The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers need an infusion of talent at the wide receiver position. They also need to find a dynamic return man to give their return game a much-needed shot in the arm.
A player that could help remedy both those needs is Khalil Shakir. The Boise State wide receiver checks in at No. 11 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
As a freshman in 2018, Shakir scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown while also punts (12) and kickoffs (4) for the Broncos. The following season the four-star recruit enjoyed a breakout season. Shakir hauled in a team-leading 63 receptions for 872 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns. The versatile playmaker scored three rushing touchdowns and passed for another.
In just seven games in 2020, Shakir recorded 52 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns. The California native also rushed for 148 yards on 17 carries.
This past season Shakir posted career highs in receptions (77), receiving yards (1,117) and receiving touchdowns (7).
“Shakir came into the season as the obvious top target in the passing game, but there weren’t many teams that figured out how to stop him,” Ron Counts, the Boise State football beat writer for the Idaho Statesman, said. “There were so many times on third down where everyone in the stadium knew he was getting the ball, but somehow he still came down with it. He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was a No. 1 receiver in college, and he capped a super productive career with his best season, posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He ranks No. 5 all-time at Boise State with 208 career receptions and No. 4 with 2,878 receiving yards, and he’s tied for No. 9 with 20 receiving touchdowns.”
Shakir is a walking highlight reel. Every week Shakir was making plays. Whether it was a circus catch or making people miss in space, Shakir was making plays for the Broncos on a weekly basis.
Shakir is shifty and slippery in the open field. He’s able to cut on a dime and leaves defensive backs grasping at air. According to Pro Football Focus, Shakir averaged six yards after the catch this past season and forced 14 missed tackles. The dynamic playmaker is a true YAC threat.
“He spent much of his high school career as a running back, and despite his impressive 40 time at the Combine, he’s more elusive than fast,” Counts said. “He still has the instincts he developed as a running back. His vision and lateral movement are impeccable, and he’s really powerful in his lower half. He’s only 6-foot, but he’s a solid 196 pounds, and he’s not easy to get on the ground.”
Shakir is an easy accelerator off the line of scrimmage and threatens defensive backs vertically. The Boise State wide receiver is a savvy route runner. He does a good job of changing up his route speed. He has quick feet to set up his routes. He explodes in and out of his breaks to consistently create separation. Shakir has a knack for finding the soft spots in coverages and makes himself available to the quarterback. He keeps working to make himself available to the quarterback when the play breaks down.
“He runs crisp routes,” Counts said. “A lot of the praise he got at the Senior Bowl was about exactly that. Some of that goes back to how powerful he is in his lower half. One scout described him as explosive coming out of his breaks, and former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who was once the head coach at Boise State, said Shakir has “freakish” explosiveness and body control.”
Shakir has velcro-like hands. He catches everything that comes his way. He does a great job of tracking the ball downfield and has outstanding body control. According to PFF, Shakir came down with nine contested catches this past season for the Broncos.
“I didn’t see him drop many passes in the three years that I’ve covered Boise State,” Counts said. “He specialized early in his career in catching short passes, making a guy miss and turning it into a 20-yard gain. Last season, he really showed off his knack for winning 50/50 balls. There were so many passes where he was nowhere near open and still somehow came up with the ball.”
Shakir is a versatile weapon. He can line up on the boundary or in the slot. Boise State utilized him out of the backfield. A creative offensive coordinator will find ways to get him manufactured touches. He’s a dynamic playmaker, capable of picking up chunk plays due to his ability to make defenders miss in space.
Shakir finished his career at Boise State with 24 punt returns and eight kick returns. He averaged 23.8 yards per kick return and 7.5 yards per punt return. This past season, Shakir averaged 12.8 yards per punt return. With his vision and ability to make the first man miss, Shakir could be a dynamic punt returner in the NFL.
“I definitely see Shakir seeing early playing time as a punt or kick returner,” Counts said. “He’s not a stereotypical No. 1 WR in the NFL, so he’s probably going to have to contribute on special teams to make a roster. He has great acceleration and vision and was close to breaking a couple punts last season.”
Fit with the Packers
As it stands right now the Packers have no cornerstone pieces in place at the wide receiver position. Allen Lazard is a solid player and without a doubt the team’s best wide receiver. Not a knock on Lazard, but that’s not good enough for a team that has a Super Bowl window open as Aaron Rodgers approaches is playing the back-nine of his career.
Randall Cobb is a shell of his former self and proved that he could still pop off while playing with Rodgers. Sammy Watkins is a bridge player that hasn’t played in 14 or more games in a season since 2019. The Packers traded up in the third round for Amari Rodgers last season, but did little to inspire confidence during his rookie season.
All Shakir did during his time at Boise State was make plays. He’s a swiss army knife. He puts added stress on the defense when he has the ball in his hands. He can win vertically. He can line up out of the backfield. Matt LaFleur would find ways to get him the ball. With his reliable hands and route running, he’d quickly become a favorite of the reigning MVP. On top of his ability as a wide receiver, Shakir could help liven up Green Bay’s return game.
“The only box Shakir doesn’t check physically is his height, but he more than makes up for that with his instincts and reliability,” Counts said. “You just can’t coach what it took for him to make some of those improbable catches last year. He showed at the Combine that he has elite speed, and he improved his vertical leap by four inches (38.5″) at his pro day. He’s proven he can go out and make a play even though everyone in the stadium knows he’s getting the ball, and he’s versatile. He carried the ball on a lot of jet sweeps and played some wildcat QB at Boise State. He even threw a touchdown pass. He’s also one of the most humble athletes I’ve ever covered, and he seems like a guy you can trust to handle himself the right way on and off the field.”
The Packers need to restock the talent inside the wide receiver cupboard at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Adding a player like Shakir in the third round would be a great addition to a pantry that’s gone stale.
[lawrence-related id=75800]
