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The Green Bay Packers will be without the services of Christian Watson and the vertical presence he brings to the offense for a large chunk of the season, as the former NDSU wide receiver recovers from a torn ACL.
Without him, the Packers lack a true field stretcher. The Packers have potential options on the roster that could help soften the blow of Watson's absence, but smart money suggests that Brian Gutekunst will look to add a wide receiver in the draft who can stretch the field.
Given that the Packers have a short-term and a long-term need at wide receiver, it's a safe bet that Gutekunst will target a wide receiver in the first three rounds and then turn his attention to adding a vertical threat on Day 3 of the draft.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 9 (18 targets)
A former track athlete, the Auburn wide receiver clocked a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Penn State transfer might be one of the most dangerous vertical threats in the draft class. During his lone season with the Tigers, Lambert-Smith recorded 50 receptions for 981 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging nearly 20 yards per reception. He's an explosive athlete who tracks the ball well and has a large catch radius.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 7 (10 targets)
A four-star recruit out of Maryland, Thornton started his collegiate career at Oregon before transferring to Tennessee in 2023. This past season, Thornton led the nation in yards per reception (25.4). A former track athlete, Thornton has easy vertical speed. That straight-line speed was on display at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.30 40-yard dash, the fastest among wide receivers. At 6-5, Thornton is a size-speed prospect who quickly chews up cushion with his long strides. He's in the mold of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Thornton may be a one-trick pony at this time, but that one trick could help him carve out a role early in his career.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 1 (on 8 targets) -- was a 76-yard TD
Brown has an instant accelerator. With his explosiveness and long strides, he can get downfield in the blink of an eye. Brown started his collegiate career at West Virginia before transferring to Houston, before ultimately landing in Miami. During his one season with the Hurricanes, Brown recorded 36 receptions for 509 yards and two touchdowns. An impressive track athlete, Brown showcased his explosiveness at the combine, posting a 41.5-inch vertical and 4.44 40.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 10 (18 targets)
A native of Wisconsin, Dike started his collegiate career at Wisconsin before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. During his lone season in The Swamp, Dike recorded 42 receptions for 783 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A former track athlete, Dike has some suddenness in his release to quickly gain separation at the line of scrimmage and gets downfield quickly with his strong strides.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 14 (on 24 targets)
A transfer from UNLV and a former track standout, Williams has the vertical speed to stretch the defense. He chews up grass quickly with his strides and finds a second gear when he gets downfield. The former UNLV wide receiver tracks the ball like an outfielder. Williams averaged 17.1 yards per catch this past season and had three games where he caught a pass of 50-plus yards. With his big-play ability, Williams could be high on Green Bay's board to start Day 3 of the draft.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 7 (on 9 targets)
An impressive athlete, TeSlaa started his collegiate career at Hillsdale before transferring to Arkansas in 2023. This past season, TeSlaa recorded 28 receptions for 546 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged nearly 20 yards per reception. TeSlaa clocked a 4.43 40 at the combine and has easy acceleration off the line of scrimmage. With his size and speed, the Arkansas wide receiver could bring a vertical element to Green Bay's offense.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 9 (on 20 targets)
A former four-star recruit, Badger started his collegiate career at Arizona State before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. During his lone season with the Gators, Badger hauled in 39 receptions for 806 yards and averaged 20 yards per reception. He has the bye-bye speed (4.43 40) to stretch the field. He tracks the ball well over his shoulder and has strong hands. He had zero drops on 61 targets this past season.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 3 (on 15 targets)
Neyor started his college career at Wyoming before transferring to Texas, where he only played in one game in two seasons due to a torn ACL. The former two-star recruit transferred to Nebraska for the 2024 campaign and recorded 34 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns. An impressive track athlete, Neyor is a size, speed prospect who clocked a 4.40 at the combine. He has easy vertical speed and a large catch radius. With his athletic profile, the Packers may be willing to bet on his traits and hope his wide receiver skills start to match his traits.
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 2 (on 15 targets)
A transfer from Norfolk State, Felton recorded 38 receptions for 667 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season at Virginia Tech. This past season, Felton recorded 32 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns. With his size, quickness and track background, Felton has the types of tools that teams are willing to gamble on. He's a size and speed prospect with vertical speed and a wide catch radius. He's got the ability to really stretch the field and keep defensive backs honest. He climbs the ladder and at times looks like he springs in his shoes.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Going deep: 9 vertical threats the Packers could target on Day 3 of 2025 draft
Continue reading...
Without him, the Packers lack a true field stretcher. The Packers have potential options on the roster that could help soften the blow of Watson's absence, but smart money suggests that Brian Gutekunst will look to add a wide receiver in the draft who can stretch the field.
