What to Know: Packers sign 3 tryouts and release LS Jack Coco
By Paul Bretl
Following rookie minicamp, which took place over the weekend, the Green Bay Packers announced that they signed cornerback William Hooper, long-snapper Broughton Hatcher, and interior defensive lineman Antonio Moultire, all of whom were in for tryouts and participated in the Friday and Saturday practices.
In order to make room on the 90-man roster for those additions, Green Bay would also release long-snapper Jack Coco as the corresponding move.
Coco was the Packers’ long-snapper for all 17 games in 2022 after coming in as undrafted rookie and winning the job over the summer. Although we didn’t see the egregious errors from Coco that we saw in 2021 from Hunter Bradley and Steven Wirtel, he was still inconsistent. Fortunately, punter Pat O’Donnell, who in part was signed by the Packers because of his ability as a holder, was able to cover up many of those inaccurate snaps.
Hatcher, a rookie from Old Dominion, had 302 career special teams snaps and logged three tackles. In 2022, Hatcher’s kicker Ethan Sanchez made each of his extra point attempts and was 10-for-13 on field goal attempts, including two-of-three from over 40 yards. Punter Ethan Duane, meanwhile, averaged 42.9 yards per punt and had zero blocked.
Joining Hatcher at the long-snapper position in Green Bay will be Matt Orzech, who the Packers signed to a three-year deal with $300,000 guaranteed earlier in the offseason. That contract goes to show that Orzech will be the favorite this summer. He won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams while kicker Matt Gay made 90-of-92 extra point attempts between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, along with punter Riley Dixon recording PFF’s third-highest grade at the punter position.
Cornerback William Hooper put together an impressive college career that included allowing a completion rate of only 44% and missing just five of his 75 total tackle attempts. Hooper also brings special teams experience. For a closer look at Hooper’s game and fit with the Packers, you can click here.
Green Bay added two interior defensive linemen in the draft but still had room to bolster the depth at that position on the 90-man roster with just eight on the roster, including several with no NFL experience. Moultrie stands 6’4,” weighs 275 pounds, and recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 5.24.
Moultrie who spent most of his college career at UAB before transferring to Miami, was versatile, spending 624 snaps lined up in the B-gap, another 294 over the offensive tackle, and 265 as a traditional edge rusher. Between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he logged 25 pressures, 21 of which came in 2021, and three sacks. This past year, Moultrie ranked 27th out of all interior defenders in PFF’s run defense grade. It remains to be seen how the Packers will utilize him this summer.
Following these four moves, the Packers should still have one spot open on the 90-man roster.