Packers Hosting Receiver on Predraft Visit

One of the leading receivers in Northern Illinois history, Cole Tucker is on a predraft visit with the Green Bay Packers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cole Tucker, one of the more productive receivers in Northern Illinois history, is on a predraft visit with the Green Bay Packers on Friday, according to a source.

Tucker ranks seventh in school history with 155 receptions and eighth with 2,030 receiving yards. As a senior, he was a third-team all-MAC selection by Pro Football Focus with career highs of 45 receptions for 632 yards and four touchdowns. One of the touchdowns came against Michigan.

According to Pro Football Focus, 74 receivers in this draft class were targeted at least 50 times. Tucker ranks fifth with 2.89 yards per route and seven with a drop rate of just 2.4 percent.

At 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, Tucker ran his 40 in 4.67 seconds (bad) but had a 37-inch vertical (good). His Relative Athletic Score was 4.39 on a 0-to-10 scale.

Teams are allowed to host 30 prospects during the predraft process. Some are used on potential first-round picks. Others are used for medical checks. And others are used as undrafted free agent recruiting.

Northern Illinois located in Tucker’s hometown of DeKalb, Ill.

“I loved my experience here…I wouldn’t trade my experience here for anything,” Tucker said after his final game. “I’ve had the time of my life at Northern Illinois. I think the people here are special. DeKalb is a special place and, you know, I didn’t really realize that growing up … but I made the best decision of my life to attend NIU.”

His parents were Northern Illinois athletes – his father on the football team and his mom an NIU Athletics Hall of Fame gymnast. His father, Brett, was an eighth-round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in 1990 but did not play in a game.

“When hard work meets opportunity, good things can happen,” receivers coach Joseph Hawkins told The Northern Star. “He’s worked hard, and now everyone has been able to see it this year, and he is staying healthy and taking care of all the necessary prerequisites in order to stay healthy throughout the whole season.”

Because Tucker’s mom is from Canada, he is eligible for the CFL Draft. This year’s CFL Draft will be held on May 2 – three days after the NFL Draft.

The Packers have a glaring need at receiver in all parts of the depth chart with just five under contract.

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