Green Bay Packers: Post combine mock draft review
By Paul Bretl
Peter Schrager – NFL Network
No. 12: T.J. Hockenson, Tight End – Iowa
No. 30: Riley Ridley, Wide Receiver – Georgia
We all know how I feel about taking a tight end at 12 and in this scenario with Devin White and Ed Oliver off the board, it does make some sense. However, with Brian Burns still available and the depth at the tight end position in this draft, I’d rather have Burns at this point.
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But let’s take a look at pick 30 where Schrager has the Green Bay Packers taking Riley Ridley from Georgia, a name that we haven’t seen associated much with the Packers or the first round for that matter. 2018 was his first full season and he caught 43 passes for 559 yards and nine touchdowns. Ridley would also average 13 yards per catch which was the lowest in his three-year career.
He has solid hands and is a clean route runner that will come in more polished than the rookie receivers drafted last year by Green Bay did. Ridley also played primarily in the slot role at Georgia, which may be a big reason Schrager has him going to the Packers given the departure of Randall Cobb.
Yet, something to note is that Ridley is not overly athletic, in fact, based on the Relative Athletic Scoring table, he is below average for a receiver, scoring a 4.48 out of a possible 10. Using this metric in recent years, that score is far below what the Green Bay Packers will typically select in the draft. So that alone may eliminate him from being a possible selection. If the Packers were to take a receiver at pick 30, I’d much rather see A.J. Brown from Ole Miss for example. I believe that taking Ridley at this point is a reach.