Packers Should Value Jalen Reagor Over Laviska Shenault at Pick No. 30

With the No. 30 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers have a tremendous opportunity to give Aaron Rodgers some needed help at wide receiver. In what is considered to be a ridiculously rich class at the position, general manager Brian Gutekunst really has no choice but to draft a potential stud to roll out opposite perennial star Davante Adams.

A plethora of receivers are projected to be taken prior to No. 30, so the Packers will likely have to choose between two prospects: TCU product Jalen Reagor and Laviska Shenault out of Colorado. The correct pick here is the former, and Green Bay shouldn't think twice about it.

The Packers need a proven route runner that can make a defense pay for any blown assignment. As great as Adams is, he's not really a principal deep threat, which is surely why the Pack opted to sign a big target in Devin Funchess this season. But there's still work to be done there.

Enter Reagor, who generated a play of 15-plus yards on 51.6% of his receptions over the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus, despite playing in a largely dysfunctional Horned Frogs offense. The 21-year-old pass-catcher thrived at TCU in the face of suspect quarterback play; in 2019, he saw a catchable pass just over 60% of the time, which ranked 118th among 120 qualified wideouts that saw at least 80 targets.

The last time we checked, Aaron Rodgers is about as precise as any quarterback that's ever played in the NFL. Thinking about what Reagor could do with the two-time MVP throwing his way should make drafting him a no-brainer decision if he's on the board at No. 30.

Then, we get to Shenault, whom we truly love as a prospect. However, his injury history -- he had core surgery in March (!) -- is just too risky for the Packers to gamble on. His size (6-foot-2) and physical traits are solid, but not especially elite given compared to the rest of the 2020 wideout class. Additionally, his release and timing need a lot of work.

Shenault would be better suited on a team that has the patience to groom him. Green Bay, a team with Super Bowl aspirations, doesn't fill that bill.

Drafting Reagor at No. 30 is definitely the right pick for the Packers if it comes down to these two.