Would The Green Bay Packers Trade Up For USC Wideout Drake London?

USC wideout Drake London was named the Pac-10 Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Note: The NFL Draft begins April 28 and the Green Bay Packers have the 22^nd and 28^th pick in the first round. Between now and then, I’ll examine 20 players the Packers could select with either of those picks.

Today, we look at USC wide receiver Drake London.

DRAKE LONDON, WR, USC

THE SKINNY

London was a football and basketball star at Moorpark High School (Calif.). He even suited up for two games for the Trojans’ basketball team in the 2019-20 season.

It became clear, though, that football could be London’s meal ticket and he shined during his three seasons on the gridiron.

As a true freshman in 2019, London caught 39 passes for 567 yards (14.5) and five touchdowns. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, London caught 33 passes for 502 yards and three TDs in just six games.

London then had a huge junior year in which he led the Trojans in receptions (88), receiving yards (1,084) and receiving touchdowns (seven) despite playing just eight games. London missed the end of the season with a fractured right ankle, but was still named the Pac-10s Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team all-American.

While London put together plenty of good film for NFL scouts to evaluate, he didn’t run the 40-yard dash, do the vertical jump or the broad jump during the pre-draft process due to his ankle injury. London also didn’t do the bench press.

Whether that turns some teams off remains to be seen.

MEASURABLES

Height: 6-4

Weight: 219

Bench press: —

40-yard dash: —

Vertical jump: —

Broad jump: —

Arms: 33”

Hands: 9 3/8”

SCOUTING REPORT

London compares favorably to Tampa Bay standout Mike Evans or ex-Packer Jordy Nelson. He lacks top-end speed, but is a big possession receiver who can overpower defensive backs and dominates 50-50 balls.

London has been productive working from outside or in the slot. He has terrific body control and agility for a big receiver.

London is extremely creative in and out of his routes and clever enough to gain separation on intermediate routes. He’ll never have elite separation at the top of his routes, but his strength and physicality will make him a weapon on deep balls, as well.

London has been exceptional tracking deep balls. And his run after the catch ability is better than most bigger receivers.

London is below average as a run blocker and he could struggle with smaller corners crowding and re-directing him. Overall, though, London has the physical gifts to develop into a No. 1 receiver sooner rather than later.

PACKERS’ PREDICAMENT

Green Bay traded Pro Bowl wideout Davante Adams to Las Vegas last month and now has arguably the worst collection of receivers in football.

Allen Lazard was undrafted coming out of Iowa State due to a lack of explosiveness — something that certainly hasn’t changed. Sammy Watkins, signed off the street last week, had career lows in receptions (27), yards (394) and touchdowns (one) in 2021.

Randall Cobb, set to enter his 12^th season, hasn’t played a full year since 2015. And Amari Rodgers was dreadful as a rookie in 2021.

That means the heat is on Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst to find two immediate contributors in this draft.

Gutekunst might have to trade up five to 10 spots to land a player like London. But he certainly has the firepower to do so with two first round picks and four in the top-59.

There’s also a chance London — who hasn’t done many of the pre-draft athletic tests — could fall to Green Bay at No. 22.

THEY SAID IT

ESPN’s Mel Kiper on London: ““Now he got hurt late October with the ankle. Until then, he was un-coverable. He had 15 catches, 13 catches, 12 catches in just individual games — 88 catches in the eight games he played. He played power forward, basketball background. Only had one drop in the four or five games I looked at this year before he was injured.”

London on not running the 40-yard dash at his pro day: “Everybody has six to eight weeks, couple months to really train for (the 40-yard dash). I was just trying to get back running at the end of the day. The tape is out there, you’ve seen it. Just trying to go out there and prove that I’m back to where I’m at was the biggest thing.”

Former USC coach Donte Williams on London: “In those eight games he played (in 2021), that’s someone you see in those eight games, all the awards you can think of, he deserves. Whether it’s the Biletnikoff, whether it’s first-team All-American, the things he did for this team and this university, he was about to put up probably one of the best statistical seasons any receiver has ever put up in college football. And that’s saying a lot.”

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah on London: “London is a jumbo-sized wideout with a rare catch radius and outstanding toughness. He has lined up outside and in the slot. He doesn’t have ideal speed, but he’s very quick off the line and at the top of his route. He is a nuanced route runner, and it’s impressive to see how quickly he can get in and out of breaks at his size.”