The Packers’ wide receiver need is not as obvious this offseason, but it is a position worth investing in. Davante Adams remains one of the NFL’s best, but both Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard are set to hit free agency in 2022. History suggests that the Packers won’t spend a high value pick on the position but this a deep receiver class with plenty of value in the later rounds. Here are five players that Green Bay could target.
Jaelon Darden
Darden seems to have become everyone’s favourite mid-round sleeper, and for good reason. He had an excellent 2020 season, becoming UNT’s first Consensus All-American since Mean Joe Greene in 1968. Darden is one of the most electric players with the ball in his hands and he ranks alongside Kadarius Toney as one of the shiftiest players in the draft class. After playing primarily as a gadget player for UNT, he developed into a high-volume receiver this season. He finished the year with 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns on his 74 receptions. His 4.94 yards per route run ranked fifth in the nation.
Where he really offers value is after the catch. Darden is one of the most slippery receivers you will find and he consistently makes defenders miss in space. He forced 23 missed tackles on his 74 receptions, the most of any college receiver. At just 5’7″ and 174 lbs he is certainly on the smaller end of what you want for a receiver. That said, if he’s playing in the slot, this should be less of a problem. Darden also offers special teams value as a kick and punt returner, addressing another need for the Packers.
Amari Rodgers
Rodgers is coming off an excellent senior season at Clemson that saw him rack up 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns on 77 receptions. He would fill the Packers’ need at slot receiver, having spent 86.3 per cent of his snaps there in 2020. Rodgers has enough speed to win at all three levels of the field, but where he really excels is with the ball in his hands. He showcases great contact balance and the ability to create in the open field. This is a skill that the current Packers’ receiving corps is lacking. 66.8 per cent of Rodgers’ career yardage has come after the catch and he’s forced an impressive 39 missed tackles on 181 receptions.
At 5’9″ and 212 lbs, Rodgers has a solid frame and many feel that he has the necessary traits to perform at running back in the NFL. This could make him the ideal prospect for Matt LaFleur’s offense, which prizes versatility at offensive skill positions. Rodgers could play the ‘Swerve’ role in the Packers’ offense from day one, with the potential to develop into a high-volume slot receiver in the future. He still needs to develop as a route runner and he won’t ever be much of a contested catch receiver, but he has the tools to contribute right away.
Cade Johnson
Another name the Packers could consider as a slot receiver option is Cade Johnson. As an FCS prospect, we didn’t get to see him play in 2020, but his tape at South Dakota State was excellent. He showcases great burst off the line and the ability to consistently create separation. One of the most impressive aspects of Johnson’s game is his ability to win at all three levels of the field. He ran a pretty diverse route tree at South Dakota State and was often used as a vertical weapon from the slot. He has produced to a high level too, with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons.
Johnson really boosted his stock with his performance at this year’s Senior Bowl. He was PFF’s highest graded receiver in the one-on-ones and he showed he could perform against top FBS competition. One thing the Packers are bound to like about Johnson is his toughness. Despite not being the biggest receiver, he’s comfortable handling contact downfield and gives as good as he gets. He is likely going to struggle as a boundary receiver, but he would offer a tonne as a slot receiver in LaFleur’s offense.
Simi Fehoko
The Packers have historically shown a tendency to favour big-bodied receivers. If they want to continue that trend, they should look no further than Simi Fehoko. His collegiate experience is limited, but he offers an intriguing set of traits to work with. Fehoko is 6’4″ and 222 lbs, running a 4.44 40-yard dash. This combination of traits is rare for the position and the upside that a player like Fehoko offers is huge. He averaged 18.5 yards per catch throughout his time at Stanford and would give the Packers another deep threat alongside Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Fehoko shows great burst and quickness off the line of scrimmage and is able to beat opposing corners with either speed or physicality. He started just four games in his time at Stanford and has just 62 career catches, but he produced when given a chance. He finished his collegiate career with a 16-catch, 230 yard game against UCLA, setting a single-game school record. A good proportion of this production came from the slot too, and Fehoko would give Green Bay slot/boundary versatility.
Michael Strachan
Strachan is one of the deepest sleepers in this year’s draft but should definitely be on the Packers’ radar. As a Division II player, we didn’t get to see him play in 2020, but his numbers are certainly interesting. In 2019, Strachan logged 78 receptions for 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns. His pre-draft testing numbers have been similarly impressive. Strachan posted a RAS score of 9.79, the highest of any receiver in the class. At 6’5″ and 220 lbs, Strachan ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and had a 10’7″ broad jump and 20 reps on the bench press.
Much like Fehoko, Strachan provides the kind of size/speed mismatch that keep defensive coordinators up at night. He has a huge catch radius and dominates in contested situations. Strachan will certainly require some development. His route tree is limited and he didn’t face any real competition in Division II football. That said, he’s an intriguing option from an upside perspective.
