Packers 2018 Draft scouting report: Wide receiver Calvin Ridley

A look at the top wide receiver in this year’s class, Calvin Ridley, and his potential fit with the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers already have a number one caliber receiver in Davante Adams and a solid slot receiver with Randall Cobb, but they could use another target for Aaron Rodgers on the outside after the release of Jordy Nelson. Calvin Ridley could fill that void.

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have done a great job developing wide receivers in the last few years with names like Julio Jones and Amari Cooper, and I believe Ridley could continue that tradition.

Pros

Ridley is good on curl routes. He’s effective in the slot but I doubt the Packers would use him there. He could be a good receiver to use on end-arounds similar to Ty Montgomery and Cobb.

Good feet. Knows how to be elusive and pick up yards after the catch. Expect him to get even better at that in the pros. Will be a YAC monster in the NFL, sooner rather than later.

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Ridley is good on deep routes, but I think his main talent will be in short-to-mid yardage situations. Think second-and-7 type situations.

His speed will allow him to be a routinely good target in slant routes.

I was very impressed with his performance against Florida State last year. They had two NFL caliber players in their secondary with Derwin James and Tavarus McFadden. He has already played in big-time pressure situations at Alabama.

Ridley was pretty good in the red zone last year.

He does a good job blocking for his running backs. That’s an underrated trait for receivers.

Ridley had a good combine. His bench press of 15 is decent for a receiver and should help him with press coverage, per NFL.com. His 40-time of 4.43 is very good.

Cons

I usually prefer taller receivers, so I would like Ridley to be a bit taller but I think he should be more than fine at 6-foot-1.

I don’t think he will be good at fade routes. The Packers have Adams and Jimmy Graham for that though.

Had just 967 receiving yards and five touchdowns last year, per Sports Reference. The root of that problem could be the team’s quarterback play last year and Alabama’s run-reliant offense.

Fit with Green Bay

I would love to see Ridley in a Packers uniform, and adding him to Joe Philbin’s offense would help allay the loss of Nelson. I think drafting Ridley at pick 14 could make a lot of sense.

Could he end up in Green Bay?

I am pretty confident he will be on the board when the Packers are picking at 14, and I think he will be considered there. My hunch is that the Packers would still draft an edge rusher or secondary player over him.

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When will he be picked?

First round

Pro comparison

Emmanuel Sanders

Career outlook

Number two receiver

Grade

75/100

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