Green Bay Packers Land Playmaking WR in PFF NFL Mock Draft

The Green Bay Packers haven’t selected a receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2002 when they picked Javon Walker. Although I’d consider it a need this offseason, it’s not a top-3 need in my book, but many draft analysts still have the Packers selecting one in the first round.

And that’s what happened in the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus by Austin Gayle. However, while cornerback and tackle are much more pressing needs, passing on Kadarius Toney, the wide receiver out of Florida, would be difficult to do–even for an offense that led the league in scoring.

Here is what Gayle had to say about the Green Bay Packers landing Toney at pick 29:

"“Toney makes up for what he lacks in ball skills and route-running polish with freakish athleticism, explosiveness and YAC ability that is truly in a league of his own in the 2021 class. He broke more than 30 tackles over the past two seasons and earned 80.0-plus PFF grades in each of the past three years.”"

Toney had just 66 combined targets over his first three seasons at Florida, but as Jordan Reid of The Draft Network points out, he was able to “improve every season in Gainesville.” Those improvements culminated with a big 2020 season that included a catch rate of 83.3 percent on 84 targets for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns. His quarterback Kyle Trask also had a passer rating of 139.8 when throwing his direction.

For a closer look at Toney’s game, here is what else Jordan Reid had to say about the slot receiver in his scouting report:

"“He is much more satisfying than his size indicates because he’s electric with or without the ball in his grasp. His ceiling as a route-runner is a bit limited, but he was highly effective with the package that he was asked to run. Toney’s presence is always felt whether or not he has the ball, as he makes defenses account for him even if he’s strictly a motion player.”"

Listed at 6’0″ – 193 pounds, Toney would give the Green Bay Packers are a true slot receiver, something that they haven’t had since the days of Randall Cobb. Toney is electric with the ball in his hands, and this past season he ranked in the top-7 among all college receivers in total yards from the slot as well as catch rate from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus ($).

In the Matt LaFleur offense, Toney’s skill-set would be a nice change of pace from the typical big-bodied receivers that the Packers have on their roster. Not to mention that he would be a real weapon on jet sweeps, and with his play-making ability, he would certainly help play into that “illusion of complexity” that LaFleur desires and tries to achieve with pre-snap motion.

Basically, just find a way to get Toney the ball in space, and he will do the rest. This, of course, is something that LaFleur is very good at when it comes to scheming players open. And with the defense’s attention on Toney, it will also make life easier for his teammates as well.

Toney’s draft stock received a big bump after his performance at the Senior Bowl, and many out there believe he will be gone before the Green Bay Packers are on the clock–although we know that’s dangerous to assume. Like I said initially, receiver isn’t a top need, but Toney is tailormade for the LaFleur offense, and he’d give Green Bay an element that they just don’t have right now.