The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is UCF receiver Gabriel Davis:
What he can do
– Size and some speed. 6-2 and 216, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds. Speed builds over distance
– Big catch radius. Has good length and leaping ability, with a “my ball” attitude, especially deep
– Caught a ton of passes down the field. Can stack cornerbacks vertically and track throws in the air. Good hand fighter late in routes, physical at the catch point. Given 41 targets traveling over 20 yards in the air in 2019, caught 16 and scored seven touchdowns, per PFF
– Change of direction ability is limited. Not an explosive player in short areas or in and out of breaks. Doesn’t explode off the ball. Not going to be a big-time separator at the next level
– A lot of experience against press. Toolbox at the line of scrimmage is more diverse than most in the class. Encouraging part of his game
– Can win with effective double moves. Good salesman on the initial break
– So much of his production was the result of the quarterback chucking it his way on schemed up one-on-one routes deep down the field. Not going to work the same way at the next level
– Not going to make NFL defenders miss. Not particularly elusive after the catch
– Not sure teams are going to love his effort as a blocker
– Still young. Turned 21 in early April. Probably should have stayed in school for another year
How he fits
Davis has size, some buildup deep speed and great ball-tracking skills, and if the Packers see him a viable vertical threat at the next level, he could make sense as a midround option at receiver. The Packers need more speed and vertical threats at the position. Davis isn’t a burner and he might struggle to wiggle open from man coverage in short to intermediate areas at the next level, so the potential for impact from him is probably limited. He’ll need development as a route runner, both in terms of diversity of routes and sharpness of the routes run. He could develop into a starting perimeter receiver and a potential No. 2, although he looks more like a No. 3 or No. 4 type.
NFL comp
If all goes right, and Davis develops early, he could find himself resembling Michael Floyd at the next level. Brian Quick and his production in the NFL is a reasonable expectation.
Where Packers could get him
Likely Day 3. Davis is easily lost in a deep receiver class. He’s somewhere in the top 20 receivers, but towards the backend. Landing in the fourth or fifth round looks likely.
Previous Prospects for the Pack
WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.
OT Jack Driscoll
WR Devin Duvernay
OT Ezra Cleveland
WR Van Jefferson
OT Andrew Thomas
S Grant Delpit
TE Cole Kmet
OT Tristan Wirfs
QB Jordan Love
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
DB Jeremy Chinn
RB/WR Antonio Gibson
DL Jordan Elliott
DB K’Von Wallace
WR Bryan Edwards
DL Ross Blacklock
LB Logan Wilson
DL Justin Madubuike
RB Cam Akers
LB Malik Harrison
RB Darrynton Evans
WR Lynn Bowden Jr.