Green Bay Packers 7-round mock draft following Aaron Rodgers deal

2022 NFL Draft: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
2022 NFL Draft: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a touchdown after making a catch against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Green Bay Packers mock draft, first round pick: Jahan Dotson, WR

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Wide Receiver. Penn State. 1. 806. Jahan Dotson. player

One of the biggest needs that the Packers have had since, well, a long time now, is at the wide receiver position. In the past five years, the Packers have drafted six total wide receivers, those wide receivers being DeAngelo Yancey, Malachi Dupre, J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St Brown, and Amari Rodgers. Of those six receivers that they drafted, the only one to make a difference in the Packer’s offense so far has been Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

While the Packers have spent a fair amount of draft resources on the receiver position, the one thing they haven’t done is draft a receiver in the 1st round, or the 2nd round for that matter. The last time the Packers drafted a receiver in the first two rounds was when they drafted Davante Adams in 2014, that’s now eight years ago.

With the Packers struggling in the draft when it comes to receivers, they are now at the point where the only two receivers that are on their roster currently are Davante Adams and Amari Rodgers. Now that Aaron Rodgers is staying in Green Bay, it’s time that the Packers draft a receiver, but this time in the 1st round.

Rodgers, like most QBs, needs to trust his receivers, and with Jahan Dotson’s skill set, he could earn it quite quickly. One reason that Dotson could earn the trust of Rodgers, is because of how explosive and shifty he is. Dotson can move with the best of them as he has ridiculous acceleration and has excellent agility and foot movement.

At the NFL Combine, Dotson came in at 5’11, not small, but not tall either. Most receivers whose skillset revolve around agility and speed and who aren’t very tall, usually don’t have the best hands, and the one big knock on them is their hands, but that isn’t true for Dotson. Dotson has flashed incredible hands and can haul in almost any catch that comes near him.

While Dotson has a lot of positives around him, he’s not the perfect prospect. Dotson is on, how you say, the light side, and no, I’m not talking about Star Wars. At the NFL Combine, Dotson weighed in at 178 pounds. When you watch Dotson, it’s clear to see how light he is as defenders can get on him fairly easily, and he doesn’t like when defensive backs get really physical with him.

While Dotson does have his flaws, he deserves a late first-round value. He is very quick, explosive, has great hands, and most importantly, can get open. Yes, he is small and struggles with physicality, but with a head coach like Matt LaFleur who likes putting receivers in motion, he could help free up Dotson and could help him flourish in the NFL.

Other Players Considered: George Pickens, Devonte Wyatt, Trevor Penning