Packers preseason 2017: Which wide receivers stay, who gets the boot

Malachi Dupre

Viewed by many as a mid-round pick prior to last April’s draft, Dupre tumbled all the way to the seventh round due to the underachiever tag he carried with him at LSU.

The tall red-zone threat declared early notwithstanding a less-than-stellar collegiate career marred by frequent drops and limitations as a route runner who struggled coming out of his breaks.

But was his lack of development a case of Dupre not being as talented as many evaluators thought coming out of Louisiana’s John Curtis Christian High School or was it the mere consequence of poor offensive coaching and subpar quarterbacking?

The former SEC student athlete has taken positive steps in his effort to improve in all aspects of his game and the coaching staff has taken notice by crediting Dupre for being an exceptionally quick learner.

While the high-flying rookie has made his share of spectacular plays during non-contact OTA sessions, he hasn’t been as consistent during summer practices.

In Thursday’s win, Dupre showcased quickness in recording a reception off a comeback route for 8 yards, but later was on the receiving end of a frightening hit administered by safety Tre Sullivan.

While the young man has avoided any serious type of head injury, it is unknown if he’ll play next Saturday versus the Redskins.

It’ll be fascinating to watch how Dupre bounces back from that play.

Though the one-time Bayou Bengal has shown the instincts to execute a greater variety of routes he was asked to run in Baton Rouge, he may be best served by spending a year getting stronger on the practice squad.

Odds of making the squad: 45 percent