George Pickens NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
NFL Draft Profile: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
By markoldacres
Name: George Pickens
School: Georgia
Year: Junior
Position: Wide Receiver
Measurables: 6’3’, 195 lbs.
Stats:
General Info:
Born in Hoover, Alabama on March 4, 2001, Pickens is a younger prospect, having only just turned 21 years old.
After attending Hoover High School, he committed to Georgia as a five-star recruit.
Pickens had originally committed to Auburn before changing his mind.
He played three seasons with the Bulldogs and in his final season was part of the team that defeated Alabama in the 2022 CFP National Championship.
As a freshman, Pickens had an instant impact, catching passes for 727 yards and eight touchdowns as Georgia’s leading receiver.
Unfortunately, his sophomore and junior years were marred by injury. Pickens missed several games in 2020 and tore his ACL in March of 2021.
He made an impressively quick recovery from the knee injury and returned in just eight months, but the injuries limited Pickens’ ability to kick on after his stellar freshman year, as he caught just 41 balls in his sophomore and junior years combined, for a total of 620 yards and six touchdowns.
Positional Skills:
Strengths
The first thing that stands out about Pickens is his hands. They are reliable and he shows them off on some incredible deep catches, including a stunning 52-yard grab in the National Championship game.
Pickens offers a legitimate deep threat with the ability to track the ball and contort his body to make big plays. He also has the speed necessary to gain separation downfield, running a 4.47 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In addition to straight-line speed, Pickens tested well in terms of explosion, which can be seen on the field in his ability to release off the line and put himself in an advantageous position versus his opponent.
There is fluidity to Pickens’ routes and he is able to break them off suddenly, showing the potential to be more than just a deep threat. Pickens also lines up in a variety of spots.
Pickens’ size is a major plus and helps him both as a receiver and a blocker, where he acquits himself well.
His age will also be attractive to evaluators, who will see a ball of clay to mold as they wish.
Weaknesses
While Pickens is a fluid athlete, he appears to rely more on that God-given ability than true technique as a route runner. He does not run a particularly wide range of routes either.
Pickens was not really used as a run-after-catch threat in the games I watched, and that may not be the role he is most suited to as a larger receiver.
He weighed in the 50th percentile for wide receivers at the Combine, or exactly average to put it another way, but Pickens could stand to add some bulk to better deal with press coverage.
The injury problems in Pickens’ past will naturally be a concern, and the time those injuries caused him to miss have somewhat slowed down his development as an all-round receiver.
Fit with the Packers:
The Packers have drafted 13 receivers in the last 10 drafts, and only two of them have been shorter than 6’1: Ty Montgomery and Amari Rodgers.
Green Bay has a type when it comes to receivers, and Pickens fits the mold.
GM Brian Gutekunst also covets athletes, and Pickens’ 8.41 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10 ticks that box, placing him in the 84th percentile for all wide receivers who have ever tested.
Pickens could ideally fill the deep threat role which Marquez Valdes-Scantling may be vacating, and ideally develop into a more complete receiver over time.
His ability to block would also be appealing to Matt LaFleur, who has often opined about blocking being a prerequisite to getting on the field as a receiver in his offense.
Overall, Pickens presents considerable upside and would appear to be a fit with the Packers, who could target him on day two of the upcoming NFL Draft.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (41)
BirdDogUni
March 22, 2022 at 02:23 pm
I like George Pickens. In fact, I tried to draft him, but he was gone by our pick came in the second round, so I had to settle for Christian Watson.
22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 LB Devin Lloyd - Utah
53: R2 P21 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota State
59: R2 P27 WR Alec Pierce - Cincinnati
92: R3 P28 TE Jelani Woods - Virginia
132: R4 P27 OT Matt Waletzko - North Dakota
140: R4 P35 EDGE Isaiah Thomas - Oklahoma
171: R5 P28 EDGE Dominique Robinson - Miami (OH)
228: R7 P7 EDGE Alex Wright - UAB
249: R7 P28 OT Tyler Vrabel - Boston College
258: R7 P37 S Greg Eisworth - Iowa State
Renllaw
March 23, 2022 at 06:03 am
What mock tool has Davis falling to 22? I use The draft network and pro football network and neither has Jordan Davis ever getting below 17. Man, that would be incredible if does, but I think Wyatt or Winfrey is a far more likely pick.
