The wide receiver position is one the Green Bay Packers will be focusing on throughout the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.
GM Brian Gutekunst needs help in the passing game, and he knows it. The Packers have mostly avoided the receiver position early in drafts since taking Davante Adams in the second round in 2014. Now, it’s time to re-invest, and this year might be the perfect time to need a receiver.
NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he has 27 receivers with a grade in the first, second and third rounds, highlighting the incredible depth of the class.
“So this is a really phenomenal group of wideouts,” Jeremiah said on a recent conference call previewing the combine. “Not all those guys are going to go early. They’ll end up spreading throughout the draft. But it’s really a good group.”
The receiver group is being measured and interviewed on Monday and will go through on-field drills on Thursday.
Here are a few receivers the Packers will be watching at the combine in Indianapolis this week:
Jalen Reagor, TCU: He’s going to run in the 4.3s. Book it. He is an instant accelerator who also possesses rare buildup speed. But Reagor won’t only ace the 40-yard dash – he should put up big numbers in all the jumps and short-area quickness drills. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the big winners in Indy and cements himself as a first-round pick.
Tee Higgins, Clemson: If he runs and tests well at the combine, the Packers may have no shot at getting him at No. 30. Higgins has the size, deep speed and ball skills to be a sure-fire first-rounder. Good times and testing numbers might ensure he’s a top-20 pick.
K.J. Hamler, Penn State: He’s small, but he’s going to wow teams with his straight-line speed and quickness. It’s possible he’ll be one of the receivers to get into the 4.3s, and his explosiveness in and out of breaks will be impressive. Can he also impress teams with his ball skills and tracking ability down the field? The gauntlet drill will really test him.
Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State: He was flagged for a medical issue at the Senior Bowl. Teams will want clarity there. If he’s healthy, he could be one of the surprise performers of the combine. He has explosive athleticism and impressive length.
Justin Jefferson, LSU: College football’s slot master could put to rest any concerns about his speed and separation ability with good times in Indy. Keep an eye on him during receiver drills. Based on his college tape, he’s going to look like a natural catching the football.
Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin: Teams are going to dig as deep as they can into Cephus and his life off the field. The interviews will be crucial. And while he won’t be the most athletic receiver at the combine, he could really solidify himself as an early Day 3 pick with strong testing numbers.
Laviska Shenault, Colorado: He’s an athletic freak, with a ridiculous blend of size, speed and strength. The combine will be the perfect setting to show off all three. Medicals will be important to his evaluation after several injuries slowed his college career.
Lynn Bowden, Kentucky: His receiver-quarterback skill set, ability from the slot and in the return game and school of choice make the comparisons to Randall Cobb easy. How will he look catching the ball after a year playing quarterback? Also, he got into a pre-game fight before Kentucky’s bowl game, so teams might want to probe his emotional control.
Denzel Mims, Baylor: He’s one of the many sneaky good receiver prospects in this class. He’s a natural catching the football and should test well in Indy. Expect Mims to rise up boards coming out of the combine. He’d be a terrific fit for the Packers at No. 62.
Devin Duvernay, Texas: The combine will be the perfect environment for Duvernay, a slot dynamo who is a ball of muscle and lightning-fast in a straight line. It’s possible he’ll be one of the fastest receivers in the field. Teams will want to see if he’s quick enough in short areas and has the ball skills to be an effective slot at the next level.
Jauan Jennings, Tennessee: He has James Jones-like size and functional toughness, but can he run? And is quick enough to get open at the next level? The combine might expose his biggest weaknesses. And teams will want to get a feel for his maturity level after a rocky collegiate career.
Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty: He’s 6-4 and over 220 pounds. Receivers his size don’t generally move as well as he does. He needs to check the movement skills box in Indy. He also needs to prove he can be consistent catching the football. A big week in Indy could really send him flying up the board.