The Green Bay Packers added three wide receivers via the 2018 NFL Draft. At least one should help Aaron Rodgers solidify the offense.
The Green Bay Packers are a shining example of an organization that’s close to contending, but missing a necessary piece. While many have debated the quality of their picks at the 2018 NFL Draft, what’s clear is that they found three desirable targets for Aaron Rodgers.
With Jordy Nelson out of the mix, the Packers have found three potential replacements for one of the franchise’s all-time great wide receivers.
Green Bay selected wide receivers in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. It displayed the concerted effort made by the organization to provide Rodgers with the necessary weapons to return the offense to prominence.
That all began in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, when the Packers selected Missouri Tigers wide receiver J’Mon Moore.
With the 133rd pick in the 2018 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select Missouri WR J'Mon Moore!#PackersDraft #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/SFmu0Q85s0
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 28, 2018
A round later, the Packers invested in another explosive wide receiver: South Florida Bulls speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
With the 174th pick in the 2018 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select USF WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling! #PackersDraft #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/JkgSCHFUU3
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 28, 2018
In the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Packers completed the haul by investing in Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
With the 207th pick in the 2018 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select Notre Dame WR Equanimeous St. Brown!#PackersDraft #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/m0eOHgH38w
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 28, 2018
It was a methodical approach to finding the potential replacement for Jordy Nelson and an heir apparent to Randall Cobb.
Moore is a 6’3″ wide receiver with spacial quickness, explosive leaping ability, and the ability to make plays down the field. He recorded the third-most deep receiving yards amongst SEC receivers in 2017 and should provide similar value for the Packers.
Speed isn’t a strength, but Moore can make plays in traffic and provide Rodgers with a big target who doesn’t necessarily need to be thrown open.
As for Valdez-Scantling, he may be the receiver who best compares to Nelson as far as long-term potential is concerned.
Valdes-Scantling is a 6’4″ wide receiver with 4.37 speed and massive hands that can swallow the ball. That combination of size and speed is beyond rare, and it’s a quarterback like Rodgers who can throw this speed demon open.
There are rational concerns about how ready he is to contribute at the next level, but Valdes-Scantling is a player with significant upside.
Rounding the unit out is St. Brown, who has the potential to be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
St. Brown is a 6’5″ and 214-pound Goliath with long arms, big hands, and a powerful upper body. He’s still fundamentally questionable, but with a quarterback of Rodgers’ caliber, he could be helped through his early inconsistencies to realize his potential.
At least one of the three players should pan out, with all three possessing high ceilings and the raw ability to thrive with a superstar quarterback.
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Regardless of what transpires, the Green Bay Packers have provided Aaron Rodgers with the raw talent to thrive again on offense.