With Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing a new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers will be in the market for a new vertical threat.
It was clear that the Packers lacked Valdez-Scantling’s speed and ability to play big on offense last season. Due to injuries, the man referred to as MVS only played seven games. A year short of a 20.9 yards per catch average, the Packers lacked the world-class speed that helped open the doors for his teammates.
Luckily for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, there are many players in the 2022 NFL Draft who could replace the former Green Bay offensive fifth-round pick.
1 Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce (12)
Pierce is going to make a living as a vertical threat. Thanks to his speed (4.41), he can beat full-backs. Once the ball is in the air, he excels at bringing the ball up and has outstanding body control.
Pierce has the athleticism, size, hands and ability to play big that teams crave. He also brings it in as a blocking sprint that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will love.
Rough projection: Round 2
2 Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
Brian Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Tolbert has been one of the most dangerous players in college football over the past two seasons. Over the past two seasons, the top 2021 Sun Belt hitter has caught 41 passes for 20-plus yards.
Tolbert had the fifth-highest receiving depth in FBS last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
The South Alabama wideband receiver has a one-step boost to beat press coverage. He eats the cushion without breaking his stride, and he has enough speed to keep defenders fair.
Rough projection: Day 2
3 Reggie Roberson, SMU
Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Reggie Roberson, Jr. (age 21)
Until an ACL tear in 2022, Roberson was one of the most dangerous vertical threats in college football. According to Focus on professional footballin 2018, Roberson recorded an AAC lead of 459 deep passing yards.
Roberson didn’t look as explosive last season. Not surprising, given that he was a year early after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He raised some question marks about his recovery in bed when he ran 40 yards in 4.42 seconds at SMU pro day.
Rough projection: Day 3
4 Romeo Dubs, Nevada
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Doobs has been a vertical threat to Carson Strong and Nevada in the past two seasons. In 2020, Dubs led the FBS with 505 yards of receiving depth. He is a big threat who excels at picking up full-backs.
The wide receiver Nevada is a big target with a huge capture radius. He shows a good burst to create a gap in the bottom of the field. In addition to his ability to take over defense, Dubs brings special value to the team as a return player. The first time he touched a soccer ball in a college game, he punted back for an 80-yard touchdown.
Rough projection: Day 3
5 Christian Watson, ND
Christian Watson of North Dakota
The wide NDSU receiver fits the bill. Size (6-4), speed (4.36), ability to block, jump (38.5″ vertically) and special teams value as a returner.
Watson can stretch the field with his speed, and with his length and jumps, he will win many jump balls.
It was used in various ways at NDSU, and LaFleur had a day where he typed in fake strokes for Watson.
Rough projection: Round 2
6 Taikuan Thornton, Baylor
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Thornton showed off his elite speed at the Scouting Combine by running the 40 yards in 4.28. The wide receiver finished 6-2 last season with 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Baylor’s wide receiver has natural hands and good build-up speed to challenge cornerbacks vertically. He eats grass with his wide strides and shows off his strong arms when he completes the catch through contact.
Rough projection: Day 3
7 Jameson Williams, Alabama
Gary Cosby Jr – USA TODAY Sports
Had it not been for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Williams would have been a lock to become the first wide receiver from the boards. He finished last season with an SEC-leading 19.9 yards per reception. Alabama production – poster boy for home run.
Williams plays at a different pace than everyone else on the football field. The Alabama wide receiver just has a different mechanism. It is naturally explosive and is capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in the blink of an eye.
Can the Packers draft a wide receiver who will miss most of his rookie season in the first round? Probably not, but Gutekunst has shown he isn’t afraid to take on players in the first round who won’t have an immediate impact on the opposing team.
Rough projection: First round
8 Jahan Dotson, PA
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Dotson has the speed to get the better of the defense. He may be weaker (5-11), but he has a huge grip radius and is great at throwing the ball.
In his last 21 games at Happy Valley, Dotson threw 21 touchdowns. In 2020, Dotson recorded four catches for 40+ yards. The Penn State wide receiver is also of particular value to teams as a punt returner.
Rough projection: late first/early second
9 Jalen Naylor, Michigan State
Jalen Naylor of Michigan
In 2020, the man they call “Speedy” led the Big Ten in yards per reception (19.8) and had four receptions for 50-plus yards. With his run-like speed, Naylor can take the top off the guard.
The Michigan Receiver has a smooth accelerator and is capable of accelerating to top speed in the blink of an eye. He stacks full-backs and can go behind the defense. A big reason for his 19.3 receiving yards over the last two seasons.
Lafleur and his staff like wide receivers that block well on the perimeter, while Naylor works as a blocker. He played a role in Kenneth Walker rushing for 1,646 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Rough projection: Day 3
10 Danny Grey, SMU
Your Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Gray is an explosive playmaker. The SMU wide receiver passed 4.33 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is a long-distance trucker capable of running full-backs to win upright. The JUCO transmission has a legal track speed.
Gray is more than just a vertical threat. He’s terrible with the ball. He puts a lot of emphasis on protecting in space with his speed and resilience to create YAC. Gray also brings particular value to teams as a returning player.
Rough projection: End of day 2/beginning of day 3