The Green Bay Packers used their second pick in the 5th round on another receiver. Their wide receiver room was pretty empty until they made Wicks their second receiver taken in the draft.
Analysis
Virgina WR Dontayvion Wicks is an athletic receiver that showed flashes during his collegiate career. His athleticism and instincts have suited him well. His underwhelming 2022 season and struggles with focus drops have proved to be struggles for him.
His play in 2021 shows his potential to threaten defenses and showed his big-play potential. He gained 20-plus yards on half of his catches in 2021 showing his big-play ability as he has quick accelerations and elusiveness that can lead to great YAC opportunities.
His best collegiate season came in 2021 where he recorded 57 receptions along with a school record of 1,203 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. His play dropped in 2022 where he recorded 30 receptions with 430 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2021 where he ranked 5th in the FBS with 21.1 yards per catch.
Team Fit
Wicks should immediately compete for a spot at receiver as the Packers are starting to fill their wide receiver room with young talent. The Packers selected WR Jayden Reed in the second round so Wicks will get a chance to compete with him as well as Samori Toure on the depth chart.
He should fill an immediate spot on the depth chart with a chance to rise on it in training camp. He’s a 6’1, 206 lb receiver which is the ideal receiver the Packers seek out. He ran a 4.62 40-yard dash so he’ll be able to stretch the field for Green Bay and a chance to show what he did in 2021.
Player Comparison: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
A very familiar name to Green Bay Packers fans Wicks is comparable to MVS. They are both 5th round picks who have similar traits. They both have lots of potential but struggle with drops at times. Wicks has big-play ability just like Valdes-Scantling was able to stretch the field for the Packers.
We seen what impact MVS had on the Packers and what he was able to do. He did make key drops at times, something Wicks has struggles with but the impact he was able to make was significant. If Wicks is able to sure up those drops, he has home-run play ability.
Javier Delgado is a lifelong Packers fan who is currently majoring in sports journalism at Arizona State University. He writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @javierrdelgadoo.
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