Packers draft prospects to know: Wake Forest WR AT Perry
By Paul Bretl
Up next in my ‘Packers Prospects to Know’ series, where I take a closer look at potential draft picks for Green Bay, is Wake Forest wide receiver AT Perry.
When it comes to what the Packers like at the wide receiver position, Perry checks a number of those boxes. From an athletic standpoint, he posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.84 out of 10, including a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Perry also possesses that bigger frame that the Packers covet at the wide receiver position, weighing 198 pounds and standing 6’3.”
Perry was a big play threat at Wake Forest and targeted heavily within their offense. Lining up primarily out wide, Perry was targeted 99 times in 2021 and caught 56% of those passes at nearly 20 yards per catch with 13 touchdowns. He would rank seventh out of all receivers in total receiving yards on passes of 20 or more yards as well.
This past season, Perry caught 63% of the 112 passes thrown his way at 14.1 yards per catch with 11 more touchdowns. Of Perry’s total targets, only about one-third came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. For what it’s worth, PFF has also graded him as a very good run-blocking receiver, which we know is an important aspect to playing the position in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
PFF has Perry as the 10th-ranked receiver in this year’s draft class and the 80th-best prospect overall. For a closer look at Perry and his game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote in his pre-draft report:
“Long wideout with quick feet and erratic hands who falls neatly into the category of higher-ceiling, lower-floor prospect. Perry has been highly targeted and highly productive over the last two seasons. He’s crafty but physical in the early stages of the route and flashes the ability to become a more dangerous route runner with additional work. He has the tools to work all three levels of the field, but his drops and ordinary ball skills sap some of the excitement surrounding his massive wingspan. Perry’s inconsistencies can be frustrating, but his talent and traits make him worthy of a Day 2 selection as a potential WR2/3.”
As we are all aware, receiver is once again a big need for the Packers. Green Bay is in need of added playmaking at the position, which in part hopefully comes from Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs taking a step forward in Year, but they also need more depth at the position. As of now, the Packers only have five receivers on the roster, and only three have NFL experience, with Doubs leading the way with just 529 career snaps.
Perry’s ability to win downfield would complement Watson and Doubs well. Matt LaFleur has discussed how each is going to be asked to run a wider variety of routes in their second seasons. So not to say that neither will be targeted deep, but perhaps not as often. Perry could help fill that role, and with a deep threat that opposing defenses have to respect, his presence will help create additional room underneath for Watson and Doubs to work.
Over at the NFL Mock Draft Database, Perry is projected as a third-round pick, where the Packers currently hold the 78th overall selection.