Packers Land Dynamic WR in Post Free Agency Mock Draft

With NFL free agency in full swing, mock drafts are going to start looking a little different now. But in this version, the Green Bay Packers still land a dynamic WR.

NFL free agency and the draft go together like peanut butter and jelly. What happens in free agency is going to affect how teams approach the draft.

So with the free agency period already in full swing, we have seen a lot of movement already. And when it comes to the Green Bay Packers, although they’ve signed Christian Kirksey, Rick Wagner, and Marcedes Lewis, their needs on draft day pretty much remain the same.

Kirksey is here on a short-term deal and he has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, so finding a linebacker within the first three or four rounds should still be on Green Bay’s radar. Wagner is also here on just a two-year deal, meaning, the Packers still need to find their right tackle of the future in the draft.

On top of that, receiver, interior defensive lineman, cornerback, running back, and even tight end are all still positions that they should be addressing.

However, with the recent shakeup that free agency has brought us, the board in this recent mock draft from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has fallen a bit differently than what we had grown used to seeing over the past month or so. And below, is who Zierlein had the Packers selecting at 30th overall.

Round 1, Pick 30: Jalen Reagor WR – TCU

Here is what Lance had to say about the selection:

"“Reagor has explosive field speed and is a sudden target underneath. He could become an early favorite of Aaron Rodgers.”"

Notable players off of the board: Kenneth Murray, Patrick Queen, Ross Blacklock, Josh Jones, Austin Jackson, Denzel Mims, Justin Jefferson.

As you can see, quite a few of the players that had been mocked to Green Bay in the past were off the board by the time they were on the clock. But with a loaded wide receiver class, they are still able to land one of the more dynamic players in this draft.

Over the past three seasons at TCU, Reagor has appeared in 39 games and totaled over 2,200 receiving yards at 15.2 yards per catch with 22 touchdowns. This includes a 1,000-yard season in 2018 and although his numbers would dip last season, that was largely due to the ineffective quarterback play.

Additionally, he had 35 rushing attempts over his career with an average of 9.3 yards per run along with two more touchdowns. And he did some work in the return game as well, averaging almost 21 yards per punt return in 2019 and 14.4 yards on five kick return attempts.

Adding Reagor to this Green Bay Packers’ offense would give them the boost in the passing game that they desperately need. He gives Aaron Rodgers a downfield target, he can create big plays after the catch which is something that was lacking in 2019, and he has the ability to lineup all over the formation as well.

Reagor did a lot of his damage at TCU lining-up out wide as a deep threat and that ability would be a welcomed sight in Titletown. However, he could also continue to develop into a slot option for the Packers as well. Not to mention that wide receiver screens and jet sweeps are also possibilities.

Basically just find ways to get Reagor the ball in open space and watch him go to work. And with Davante Adams lined up opposite of him, Reagor would have plenty of one-on-one opportunities outside for him to take advantage of.

Below, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network gives his most recent scouting report on Reagor:

"“Jalen Reagor is one of the most dynamic receiving prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. Reagor’s skill set fits best when projecting forward into a vertical passing offense as a Z-receiver, where he can defeat press coverage, attack down the field and force defenses to respect his speed or pay the consequences.Reagor brings explosive burst and simultaneous control on his stems to carry himself for separation — he’s got upside to work inside as a slot receiver as well. NFL starter.”"

In this mock draft, there were quite a few familiar names that were off the board by the time the Green Bay Packers were on the clock. But for a team that needs an infusion of talent and playmaking ability at the receiver position, if they do in fact end up with Jalen Reagor in Round 1, I think we should all be quite happy.