Green Bay Packers Scouts Meet w/ Pitt WR Taysir Mack

Throughout the pre-draft process, the Green Bay Packers are going to have meetings with dozens — if not hundreds — of potential draft prospects.

Now, that doesn’t mean that the Packers are going to select these players, but it does show that there is some level of interest. It also provides us with some prospects to watch a little more closely in the coming months.

Following the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Justin Melo of The Draft Network would report that the Green Bay Packers scouts were one of several teams to meet with Pitt WR Taysir Mack.

Mack has five years of college experience, which includes a whopping 285 targets. He began at Indiana in 2017 but would transfer to Pitt, where he played his final four years.

Over his career, Mack was targeted the aforementioned 285 times and caught 55 percent of those passes at 14.6 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2019 when he logged 62 receptions on 107 targets for 709 yards and two touchdowns.

More recently, in 2021, Mack was limited to eight games due to an upper-arm injury, but he caught 27 of his 47 passes at an impressive 17.1 yards per catch — which led the team — along with three touchdowns.

"“First and foremost, I would credit my ability to create separation as a route-runner,” Mack told Justin Melo of The Draft Network. “That’s something I’ve spent a lot of time on. I do a great job preparing myself for a game. I watch an extensive amount of film on my upcoming opponents. I’m always familiar with the cornerbacks I’ll encounter in coverage before we take the field. I pay close attention to the details. I always wanted to be that reliable receiver that Pickett would look for on third and fourth downs."

The 6’2″ – 190 pound Mack was primarily a boundary receiver over his career but did take about 20 percent of his total snaps from the slot. He also graded out relatively well as a blocker — which we know is important to Matt LaFleur — by PFF’s metrics.

"“Mack struggled with injury throughout his time at Pittsburgh, but the Brooklyn, New York native was routinely productive and efficient when healthy,” wrote Melo when Mack did not receive an invite to the NFL Combine. “Mack displayed excellent chemistry alongside Pickett while showcasing strong skills as a route-runner. He qualifies as a legitimate NFL draft sleeper.”"

At the moment, wide receiver is a massive need for the Green Bay Packers. That could certainly change depending on what happens with Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Davante Adams in free agency, but at the moment, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Chris Blair, Juwann Winfree, and Rico Gafford are the only receivers under contract.

While receiver is clearly a big need, specifically, finding a deep downfield target — whether that be MVS or someone else — is a must. This Green Bay Packers’ offense missed MVS when he was injured, especially in the playoff game against San Francisco. In addition to his big-play ability, Valdes-Scantling creates for others with the attention his speed draws, and he helps create space underneath as well.

Mack won’t bring the same kind of deep speed as MVS, but he was Kenny Pickett’s go-to downfield target, and he knows how to create space with his route running ability.