Packers seven-round mock draft after first wave of free agency

Round 3, Pick 76: WR D.J. Chark, LSU

Other possibilities: Kyzir White, Dante Pettis, Josey Jewell.

The Packers can go in any direction here if they decide to draft for ‘want’ rather than ‘need,’ or if somebody is falling a bit in the draft. They have a lot of holes to fill, but there could be great value at wide receiver at this spot. I don’t think Pettis will still be available at 76 so I’m going with Chark.

Chark is going to be able to stretch the field every time he’s on it. He ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the combine and had explosive numbers in other drills. Given his natural size I think he has the potential to blow up in the Packers offense. He’s the kind of receiver the Packers desperately need on the outside.

Chark’s weaknesses, mostly his limitations outside of speed routes, are things I’m confident he can overcome with the Packers. Davante Adams and James Jones both had significant drop issues and eventually overcame them. Adams is one of the best receivers in the league now. Chark and Adams are similar in the way that they both will need time to reach their potential. With the success of Packers receivers over the years, I think Chark is worth the gamble. His upside with his explosiveness is something you can’t ignore.

There are concerns over Chark’s lack of production at LSU, mostly chalked up to poor quarterback play. That’s not something I want to gloss over or try to come up with an excuse for. Other receivers have been able to overcome similar situations where Chark hasn’t.