Golden and Savion Williams Already Building Chemistry Off the Field Packers 1st Round Pick Matthew Golden Already Has Plans for $9.4 Million Signing Bonus This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission..

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