The Green Bay Packers will draft a receiver later this month, likely within the first two or three rounds.
Here’s how I would place the top receiver prospects into tiers, based on what the Packers look for and what the offense needs at the position:
Likely to be gone: CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs
All three should be top-20 picks. It would take an unexpected fall and a trade up to get one of these three. Lamb and Jeudy project as true No. 1 receivers, while Ruggs has a uniquely dynamic skill set.
The dream: Justin Jefferson
The Packers could really use an athletic player who can create separation, get open from the slot, catch everything in sight, create yards after the catch, win in traffic and provide Aaron Rodgers with a reliable target in the middle of the field. Well, that’s Jefferson. The LSU star could be the ideal complementary receiver for Davante Adams in the Packers offense. He’s the dream at No. 30.
The next tier: Denzel Mims, Brandon Aiyuk, Jalen Reagor
Mims dominated the pre-draft process, proved capable of doing so many little things right and fits everything the Packers look for in a receiver. Aiyuk is a dynamic big-play creator who could thrive in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Reagor – despite some underwhelming agility times – has both vertical speed and explosive ability. All three are supremely talented and would fit a specific and important role in the scheme.
The really good big guys: Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Bryan Edwards, Chase Claypool
The Packers really like big, athletic receivers, and they’ll have a number of appealing options in this class. Higgins might lack the elite athleticism of the others, but he’s a proven and reliable producer who dominated the collegiate level and wins downfield in a number of ways. Pittman is a polished (and underrated) player who checks all the boxes and could be ready to contribute right away. Edwards is a physically dominant ball-winner who lives above the rim. Claypool plays like a power forward and tested like one of the elite athletes in the class. The Packers don’t seem to care about redundancy at receiver, so all four are options.
The big risk: Laviska Shenault
A true boom-bust prospect. Shenault is a really fun player who creates instant offense with the ball in his hands. After watching Deebo Samuel in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, it’s not difficult to imagine what adding Shenault could do for the Packers in a similar role. But he’s still a raw route-runner and has a lengthy injury history already, creating substantial risk.
The Go Go Gadget: Antonio Gibson
Is he a running back? Is he a slot receiver? Who cares. He’s a big play waiting to happen every single time he has the football. No prospect has his combination of athleticism, tackle-breaking ability and gadget skills. He’ll need to land in the right scheme with the right playcaller to truly thrive, but the Packers might just have the right situation to maximize his unique talent.
The wildcards: K.J. Hamler, Donovan Peoples-Jones
Hamler is an electric slot receiver with insane speed, but he’s also really small and drops a lot of passes. That’s a worrisome combo. His speed and quickness are winning traits and will tempt teams to overlook the issues. Peoples-Jones blew away the combine and could be a much better pro than college player, but his lack of production at Michigan wasn’t just the result of playing with a bad quarterback. A lot of development is required before he’ll contribute. DPJ might be the Rashan Gary of this receiver class.
The slot machine: Devin Duvernay
Duvernay looks like a running back and runs like a sprinter, but all he did at Texas was gobble up catches from the slot and make plays after the catch. The big question: Does Matt LaFleur and the Packers really need a traditional slot? Duvernay won’t be position versatile at the next level, and that could scare away the Packers.
The great fit: John Hightower
Not including Hightower in this didn’t seem right. With a blend of vertical separation ability and playmaking skills as a gadget player, Hightower looks like a really easy fit into the Packers offense. His potential for impact is high in the scheme.
The Cobb impersonator: Lynn Bowden Jr.
The playmaking slot receiver also played quarterback and returned punts for Kentucky. Sound familiar? Bowden isn’t at the same level as a prospect as Randall Cobb, the Packers’ second-round pick in 2011, but the similarities are hard to ignore.
The local question marks: Tyler Johnson, Quintez Cephus
The Gopher and Badger both proved they could dominate the college level. Are they athletic enough to be impact players at the next level? Johnson and Cephus could each play a role, but the ceiling is probably low for both.