Given that the Packers have a short-term and a long-term need at wide receiver, it's a safe bet that Gutekunst will target a wide receiver in the first three rounds and then turn his attention to adding a vertical threat on Day 3 of the draft.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 9 (18 targets)
A former track athlete, the Auburn wide receiver clocked a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Penn State transfer might be one of the most dangerous vertical threats in the draft class. During his lone season with the Tigers, Lambert-Smith recorded 50 receptions for 981 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging nearly 20 yards per reception. He's an explosive athlete who tracks the ball well and has a large catch radius.
After a great career at Penn State, KeAndre Lambert-Smith (@drelambertt) went to the SEC and put up one of the best seasons in the conference, especially as a vertical receiver, at #Auburn.
Among Power 4 WRs this year (min. 300 snaps), Lambert-Smith finished:
5th in yards per… pic.twitter.com/m4Ayqbj5P9
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) February 25, 2025
Dont'e Thornton, Tennessee
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 7 (10 targets)
A four-star recruit out of Maryland, Thornton started his collegiate career at Oregon before transferring to Tennessee in 2023. This past season, Thornton led the nation in yards per reception (25.4). A former track athlete, Thornton has easy vertical speed. That straight-line speed was on display at the NFL Scouting Combine when he clocked a 4.30 40-yard dash, the fastest among wide receivers. At 6-5, Thornton is a size-speed prospect who quickly chews up cushion with his long strides. He's in the mold of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Thornton may be a one-trick pony at this time, but that one trick could help him carve out a role early in his career.
Sam Brown Jr, Miami
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 1 (on 8 targets) -- was a 76-yard TD
Brown has an instant accelerator. With his explosiveness and long strides, he can get downfield in the blink of an eye. Brown started his collegiate career at West Virginia before transferring to Houston, before ultimately landing in Miami. During his one season with the Hurricanes, Brown recorded 36 receptions for 509 yards and two touchdowns. An impressive track athlete, Brown showcased his explosiveness at the combine, posting a 41.5-inch vertical and 4.44 40.
Chimere Dike, Florida
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 10 (18 targets)
A native of Wisconsin, Dike started his collegiate career at Wisconsin before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. During his lone season in The Swamp, Dike recorded 42 receptions for 783 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A former track athlete, Dike has some suddenness in his release to quickly gain separation at the line of scrimmage and gets downfield quickly with his strong strides.
Kyle Williams, Washington State
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 14 (on 24 targets)
A transfer from UNLV and a former track standout, Williams has the vertical speed to stretch the defense. He chews up grass quickly with his strides and finds a second gear when he gets downfield. The former UNLV wide receiver tracks the ball like an outfielder. Williams averaged 17.1 yards per catch this past season and had three games where he caught a pass of 50-plus yards. With his big-play ability, Williams could be high on Green Bay's board to start Day 3 of the draft.
Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 7 (on 9 targets)
An impressive athlete, TeSlaa started his collegiate career at Hillsdale before transferring to Arkansas in 2023. This past season, TeSlaa recorded 28 receptions for 546 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged nearly 20 yards per reception. TeSlaa clocked a 4.43 40 at the combine and has easy acceleration off the line of scrimmage. With his size and speed, the Arkansas wide receiver could bring a vertical element to Green Bay's offense.
Elijhah Badger, Florida
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 9 (on 20 targets)
A former four-star recruit, Badger started his collegiate career at Arizona State before transferring to Florida for the 2024 season. During his lone season with the Gators, Badger hauled in 39 receptions for 806 yards and averaged 20 yards per reception. He has the bye-bye speed (4.43 40) to stretch the field. He tracks the ball well over his shoulder and has strong hands. He had zero drops on 61 targets this past season.
Isaiah Neyor, Nebraska
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 3 (on 15 targets)
Neyor started his college career at Wyoming before transferring to Texas, where he only played in one game in two seasons due to a torn ACL. The former two-star recruit transferred to Nebraska for the 2024 campaign and recorded 34 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns. An impressive track athlete, Neyor is a size, speed prospect who clocked a 4.40 at the combine. He has easy vertical speed and a large catch radius. With his athletic profile, the Packers may be willing to bet on his traits and hope his wide receiver skills start to match his traits.
Da'Quan Felton, Virginia Tech
Deep catches (20+ yards in the air) in 2024: 2 (on 15 targets)
A transfer from Norfolk State, Felton recorded 38 receptions for 667 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season at Virginia Tech. This past season, Felton recorded 32 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns. With his size, quickness and track background, Felton has the types of tools that teams are willing to gamble on. He's a size and speed prospect with vertical speed and a wide catch radius. He's got the ability to really stretch the field and keep defensive backs honest. He climbs the ladder and at times looks like he springs in his shoes.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Going deep: 9 vertical threats the Packers could target on Day 3 of 2025 draft
Continue reading...
