The Packers ended their 23-year, first-round receiver drought with a speedster in Matthew Golden (5-11, 191) and then added a powerful, after-catch multi-threat in third-rounder Savion Williams (6-4, 220). Same position, very different players.
“I mean, you can’t coach 4.29,” LaFleur said, referring to Golden’s 40 time, adding that the Texas product possesses “elite hands” as well.
Williams is no slouch in the speed department either, as LaFleur pointed out his 4.48 time came after just three weeks of training. Even though he’s a bit “unpolished” as a route runner coming out of TCU, his upside is so enticing it will test the creativity of LaFleur and his staff to find different ways to get him the ball, and see what he can do with it.
“He’s so big, so powerful, so explosive, and guys (trying to make a tackle) just have a tendency to bounce off of him,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s just scratching the surface of the playmaker he can become.”
It’s setting up an ultra-crowded and competitive receiver room, even with Christian Watson‘s return from knee rehab still several months away. But that’s viewed as a big plus, despite only so many targets to go around.
“You can never have enough weapons around the quarterback,” LaFleur said. “Our guys have got to embrace that competition, and if they attack it the right way, I think collectively we’ll continue to improve.”
The Packers’ first three picks on Saturday all fall generally into this position group, but they bring various body types and traits to the table.
The two edge rushers, fourth-rounder Barryn Sorrell (6-3, 256) from Texas and fifth-rounder Collin Oliver (6-2, 240) from Oklahoma State, certainly aren’t the same.
“One guy wins with a lot of power and length and hands,” GM Brian Gutekunst said of Sorrell, before continuing about Oliver. “The other guy’s got some athleticism and speed who’s played on his feet (at linebacker) a little bit.”
It seemed intentional on the Packers’ part to add that variety to the pass rush, with LaFleur emphasizing “we needed a little bit more speed” like Oliver brings, while it doesn’t get any better than Sorrell as a culture fit.
Everyone from Texas the Packers talked to about Sorrell, including Golden, raved he was “first class,” according to Gutekunst. If they asked any member of the Longhorns whom they’d take with them to start their own team, “They…
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