PackEyedOptimist
March 23, 2022 at 06:38 am
I mostly use MockDraftDatabase, and about 1/4 of the time Jordan Davis is there at 22. He is listed out of the top 25 in several Draftnik sites as well. I don't disagree with them. I'd probably take him at 22, but when I watch tape, he doesn't look nearly as athletic/fluid as his workouts imply. I think he'll just be a slightly above average NT, maybe with some Leon Lett power rush potential.
Renllaw
March 23, 2022 at 10:43 am
Davis played at 360 last season, he dropped 20 pounds for the combine, if he can stay at that weight he will be an animal with the extra quickness it allows him. Thats usually a big IF for big guys.
jannesbjornson
March 23, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Plugged into the AI world and came up with this Utopian/Dystopian vision:
#22 Olave WR OSU
#28 Wyatt DT Georgia
#53 McBride TE Colorado State
#58 Alex Wright EDGE UAB
#92 Kinnard OT Kentucky
#132 Kendrick CB Georgia
#140 Kolar TE Iowa State
#171 Josh Jobe CB Alabama
#228 Johnson WR Tulsa
##249 Horvath FB Purdue
#258 Skalski ILB Clemson
Assumption: Pack re-signs MVS. Second Iteration has Carolina offering the # 137 and 2023 #1, #2, #3 for the #22. Seems schizophrenic at best.
PackEyedOptimist
March 22, 2022 at 02:51 pm
Looks like a lot of my mocks this year. One of my recent:
22 Jordan Davis DT
28 George Pickens WR
53 Quay Walker LB
68 Chad Muma LB
80 Leo Chenal LB
132 Kyren Williams RB
140 Greg Dulcich TE
171 Mark Waletzko OT
228 Dontario Drummund WR
249 Jake Camarda P
258 Cade York K
PackEyedOptimist
March 22, 2022 at 02:54 pm
Another:
Jordan Davis DT
Nakobe Dean ILB
Boye Mafe ED
David Bell WR
Trey McBride TE
Jelani Woods TE
Matt Waletzko OT
Dontario Drummond WR
Jake Camarda P
Cade York K
PackEyedOptimist
March 22, 2022 at 02:55 pm
Pickens at 28 is my go-to WR choice in this draft.
BirdDogUni
March 22, 2022 at 02:59 pm
Thinking our Defense would be wicked with this draft, and our offense unstoppable.
22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 LB Devin Lloyd - Utah
53: R2 P21 EDGE Kingsley Enagbare - South Carolina
59: R2 P27 WR Alec Pierce - Cincinnati
92: R3 P28 DL Travis Jones - Connecticut
132: R4 P27 WR Khalil Shakir - Boise State
140: R4 P35 TE Jelani Woods - Virginia
171: R5 P28 S JT Woods - Baylor
228: R7 P7 OT Vederian Lowe - Illinois
249: R7 P28 CB Kalon Barnes - Baylor
258: R7 P37 TE Jake Ferguson - Wisconsin
PackEyedOptimist
March 22, 2022 at 03:04 pm
Love that set, and it's a great example of how we don't NEED to use one of the first three picks on a WR. Pierce and Shakir would be great additions, as would Woods and Ferguson.
I'm really not sold on Jordan Davis, even though I'd draft him too. I'm just not very impressed by his game tape.
PackEyedOptimist
March 22, 2022 at 04:22 pm
I love all the downvotes we're getting with no debate as to what they don't like.
Maybe they really hate that I drafted a punter! :-D
Thegreatreynoldo
March 22, 2022 at 07:20 pm
Ah, another mocker who loves Jelani Woods. I think BDU has failed to select Woods in the 4th one time, but otherwise one can write his name down. Hmm, you have Trey McBride ahead of Woods. Are those fighting words?
Well, if Woods is always taken with 140 if not 92, probably means he gets drafted in the 3rd. [Who is Greg Dulchich?]
BirdDogUni
March 22, 2022 at 11:35 pm
I have a legion of admirers who downvote anything I post. I love it.
stockholder
March 22, 2022 at 03:42 pm
Durability - Too many injuries. And coming off knee surgery. Packers did interview him. -
jannesbjornson
March 22, 2022 at 06:40 pm
A four pick at best.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 22, 2022 at 10:41 pm
Injuries are a crapshoot. Theres been guys with injury problems in college who stay healthy in the pros and guys with no injuries in college who cant stay on the field in nfl. I dont think those 2 bad luck injuries would stop the Packers from drafting him in the 1st round.
