5 players Green Bay Packers should already be thinking about in 2021 draft

4. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Tuscaloosa has become something of a wide receiver factory, including two top-15 picks in the 2020 draft (Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy). Waddle is one of the next in line, alongside potential 2021 top-10 pick Devonta Smith, and he’s a potential first-round pick as well.

Over his first two seasons at Alabama, Waddle averaged 18.1 yards per catch with 13 combined receiving touchdowns. Last season, he averaged 24.4 yards per punt return with two total return touchdowns (one punt, one kickoff). Comparisons to Tyrek Hill are out there.

Ruggs ran a sub-4.3 40 at this year’s NFL Combine, and it’s possible Waddle is faster than Ruggs.

Waddle is a bigger question mark than Smith as an NFL prospect, but the promise of a far bigger role and a full season with Mac Jones under center in 2021 is tantalizing. Four of Waddle’s six receiving touchdowns last year came with Jones as the quarterback after Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined, including three in the rivalry game against Auburn.

Waddle is just the kind of big play threat the Packers need at wide receiver, and that isn’t likely to change heading into the 2021 draft.