Laviska Shenault to Packers in FanSided mock draft
Laviska Shenault is the Packers’ first-round choice in a recent FanSided mock draft.
Laviska Shenault’s name was linked to the Green Bay Packers in mock drafts often early in the offseason, but that hasn’t been the case as often in recent weeks.
Part of that could be due to his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
However, Shenault was dealing with an injury during the combine, one that could keep him out of action for over a month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Colorado WR Laviska Shenault, who has been dealing with core muscle injury and inflammation of the pubic bone, will have surgery that is expected to sideline him 4-6 weeks, per league source. Despite the injury, Shenault ran a 4.55 at the combine. But with no improvement, surgery
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2020
But despite Shenault’s draft stock seemingly falling, at least with the media, a recent FanSided mock draft has him going at No. 30 to the Packers.
One of the priorities this offseason for the Packers is to surround Aaron Rodgers with more talent. And Shenault could be the “explosive offensive player” that GM Brian Gutekunst was hoping to acquire before the trade deadline this past season.
The Colorado receiver can line up at any position. We saw Matt LaFleur get creative with how he used Tyler Ervin late in the season. It would be exciting to see how he’d plan to use Shenault, who could be used in the slot, on the outside or out of the backfield in the Packers offense.
Joe Marino of The Draft Network had high praise for Shenault in his scouting report:
"“An impressive blend of size, physicality, burst and ball skills, Shenault has no limitations in the ways he can make plays. Whether it’s stretching the defense vertically, winning in the intermediate areas of the field, uncovering quickly on the short stuff or used for touches in space out of the backfield, Shenault brings a well-rounded skill set to the table.”"
Shenault is also ranked 24th in the entire draft class by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. He’s a first-round talent. However, many draft analysts now have him falling out of the opening round.
In a perfect world, he’d continue to fall down the draft board all the way to No. 62, when the Packers will pick for the second time. But that’s unlikely, and if the Packers don’t pick him in the first round they’d likely need to trade up in the second to get him.
LaFleur and Gutekunst will have an idea of the type of wide receiver they want to target in the draft. Shenault is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He could line up at multiple positions for the Packers and, alongside Davante Adams and Aaron Jones, could help the offense reach the next level.