Draft Preview: Wide Receivers

The Packers haven’t picked a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. That streak will probably continue for another year because none of the top three prospects is considered a good fit for coach Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Southern Cal’s Jordan Addison, and Boston College’s Zay Flowers are really good players, but all weigh between 173 and 196 pounds. In his first five drafts, general manager Brian Gutekunst selected seven wide receivers, and only Samori Toure tipped the scales at under 200 pounds, and he didn’t come off the board until pick No. 258 in 2022. Quentin Johnston could very well join Smith-Njigba, Addison, and Flowers in Round 1, and while the Texas Christian star possesses the requisite size, he’s too raw and inconsistent to be seriously considered at 15.

Gutekunst will likely wait until Day 2 to draft a wide receiver, and while the pool of candidates won’t be as impressive as 12 months ago (Christian Watson, George Pickens, Alec Pierce, and Skyy Moore), he should be able to find a useful player.

The following are a half-dozen wide receivers whose measurables figure to make them attractive to the Packers on Day 2:

🏈POTENTIAL DAY 2 PICKS

Jonathan Mingo reminds me of three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, who also went to Ole Miss, but he’s not nearly as good of a prospect. Still, he might be the best big wide receiver left on the board after Round 1. Mingo doesn’t play as fast as his 40 time would suggest, but he runs crisp routes and can make people miss after the catch. LaFleur would appreciate his versatility, toughness in traffic, and willingness to block. Mingo probably lacks the skill set to be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he should be a good No. 3 at worst or a solid No. 2 at best, which would make him a nice fit in Green Bay.

Cedric Tillman would be a bit of a reach in the middle of the second round, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go to Green Bay at 45. That’s because his measurables will appeal to the general manager, and his physicality as a blocker will excite the coach. Tillman will need time to develop because he wasn’t asked to do too much at Tennessee. He lined up on the right side of the field and ran a very limited route tree. Still, there’s little doubt he has the potential to be a good NFL player, and wide receivers coach Jason Vrable has already turned a couple of lesser prospects into highly-paid free agents.

A.T. Perry won’t wow anybody, but he’s a solid all-around wide receiver who should be able to contribute as a rookie. While he won’t run by many starting-caliber cornerbacks, he should be pretty effective after the catch and in the red zone. Perry has enough agility to make the first defender miss and the power to push through contact and break arm tackles. He’s also blessed with a wide catching radius and the size and length to be a factor when the field shrinks. If Perry slides into Day 3 – and that’s at least a possibility – it’ll be due to his hands, which were inconsistent at times in college.

Michael Wilson played in only 14 games the past three seasons and ran slower than expected at the Combine, so he could slide into the third or even fourth round. If that happens, some GM is going to get a steal. Wilson might not be a physical freak, but he’s a smart and hard-working receiver who’ll find a way to help whichever team selects him later this month. He uses his strength effectively to brush off press coverage and keeps churning his legs after contact. He’s also a good blocker. If Wilson can stay healthy  – and that’s a big if – he has a chance to be a solid No. 2 or good No. 3 in the NFL.

Rashee Rice is similar to Romeo Doubs, drafted by the Packers in the fourth round a year ago. Neither wide receiver is blessed with great size or speed, but both have an innate feel for the position. Rice, perhaps even more so than Doubs, really understands situational football. He’s able to set up defensive backs and open their hips before snapping off his routes. He plays the ball well in the air and makes excellent adjustments. Rice will need to work on getting off the line of scrimmage vs. physical press coverage and being more consistent. He has good hands, but dropped a few too many passes.

Trey Palmer might be too small for Gutekunst to consider on Day 2, but he’s too intriguing to dismiss. While he’ll need time to develop as a receiver, he could help right away on sweeps, reverses, and bubble screens. Palmer has the speed of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but he’s quicker. He can also help on special teams – initially on the coverage units and then perhaps as a less expensive replacement for All-Pro Keisean Nixon in 2024. The Packers coaching staff seems to really like Samori Toure, another former Nebraska wide receiver. Well, Palmer has a chance to be a much better NFL player.

🏈IF I WERE THE GM

The Packers must come out of the draft with a wide receiver who can help right away, and that won’t be easy. This is not an especially strong year at the position, and many of the best Day 2 prospects probably won’t fit Gutekunst’s size thresholds.

I like Mingo, Tillman, Perry, Wilson, Rice, and Palmer, but there are other receivers I like even more. The problem is the size of Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt (6-0, 176), North Carolina’s Josh Downs (5-9 1/2, 171), Cincinnati’s Tyler Scott (5-10, 177), Michigan State’s Jayden Reed (5-10, 187), Oklahoma’s Marvin Mims (5-10, 183), and Purdue’s Charlie Jones (5-11, 175).

It’s time for Gutekunst to re-think his attitude about size. There should be room on any roster for one or two smaller receivers. While quarterbacks obviously appreciate a tall target with a big catch radius, I’m sure Love wouldn’t mind throwing the ball to a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder who’s wide open as opposed to a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder who’s tightly covered.