The Green Bay Packers have some work to do in their wide receiver room. There is no guarantee that veterans Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb will re-sign with the team, leaving Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Bo Melton, and Jeff Cotton as the team’s current wide receivers. Undoubtedly, the Packers will explore their options in free agency and the NFL Draft. Of course, the most affordable options for the cap-conscious Packers will be in said draft. While there are plenty of big names to be excited about, Southern Methodist University’s Rashee Rice may be the best early round pick for the Packers.
Rashee Rice Fits the Green Bay Packers System
What is the kind of wide receiver that fits the Packers’ system? What exactly does that mean? One only has to look at the height and weight measurements of last year’s drafted wide receivers to find out:
- Watson- 6’5″ 200 lbs.
- Doubs- 6’2″ 200 lbs.
- Toure- 6’0″ 190 lbs.
Generally speaking, the Packers like wide receivers that are six feet tall or taller and around 200 pounds. As he is right now, Rice is 6’2″ 203 pounds. The measurements are just right.
His physical size, however, is not the only thing that the Packers will find attractive in him as a draft prospect. One of the things that Green Bay may possibly losing in Allen Lazard is his blocking. While some may wave off this aspect of his game, he truly was vital to the success of running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Even if he does re-sign, quality blocking wide receivers are a must in Matt LaFleur’s system, and Rashee Rice LOVES blocking:
Rashee Rice on blocking as a WR. pic.twitter.com/kuNv3Vs7gY
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) March 3, 2023
“I just think, as far as blocking, I just know that a lot of other receivers won’t do it, and I got to find a way to make myself stand out on the field.
“When we [Rice and an unnamed NFL team] were in a formal meeting, they pulled out the film and there a couple of plays of me blocking, and I had forgotten but yeah, I love seeing those plays, going out there blocking, that’s my job.”
Of course, blocking is not the job most people think of when they think of a wide receiver. Catching the ball, putting up big yards, and scoring touchdowns is what the average fan will remember. Well, last season at SMU, Rice had 96 receptions for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Scouting Report on Rashee Rice
Bleacher Report’s scouting department had this to say about Rice:
“Rice is a high-end No. 2 or a low-end No. 1 akin to San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk. His ability as a ball-winner on the outside would be welcome on any team. For more creative teams, Rice’s bully-ball YAC skills and alignment flexibility will make him a nifty weapon to move around the formation.”
Rice projects to be a second round pick, which is a round that the Packers have had a history of picking successful wide receivers. Do not be surprised that, if Rice is available when the Packers are on the clock in round two, that he is their pick.
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