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Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers selected Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes with the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft on Thursday.
With that move, Green Bay has now added just one offensive player Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in 2020 in the first round of the NFL draft since 2012:
NFLonCBS @NFLonCBS
The Packers have drafted 1 offensive player in the 1st round since 2012.
Jordan Love. https://t.co/1v9GxW68Rv
The other selections were linebacker Rashad Gary and safety Darnell Savage (2019), cornerback Jaire Alexander (2018), defensive tackle Kenny Clark (2016), safeties Damarious Randall (2015) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2014) and defensive ends Datone Jones (2013) and Nick Perry (2012).
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Over the past 36 years, the Cardinals have not seen a 600-yard receiving season from a tight end. Jay Novacek, of Cowboys fame, leads the pack with 569 in 1988. Since moving to Arizona that year, the Cards have used five second- or third-round picks on tight ends most recently Rob Housler and Troy Niklas and signed the likes of Todd Heap, Jermaine Gresham, and Maxx Williams. But the franchise has long displayed apathy for this post and now employs a coach not big on tight end usage. Dan Arnold did show promise last season but became a Panther for two years and $6 million. A fascinating, half-committed search continues.
The Packers have resisted going wide out first, instead consistently hitting home runs in the second and third rounds under both Ted Thompson and Gutekunst. Consider the run of production they received from Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. The numbers are massive from this fab five, combining for 2351 receptions for 31,622 yards and 274 touchdowns.
Why this year could be different? Every single wide out on the Pack’s current roster from Adams, to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess and even Malik Taylor will have contracts that expire in 11 months.
Earlier this week, Gutekunst was asked if he looks back on the franchise draft history to try and determine how and why they hit on day 2 receivers for instance, or miss on other positions and rounds. He absolutely does a self scout, going back as long as 15 years ago. I did the same thing and came up with some trends the Packers may
The skinny on wide receivers (and a couple more positions) wtaq.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wtaq.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.