Packers Draft South Florida WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling With Pick 174

Using another compensatory pick, the Packers selected University of South Florida wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round, their second wide receiver of the 2018 NFL Draft.

What we know about Marquez Valdes-Scantling

After spending 2013 and 2014 at North Carolina State, Valdes-Scantling transferred to South Florida and spent his final two years there, catching 75 passes for 1,294 yards and 11 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons.

The very definition of a big play receiver, Valdes-Scantling almost exclusively caught deep balls while playing for the Bulls. 26.4 percent of his career catches went for 25 yards or more.

That’s due in large part to his great size (6-4, 207 pounds) and blistering speed (4.37 in the 40-yard dash), both attributes generally lacking in the Packers’ receiving corps prior to this year’s draft.

How Valdes-Scantling helps the Packers

Valdes-Scantling is a little on the unpolished side as a receiver, but his prodigious athleticism makes him an intriguing prospect. After the departure of Jeff Janis, there could be an opportunity for a big, physical receiver to make an impact on special teams, if not on offense right away.