Green Bay Packers: 3 Gadget Wide Receiver Prospects

Joe Reed – Virginia

Joe Reed has the same type of versatility that the other two possess and he is also the best return man of the group. The other two have experience in that area but not even close to as much success as Reed.

Reed didn’t return punts at all in college, but his kick returning was extremely impressive. Every season, he averaged at least 25 yards per kick return, and averaged 33.2 yards per return in his senior year. He also totaled five return touchdowns over his college career. Reed is the dangerous return man who the Packers haven’t had since the years of early Randall Cobb. Where Duvernay could fill the Green Bay Packers’ slot void left by Cobb, Reed could fill the return man void.

In terms of versatility, Reed hasn’t thrown the ball like Duvernay or Bowden, but he can play even more roles than either of them. At Virginia, he lined up as a running back, a wing back, a slot receiver, and a wide receiver. Lining up all over the field shows how well he can do anything that’s asked of him by the coaching staff.

Between his junior and senior year, Reed made big strides in expanding his game from being just a gimmicky receiver and a deep threat into a guy who could be a featured piece in the Virginia offense. In his first three seasons, he made a total of 52 receptions and was used mostly as a deep threat and speed guy. In his senior year, he made 77 catches for 679 yards.

Because of those receiving skills that he refined a bit more, he is capable of making some plays at the next level. At 6’1″, he’s the tallest of these three guys and has the ability to high point the ball in the air and go get it. Also, when he is lined up in the backfield, it can create huge matchup issues for the defense. Take a look at this wheel route from running back alignment from last year.

He can beat most linebackers that would be covering him, and he could do some damage out of the backfield.

Any of these three guys would add a slightly different element to the Green Bay Packers’ offense. Duvernay would give them speed and basic gadget abilities, plus the greatest potential to become a mainstream slot receiver, Bowman would give them tons of versatility and a wildcat possibility, and Reed could give them an explosive return man that they’ve been missing for years.

Now to be clear, none of these guys are the answer at wide receiver and another prospect that is a more capable route runner and receiver will also have to be taken to bolster the base offense. With that said, these guys could all add a fun element and throw in some creative wrinkles each week.