Green Bay Packers Sign WR DeAndre Thompkins to Final Roster Spot

With the recent release of cornerback KeiVarae Russell, that left the Green Bay Packers with 89 players on their roster and a spot available. After the draft, GM Brian Gutekunst told us that the team would be looking into veteran linebacker options, and they were also reportedly working out rookie quarterback Donald Hammond on Tuesday.

However, instead of the Green Bay Packers adding another quarterback to the mix or addressing the linebacker position, that final roster spot will go to wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins.

Thompkins went undrafted out of Penn State in 2019 and was cut after spending training camp that year in Philadelphia. He would then spend some time with Pittsburgh this past season.

Thompkins has no career regular-season NFL snaps but was a four-year player for the Nittany Lions, with a bulk of his playing time coming during those final three seasons Over his career, he spent most of his snaps on the boundary, but he does have some slot experience. Thompkins was targeted 83 times, hauling in 60 percent of those passes at 14.9 yards per catch and with six touchdowns, according to PFF ($$).

His most productive individual season came in 2017 where Thompkins caught 73 percent of his 38 targets for 443 yards and with three touchdowns. He also graded out extremely well as a run-blocker that season, according to PFF’s grading system, and as we all know, that’s an area of emphasis among the receivers in this Matt LaFleur offense.

He also brings valuable punt return experience with 66 career attempts at Penn State, where he averaged 10.2 yards per return with a pair of touchdowns.

Thompkins is a bit on the smaller side compared to the prototypical big-bodied receivers that the Green Bay Packers covet, standing 5’11” and weighing 187 pounds. But he is incredibly fast, posting a 4.34 40-yard dash prior to the 2019 NFL Draft.

Thompkins will be joining a crowded Green Bay Packers wide receiver room where presumably the top four spots on the depth chart are all accounted for with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Amari Rodgers.

Also competing for a roster spot and playing time will be Devin Funchess, Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor, and Reggie Begelton. Along with Chris Blair, Juwann Winfree, and Bailey Gaither as likely practice squad candidates.