Packers Pick Versatile Receiver Jayden Reed in Second Round

The Green Bay Packers took their latest second-round receiver, grabbing Michigan State star after a pair of trades on Friday.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – After trading back twice in the second round on Friday night, the Green Bay Packers selected Michigan State receiver Jayden Reed.

The Packers moved from No. 45 to No. 48 in a trade with the Detroit Lions, then from No. 48 to No. 50 in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers gained fifth- and sixth-round picks in the process, then added their latest second-round receiver.

Reed had a monster 2021 season but struggled last year.

“He reminds me of Deebo (Samuel) but not as strong,” a scout said.

The Packers have hit a series of home runs with their second-round receivers, starting with Greg Jennings and continuing with Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Christian Watson. Reed will join Watson and Romeo Doubs on a new-look receiver corps for new starting quarterback Jordan Love.

“We always get good receivers in the second round,” Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler said in announcing the pick.

The Packers are hoping for more of the same in supplementing a receiver corps in which only three players had caught a pass.

Said Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ vice president of player personnel: “Versatile, gives you some special teams value. Can play in the slot, can play outside. Strong. A guy who’s wired right and brings an element of toughness and competitiveness.”

Here’s more on Reed.

Measureables: 5-10 7/8, 187 pounds, 9 1/8 hands. 4.45 40, 4.29 shuttle, 6.73 RAS.

Stats and accolades: Reed in four seasons (2018 at Western Michigan; 2020 through 2022 at MSU) caught 203 passes for 2,866 yards (14.1 average) and 19 touchdowns. He had an incredible junior year with 59 receptions for 1,026 yards (17.4 average) and 10 touchdowns to earn first-team All-American honors. He caught 55 passes in 2022 but for only 636 yards (11.6 average) and five scores. He averaged 20.0 yards per kickoff return and 15.3 yards with three touchdowns on punt returns.

Of 104 receivers in the 2023 draft class to be targeted at least 50 times in the passing game, he ranked 66th with 1.83 yards per route run and 70th with a drop rate of 8.3 percent. He was an excellent 11-of-17 in contested-catch opportunities and caught 11-of-24 passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield. He forced a missed tackle on 9 percent of his catches and averaged 4.0 yards after the catch.

How he fits: Reed’s speed, contested-catch ability and return skill would make him an instant-impact performer. He didn’t align much in the slot but was almost unstoppable when he did, catching 16-of-17 targets. He’s a pretty good blocker, as well.

“My versatility. That is a part of my game since high school,” he told Dawgs By Nature at the Senior Bowl. “Special teams, return man, inside, outside, X, Y, Z, slot, anything they want me to play, I can go out there and do it.”

Personal touch: Reed had only four scholarship offers and chose Western Michigan. After earning Freshman All-American honors with 56 receptions, he transferred to Michigan State. “Always a chip on my shoulder,” Reed said after at pro day. “I never forget what I’ve been through in my past. That’s always carried on to everything I do. I always give 100 percent in whatever I do. That’s how I got to this point today.”

Growing up in Naperville, Ill., his nickname was “Bird” because of his running style. His father died from heart and kidney problems when he was a sophomore in high school. His grade suffered. “He pushed me in everything I did. Everything," Reed told The Lansing State Journal. "I didn’t know how to handle it. I felt like I had nothing left.”

Thanks to his relationship with Payton Thorne – his quarterback as a kid as well as at Michigan State – Reed got back on track. He became a star in football and earned his degree from MSU in 2021.

Reed showed up at the Scouting Combine with an eye infection. “I knew I was going to run the (40-yard dash), but I only need one eye to run the 40,” Reed said. “In terms of catching the ball, I wasn't sure if I was going to do all the drills. But again, I thought about it. It's a childhood dream, so I was like all right, I cannot miss this.”