Packers: 5 draft prospects who could replace Davante Adams
The football world was stunned on Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers sent Davante Adams to Las Vegas in exchange for two premium picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Wide receiver was arguably the Packers’ biggest need WITH Davante on the roster, now without him, Green Bay have unquestionably the worst receiving corps in the league.
The Packers were smart to franchise tag Adams. Without the tag, he could’ve walked out the door for nothing (aside from a 2023 compensatory selection) so at least this trade nets them some fair value in return.
There is no ‘replacing’ what Davante Adams offers to a team, but every year we see superstar receivers emerge from the draft — Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Deebo Samuel and AJ Brown are just a few of the names selected over the last three years.
1. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
Consensus big board ranking: 10th
Wilson is the top receiver on the majority of draft boards after putting together an excellent senior season at Ohio State.
He boasts filthy route-running ability which he used to put cornerbacks in a blender every single week. Wilson can be moved around within the offense and his sub-4.40 speed would bring a much-needed spark to the Packers receiving room which is desperately lacking juice.
His concerns regarding play strength and a thin frame are similar to DeVonta Smith from last year’s draft. As the top receiver in the draft, Green Bay may have to part ways with one of their second-round picks if they want to move up to get him.
2. Drake London, USC
Consensus big board ranking: 19th
London is a really fun evaluation because he looks like an absolute monster among boys. Standing at 6’5 with the catch radius of a bald eagle, London enjoyed a breakout junior season for the Trojans.
He fits every “former basketball player” cliché that NFL announcers love reminding you of when the offense gets into the red zone. Top it off with rare movement skills at his size and the only thing London truly lacks is deep speed.
Between the draft and free agency, there aren’t a ton of viable candidates to fill the role of prototypical X-receiver which Adams vacated. With the Packers departing to the UK for the first time ever next season, there’s no better time to draft someone called London.
3. Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Consensus big board ranking: 23rd
When you think of a true ‘football player’ at receiver you think of Treylon Burks. He put on some of the best tape of any player in this class, showcasing a deadly combination of size and speed.
Burks spent the majority of his college career playing out of the slot, which isn’t ideal for the Packers who need everything other than slot weapons. However with his size, he projects as a future outside receiver once he fully realizes his potential.
Burks didn’t put together the best combine, testing poorly in the agility drills, but anyone who’s seen his play on Saturdays knows just how much of a threat he can be with the ball in his hands.
4. George Pickens, Georgia
Consensus big board ranking: 38th
This is an interesting option because Pickens has serious ‘boom’ potential. Physically, Pickens has everything you could ask for in a true WR1 and he has shown that ability in his first two seasons at Georgia.
An unfortunately-timed ACL tear last offseason limited what Pickens could do for the championship-winning Bulldogs and ripped away his chances of becoming a top-10 draft pick.
When he was healthy, he was superb at the catch point and was utterly dominant in contested situations. If Pickens can return to what he was pre-injury, he could prove to be a steal at the back end of the first round.
5. Christian Watson, North Dakota State
Consensus big board ranking: 53rd
Watson has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the pre-draft process which has seen him go as early as the mid-first round in some mocks.
He compounded a terrific week of practice at the Senior Bowl with an even better combine — checking out with the fifth-highest relative athletic score ever from a wide receiver.
With a size/speed profile that looks identical to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Watson projects as an upgrade at WR2 for Green Bay.
Now with Adams gone too, Watson could be capable of taking on the top spot or perhaps sharing it with one of the guys listed above if Green Bay wants to go all-out at boosting this position.