With Packers trading star receiver Davante Adams to the Raiders, who are some wide receivers Green Bay should consider in the 2022 NFL Draft? The class is incredibly deep, and now with two late first-round picks, the Packers could be in prime position to get a new top target.
Davante Adams trade forces Packers to look to 2022 NFL Draft
Losing the best wide receiver in football is bound to hurt. When you lose him in the twilight of Aaron Rodgers’ career, it stings just a little bit more. The relationship between Adams and the Packers was already beyond repair. And Adams wanted to play with his college QB, Derek Carr. Even so, it’s a tough loss — one that Green Bay can’t waste any time recovering from.
If there’s a silver lining in losing Adams, it’s that his loss comes at an opportune time. The Packers now have two first-round picks in an incredibly strong wide receiver class. There isn’t a blue-chip prospect like Ja’Marr Chase or Jaylen Waddle, but that might work in the Packers’ favor. There’s a greater chance that a top receiver could be on the board at 22nd overall — the pick acquired from the Raiders.
Who are some wide receiver options for the Packers to consider in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who might be at the top of their list?
Top 2022 NFL Draft receivers for the Green Bay Packers
In the wake of the Davante Adams trade, here are several wide receivers for the Packers to target in the 2022 NFL Draft. The first three likely demand Round 1 capital, but there are other options in the Day 2 range as well.
Treylon Burks, Arkansas
If there’s one thing you need to know about the Packers, it’s that they love size at wide receiver. Even Amari Rodgers, a shorter receiver selected last year, is well over 200 pounds. Size is a necessity for Packers receivers, and there aren’t many bigger receivers — both in terms of density and catch radius — than Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.
Burks is 6’2″, 225 pounds, with massive 33.5″ arms. Beyond that, he has excellent athleticism for his size. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and logged a 35.5″ vertical at the Arkansas Pro Day. Burks is explosive and agile in open space, but he also attacks the football in the air in contested situations.
Burks isn’t an elite route runner, but he has the tools to be serviceable in that area. He can eat with space in the slot and separate on slants. And already, he’s a dynamic dual-sided RAC and deep threat who can be a vital playmaker for the Packers.
Drake London, USC
In a way, the injury suffered by Drake London might’ve made us forget how good he is. At 6’3 7/8″ and 219 pounds, with 33″ arms, he undoubtedly checks the size box for the Packers. And on top of that, he’s an excellent contested-catch threat with surprising three-level ability for his size.
London has some measured nuance and hip sink as a route runner. Like Burks, he’s never going to be elite. But on quick slants and outs, he can find space. London is also a power forward at the catch point with high-level box-out ability, and he’s a physical RAC threat who keeps his legs churning through contact. Some of London’s game is reminiscent of Plaxico Burress — who made his living as a dynamic alpha and a dangerous deep threat.
George Pickens, Georgia
The appeal with George Pickens is more projection than most receivers. But looking at his skill set, it’s easy to get excited about what he can be. Pickens isn’t quite as dense as the other receivers on this list. But he still offers great size at 6’3″, 195 pounds, with 32 3/8″ arms. And his athleticism only sharpens his profile.
Pickens has exciting hip sink for his size, and he flashes smooth route-running ability and zone awareness. His true blue-chip trait, however, is his ability when the ball is in the air. Pickens has rare ball-tracking ability and body control, and he can use his size to contort and corral passes in crowded areas. Pickens’ 4.47 speed and easy athleticism also affords him good RAC potential. And to sweeten the pot for the Packers and Matt LaFleur, Pickens is a tenacious blocker.
Other WR options for the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft
Burks, London, and Pickens are some of the top matches for the Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft. But there’s also a chance the Packers wait until Day 2 to make an addition. After all, they added a second-rounder as well in the Adams trade. They have three selections on Day 2, which could be prime territory to capitalize on the depth of the WR class.
A couple of names that stand out as matches for the Packers’ WR profile are Texas Tech’s Erik Ezukanma and Notre Dame’s Kevin Austin Jr. Ezukanma is 6’2″, 209 pounds, with 33.5″ arms. He has great explosiveness and near-elite RAC ability in the open field. Additionally, he has the high-level contested-catch ability to make plays downfield. Austin is less consistent as a playmaker, but he’s also long, dense, explosive, and has surprising agility in space.
Beyond those two, a few more names that make sense include Clemson’s Justyn Ross, Purdue’s David Bell, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, and Nevada’s Romeo Doubs. All three receivers measured over 200 pounds at the NFL Combine. Doubs is especially dynamic on film, possessing the twitch and explosiveness to get downfield. Pierce is also a great downfield threat who can stack DBs and stretch the field vertically.
Bell and Ross aren’t elite athletes, but they get by in other ways. Ross is an incredibly smooth and fluid receiver with great size and body control, while Bell wins with steely instincts at the catch point.