Badgers who the Green Bay Packers May Draft in 2021

Danny Davis- WR, Senior

Danny Davis came to Madison as one of the most highly recruited wide receivers the Badgers have landed in the current era. He fit in early with the young core of receivers and shined his first year on campus, starting three of twelve games and catching 26 passes for 418 yards and 5 TDs.

But Davis didn’t make the jump that we were expecting. Moving up and down the depth chart during his sophomore and junior seasons, he recorded 70 receptions for just 668 yards and six touchdowns over that span. He also added 13 carries for 166 yards with one touchdown on the ground.

Davis was often the third or even fourth receiver for the Badgers, but with AJ Taylor graduated and Quintez Cephus drafted in the fourth round in April, Davis is on the fast track to WR1. Kendric Pryor will push for that role as well, but Davis is far more talented.

Davis is a solid route runner. He has a good feel against zone and knows how to stay open for his quarterback. He shows good footwork and burst off the line. Davis sinks his hips with ease and accelerates out of his break. However, he struggles to create separation against man coverage and is too easily pushed off his route. He also lacks the game-breaking speed needed to fly past college corners.

With that said, Davis makes up for it when the ball is in the air. He may have an average catch radius, but he displays elite body control and ability to track the ball. When in space, Davis catches everything thrown his way, but in contested situations, he resorts to the body catch, which will lead to incompletions at the next level.

With plenty of work as the third receiver, Davis saw a lot of jet sweeps and took advantage of those opportunities. He does a great job of creating space for himself, making people miss, and getting upfield. He has above average ability after the catch, and is a willing downfield blocker, though he occasionally lets off the gas when asked to block inline.

Davis has plenty to work on, but the 6’0″, 195-pound senior has a great collection of skills to build off of. With a checkered history in Madison and a limited offseason, it’s reasonable to question if Davis will take the next step and become the elite receiver we all know he can be.

If he can find his focus and improves his game, Davis could be a day two pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a great fit for the Green Bay Packers. Davante Adams’ long-term future with the Packers will soon be a focal point, and the lack of depth behind him has been a huge topic of discussion for over a year.

Having infamously skipped the wide receiver position in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Packers will lean toward the position with their early picks in 2021. Look for Davis to capitalize on his opportunities this coming season and place himself high on the big board of the Green Bay Packers.