Green Bay Packers Rookies: How Will They Do in 2014?

Wide receiver Davante Adams Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Round 2 – [Pick 21]: Davante Adams, WR

This was seen automatically as a great value pick, and with good reason; this draft was loaded with WR talent, so there was going to be plenty of great prospects that would end up slipping farther down than their abilities should have allowed.

The Packers look to have grabbed themselves another strong contributor in Adams. They allowed James Jones to leave in free agency, so picking up a receiver that could take his place on the roster was of utmost importance. Coincidentally, I’ve heard of multiple sources make comparisons of Adams to Jones, because if you want to replace someone why not try to do so with a decent younger replica with more upside?

Adams is rangy and said to have great hands (something that we always worried about with Jones, even during his best seasons). His size will also make him an ideal red-zone target. To be able to prove it, Adams will have to overcome some of his issues to stand out on what is probably the most stacked position on the roster.

He hasn’t shown consistent ability to beat jams, his movements are more deliberate than you would hope for, and he doesn’t exactly have top-end speed or strength. His competition for playing time includes two top-end players with Pro Bowl ability (Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb), a breakout player from last year (Jarrett Boykin), two other draft picks (Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis; more on them later), some holdovers with talent from last year (Harper, Dorsey, White) and some undrafted pickups. Needless to say, he has his work cut out for him.

Prediction:

Despite all the competition, I think Adams gets to see a decent amount of the field this year. While Cobb and Nelson will of course be out there basically every play, the Packers do tend to run a high number of three- and four-receiver sets so the chances will be there.

The main worry for him should be Boykin, who the coaches have consistently heaped praise and support toward since the offseason began. I see Adams basically splitting time with Boykin as that third option throughout the year (though Boykin should have the larger share).

25 RECs, 375 yds, 3 TDs