How Will WR DeAngelo Yancey Help the Packers?

DeAngelo Yancey represents another pick made with an eye to the future. Jordy Nelson isn’t getting any younger and Davante Adams is quickly approaching the end of his contract. If he’s to be a replacement for either of those two, Yancey will have to show the Packers quite a bit. Here’s some of what they’ll be looking for.

Deep threat

Since Jordy Nelson’s ACL injury, the Packers haven’t had a consistent deep threat at wide receiver. Although Yancey lacks great timed speed, his college production shows a consistent ability to get deep. During one stretch, he produced six consecutive games with at least one play of more than 50 yards. If he can continue that kind of production in the NFL, he’ll be a valuable asset in Green Bay.

Size

The Packers have some big wide receivers already, but it never hurts to have more. At 6-2, Yancey brings decent size to the position, and his 35-inch vertical leap allows him to use that size to its fullest extent. The old coaching maxim says you can’t teach size, and with Yancey, the Packers wouldn’t have had to anyway.

Red zone ability

Yancey participated in this year’s East-West Shrine Game, and scouts paid special attention to how he performed in the red zone, given his size. The returns were good, and Yance’s ability to win one-on-one matchups earned significant mention as well.