Georgia football: 3 quality players who should get drafted on Day 2
Georgia football wide receiver, George Pickens
Had it not been for an ACL injury during spring practice last year, Georgia football receiver George Pickens could have competed with fellow wide receivers like Garrett Wilson and Drake London to be the first wideout taken in the first round.
Pickens did not get to play much during his junior season, but he did give us some gems in his limited action, such as the 50+ yard catch in the first quarter of the national championship game.
He came to Georgia as a 5-star recruit from Alabama and raised eyebrows in his freshman season. Pickens led the team with 49 catches, 727 yards, and eight touchdowns. He also had the best game of his collegiate gear at the end of the season against Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, where he caught 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. Most of that damage came in the first half.
After a slow start in the shortened 2020 season, Pickens became the go-to receiver of quarterback JT Daniels. He led the team with six touchdown receptions and 513 yards in eight games.
He showed out at the NFL Combine by running a 4.47 40-yard dash, a 33-inch vertical jump, and a 125-inch broad jump. His combined performance was eerily similar to former Bulldog and current NFL veteran receiver AJ Green.
He can use that speed with his 6’3 ” to give opposing defensive backs fits. Many NFL offenses will welcome the deep threat capability he brings.
Regarding receiver needs, two teams come to mind — the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. The Bears will be looking to replace Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams during the offseason.
In Chicago, Pickens would hook up with former Georgia and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. These two could become a dynamic duo for a team in desperate need of offensive firepower.
The Packers took two former Georgia players with their first-round picks yesterday, so why not go ahead and add a third? Green Bay also has a massive hole to fill at receiver with Davante Adams now a Las Vegas Raider. Though replacing Adams is no small task, Pickens has the tools to come in and be a key weapon for reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.