The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2021 NFL draft hoping to find a few more valuable pieces to add to an otherwise talented roster after winning 26 regular-season games and making the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons under coach Matt LaFleur.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect capable of landing in Green Bay later this month.
Up next is Florida receiver Kadarius Toney:
What he can do
– Stands 6-0, weighs 193 pounds. Possesses a special burst. His elite acceleration and change of direction is on display every time he touches the ball
– YAC monster. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work. Forced 20 missed tackles in 2020 (fifth in FBS), per Pro Football Focus
– Shows good vision in the open field after the catch
– More of a gadget player playing the receiver position at this point. Still has room to improve as a route runner, but is nearly impossible to guard on short-area routes due to his start/stop quickness
– Not much of a downfield threat. Caught 19 screen passes and had an average depth of target of just 7.7 yards (320th)
– Has reliable hands. Only dropped two passes on 84 targets last season
– 505 of his 613 offensive snaps last season came while deployed from the slot. Ranked sixth in the FBS with 784 receiving yards from the slot
– Can be used on jet sweeps and end-arounds. Logged 47 rushing attempts for 419 yards in his four years at Florida
– Took over as the team’s first choice at punt and kick returner last season. Returned a 50-yard punt for a touchdown against Kentucky
– Has a history of injuries and was suspended for one game by Florida for conduct detrimental in 2018
– Pro day metrics: 4.41 40-yard dash, nine bench reps, 6.88 3-cone drill, 40″ vertical, 136″ broad jump (99th percentile)
How he fits
The Packers could kill two birds with one stone with by selecting Toney. He’d slide right in as the team’s first choice at punt returner, a position the team has struggled to get right in recent years. On offense, Toney figures to play the majority of snaps from the slot. He would fit in nicely as the motion man with LaFleur’s use of pre-snap motion. The Packers lack of a receiver capable of getting consistent yards after the catch. Toney is that guy.
NFL comp
A player that immediately comes to mind is former Vikings and Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin. They have similar body types (Harvin measured in at 5-11, 192 pounds at the 2009 NFL Combine) and athletic traits. Harvin was a gadget player for most of his career but was a threat to break loose on any given play, much like Toney.
Where Packers could get him
In the first round, likely with the No. 29 overall selection. There’s probably not a scenario where the Packers could land him with pick No. 62 in the second round. Toney’s athletic profile alone warrants a top-32 pick.
Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppGoSiwqNMc
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