General manager Brian Gutekunst will almost certainly select at least one wide receiver in the first three rounds, but he shouldn’t stop there. The 2022 draft is filled with intriguing prospects who’ll still be available on Day 3. The following are five under-the-radar wide receivers to keep an eye on long after NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell has left the podium:
? KEVIN AUSTIN (Notre Dame)
Austin seemed to make big plays in every game I watched last fall, so I was surprised to find out he’s projected to go in the fourth or fifth round. That’s probably because 2021 was his only productive season at Notre Dame. The 22-year-old was suspended in 2019 for violating team rules, and he missed most of 2020 following a pair of foot surgeries. Still, Austin’s skill set is intriguing. He’s big (6-2, 200), fast (4.43), and strong enough to beat press coverage at the line of scrimmage. He also adjusts to the ball well and is a more than willing blocker. Austin’s surprising decision to forego his final season of eligibility will probably cost him a lot of money, but it will provide some team with a potential steal on Day 3.
? BO MELTON (Rutgers)
Rutgers seems to get a wide receiver drafted every few years (Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood, Mohamed Sanu, and Leonte Carroo), and Melton should soon join that list. He possesses decent size (5-11, 190), excellent speed (4.34), and enough shiftiness to create separation. It’s fair to think he would’ve been a Day 2 pick if Rutgers had a halfway decent quarterback at any time during his five years. To his credit, Melton still managed 102 receptions for 1,256 yards and 9 TDs in his last two seasons. He did drop 17 balls in his career, although most were due more to concentration lapses than bad hands. The 22-year-old also has experience as a returner, which should make him even more appealing to the Packers.
? BRAYLON SANDERS (Ole Miss)
When he was drafted in 2018, I compared Marquez Valdes-Scantling to former Packer Corey Bradford. Well, that comparison works even better for Sanders. The 23-year-old plays faster than he times (4.48), and he tracks the deep ball well. His 22.9 yards per catch led all of college football in 2021. Sanders will need plenty of work on the nuances of playing wide receiver. His route running is still pretty rudimentary. That’s one of the reasons why he had only 39 receptions despite playing in coach Lane Kiffin’s pass-happy offense for the past two seasons. Sanders should be able to help as a kick returner as he develops on offense, although he was used surprisingly little on special teams at Ole Miss.
? TYQUAN THORNTON (Baylor)
Thornton has already visited with the Packers, so we know there’s at least some level of interest in the former Baylor star. The 21-year-old is one of the fastest players in the draft (4.28), and he’s more than just a track guy playing football. He caught 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 TDs last season, and a number of those scores were contested. The biggest knock on Thornton is his lack of size. He carries only 180 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame. That caused him some problems getting off the line of scrimmage against college cornerbacks, so it’s safe to assume it’ll be an even bigger issue at the next level. Nevertheless, any receiver who runs in the 4.2s and scored 19 TDs in college is worth a roll of the dice on Day 3.
? ISAIAH WESTON (Northern Iowa)
Weston is the least likely of these five players to get selected before the fifth round. In fact, there’s a decent chance he won’t get drafted at all. That’s because he’s nowhere close to being a complete wide receiver. Right now, he’s more of an athlete than a football player. While Weston has outstanding size (6-3, 215), he showed little desire to fight through traffic and make plays between the numbers. The one thing he can do is stretch the field vertically, and every NFL team is looking for a wide receiver with that particular skill set. Weston has great acceleration down the field, and he tracks the deep ball surprisingly well. If he’s willing to put in the work, he has a chance to develop into a poor man’s Valdes-Scantling.
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Good day Michael thanks for another great post. Love the insight.
Of these my hope is they tag Thornton as I could see him really coming into his own working in a pro program such as the Packers run. Could he fail, of course. Nonetheless, late picks are nothing more than a roll of the dice so I truly believe he’s worth such a roll.
By the way, what do you think is the reason the Packers haven’t signed or traded for a veteran WR? It’s very difficult to understand, due to Rodgers, the plan to just go with rookies, who may or may not be a success. Seems like a crazy plan.
Take care and enjoy your day.
Austin reminds me of Equanimeous St. Brown.
“if Rutgers had a halfway decent quarterback at any time during his five years..”
that’s it. Melton has the talent and, i really hope he works out for the Pack. if he is there with one of those late 4th round picks, i will be hoping for his name to be called.
here is another name: Chigoziem (Chig) Okonkwo. for folks looking to Treylon Burks as an answer at WR, check out Chig. yes, Big 10, not SEC; yes, a college move TE, not a college WR; however, the two have very similar body types and Chig may actually be the better athlete with better upside.. at a Day 3 pick price.