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Strengths
  • Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Willing to go up and attack the ball.
  • Balanced, savvy route runner with top field awareness, setting up and selling routes beautifully.
  • Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed.
  • Does not have exceptional straight-line speed but takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target.
  • A savvy, natural pass-catcher with reliable hands and very good focus. Snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy.
  • Has the strong hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes fluidly without breaking stride downfield.
  • Has a knack for getting open and is a quarterback's best friend - passers just need to toss the ball in his area and he'll come down with it.
  • Has long arms to stiff-arm defensive backs in the open field. Willing to lower his pads to run through tackles for extra yardage. Goes over the middle, can spin out of tackles and take the big hit.
Weaknesses
  • Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest.
  • Not a burner or consistent vertical threat. Has a lanky frame and will be overmatched physically by most cornerbacks in the NFL. Needs to be more competitive in tight coverage.

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Day 3 pick who could surprise: Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska

The third wide receiver drafted by the Packers in the class, Toure has the talent to out-play Doubs and possibly compete with Watson for early playing time. The Montana transfer averaged 19.5 yards per catch in 2021 and tested well above average, which matches the tape. Toure’s phone was blowing up in the later rounds with teams hoping to sign him as a free agent, and the Packers decided to bypass the competition and make him a draft pick.

The fact that we use Donald Driver and Bart Starr to frame the argument that 7th rounders can work out tells you all you need to know about 7th rounders.  That about every 25 or so years, you're going to get a good one.

We should include Scott Wells in that list too. 

I like this pick.  He made a lot of plays at Nebraska and is a decent pass catcher who can run routes.

As for 7th rounders, in recent history guys like Kylin Hill and Jonathan Gervin have flashed potential.  

Lawrence Guy became a starter at New England.

Brad Jones, Matt Flynn, Scott Wells, Mark Tauscher, Donald Driver, Adam Timmerman come to mind as well.

The thing about seventh-rounders is that they can have all the potential in the world, but it takes them a while to get up to speed as far as competition, physicality, and understanding the mental aspects of the game. And if a guy is a seventh-rounder, you have less time and fewer reps than guys drafted higher. Sometimes it takes a bit for everything to click; but today, no one wants to put in the time to keep a guy on the roster and watch those lower-rounders mature into the job. Starr and Driver would have a harder time sticking today, just because they wouldn't have been given the time to show what they could do.

@Tschmack posted:

I like this pick.  He made a lot of plays at Nebraska and is a decent pass catcher who can run routes.

As for 7th rounders, in recent history guys like Kylin Hill and Jonathan Gervin have flashed potential.  

Lawrence Guy became a starter at New England.

Brad Jones, Matt Flynn, Scott Wells, Mark Tauscher, Donald Driver, Adam Timmerman come to mind as well.

You had me till you brought up Brad Jones.

@Fandame posted:

The thing about seventh-rounders is that they can have all the potential in the world, but it takes them a while to get up to speed as far as competition, physicality, and understanding the mental aspects of the game. And if a guy is a seventh-rounder, you have less time and fewer reps than guys drafted higher. Sometimes it takes a bit for everything to click; but today, no one wants to put in the time to keep a guy on the roster and watch those lower-rounders mature into the job. Starr and Driver would have a harder time sticking today, just because they wouldn't have been given the time to show what they could do.

NFL Roster size history

When Bart Starr was drafted in '56, the NFL had a roster size of 35 players, (reduced to 33 after the second week of the season).  The practice squad is larger now than ever too, so in that regard it easier to hang on to a developmental player today.
Of course there was no salary cap back then, player salaries were a pittance by comparison and the playbook was not as complex, so player development likely wasn't as big a concern.

NFL roster size history.

Last edited by antooo

The playbook size but equally as challenging is the current practice restrictions.  You only get so many practices that can only last so long.  The first 3-4 games of the season are an extended preseason.

  The stroll down memory lane and 7th rounders remark about Tauscher made me think back in the day I bought draft materials from Joel Buschbaum.  Now long before Mel Kiper (and way better) Buschbaum was friends w/ many coach's and  GM's in his day ,  and in one of his fall newsletters he talked about watching Rivera and his soccerball drill w/ Ron Wolfe and both of them being impressed with it.  Maybe that was enough to get Tauch a 2nd look  and thats all it took! 

In the limited snaps he played, I felt Samori played well for us. He did make a TD catch. It's going to be hard to get the ball thrown his way, with all the other ball catchers, we have, in front of him. Hope he stands out in camp so he gets more playing time.

Only thing I've ready about him so far this offseason is that he looks like fan-tath-tic in shorts.  He did show ability last season and needed to bulk up to survive the week to week pounding in the NFL.  Check.

As far as him seeing the ball, guys are going to get injured.

That said, there is also a lot of pre-camp buzz about Reed, Wicks and DuBose so who knows.  They'll keep 6.  Toure should have a leg up being in his 2nd camp and I don't know that the braintrust wants to go from young to younger at WR by cutting a 2nd year player in favor of a rookie.  Also don't know where that leaves Bo "Patty" Melton.

Last edited by DH13

Injuries happen. If everyone stays healthy (HAH! That ain't happening) Toure' at a minimum makes practice squad.

Toure' is that fringe guy that everyone loves....and Pack hopes to develop into a solid player.

Never discount the one thing you cannot measure....a man's heart - competition is good for everyone. Especially us fans.

Last edited by Boris

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