Dragon5
March 22, 2022 at 03:23 pm
8.41??? My source for his RAS is way higher...9.33
https://ras.football/ras-information/?PlayerID=21465&pos=&wu=d&ovl=
Coldworld
March 22, 2022 at 03:54 pm
I have seen Christian Watson with that score and Pickens at 8.41 elsewhere.
Dragon5
March 22, 2022 at 03:53 pm
my site has Watson as a 10.0
Coldworld
March 22, 2022 at 03:57 pm
I’ve seen that too. I’ve noticed in prior years that there can be different RAS charts reflecting different testing. The 10 for Watson is combine data I believe. I would guess that your score for Pickens is too.
AndrewInAtlanta
March 22, 2022 at 03:26 pm
As a Bulldog homer I saw every UGA game Pickens played in. We obviously don’t know if he is injury prone beyond his ACL but my biggest concern was always between the ears. He did a couple of dumb things on the field that cost the Bulldogs. Otherwise this kid is a stud. His hands are incredible and he will win 50/50 balls more than 50%. This kid will be a red zone killer
MarkinMadison
March 22, 2022 at 04:00 pm
Thanks for the perspective. I remember him in the Alabama games. He snagged a few nice ones, but not a lot of balls. Any thoughts on that aspect?
Lphill
March 22, 2022 at 03:35 pm
Packers signed a D lineman , Jarren Reed from KC , Alabama 2 Nd round pick .
Packers1985
March 22, 2022 at 03:41 pm
Yup looks like we are not going to draft high for a DL this draft.
stockholder
March 22, 2022 at 03:56 pm
Or - No Lan Caster
Coldworld
March 22, 2022 at 04:31 pm
Keke type replacement but better against the run and has been pretty healthy. We still need a big stuffer.
MarkinMadison
March 22, 2022 at 04:03 pm
Nice pickup.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 22, 2022 at 04:04 pm
29 year old DL who is hot and cold from one year to next. One year contract! 2018, he had monster year with 10.5 sacks but this was when lined next to great defensive players. Probably talented along lines of Dean Lowry based on past couple years.
Could still see team draft a DL high
jannesbjornson
March 22, 2022 at 06:42 pm
He takes Lancaster's spot. They will bag a guy by the second round.
albert999
March 22, 2022 at 03:47 pm
Good sign if we got a good price
albert999
March 22, 2022 at 03:48 pm
Chiefs paid him 7 million for 1 year
Thegreatreynoldo
March 22, 2022 at 07:11 pm
$5.47M, not $7M.
Dragon5
March 22, 2022 at 03:57 pm
We're in a bad spot below WR needy teams. Gute would need to leapfrog PHI's trifecta to BAL's #14 if he essentially wants the pick of the litter. Would take at least #22 & #59 to do it.
MarkinMadison
March 22, 2022 at 04:01 pm
I could live with that if they are sure of who they want.
Duneslick
March 22, 2022 at 04:41 pm
Stay where they are and pick 2 in the first 2 rounds.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
March 22, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Hes not going to do that. I still dont think he even takes a receiver in the 1st round. i could see him drafting 2 in the 2nd round.
mbpacker
March 22, 2022 at 04:47 pm
Packers have so many injured/ coming off injuries players already why select a player, though gifted, is coming of a series of injuries?
If he drops way down maybe.
albert999
March 22, 2022 at 05:52 pm
In 2019, Reed, following his 10.5-sack breakout season, was suspended by the NFL for the first six games of the year for a violation of the personal conduct policy. While he was not charged or arrested, the league confirmed the suspension was due to a 2017 incident in which a woman claimed that Reed had assaulted her at 3 AM. The Bellevue (Washington) police initially opened a domestic violence case based on the incident but Reed was never charged.
When the announcement was made that the NFL had suspended Reed, despite the local police failing to charge Reed, the local media questioned why Reed wasn’t charged and dissected the police report in public. According to the police report, Reed allegedly grabbed the woman by the throat, dragged her across the bedroom floor and stairs by her feet and ankles, chased her and broke open a bathroom door before being held back by people identified as other Seahawks employees.
LambeauPlain
March 22, 2022 at 07:00 pm
When college production goes down every year, using a day one or day two pick on that player is a huge risk.
There will be so many better football players...and WRs at 22 or 28....and in the second round, for that matter.
As far as the Reed signing, he helps the DL for certain. His QB hit per game was actually higher last year than his career average. Let's see how Barry and Montgomery coach him up. I like the addition and it takes DL off the day one and maybe day 2 on the Packers board. Day 3 guys are mostly big guys who are projects. But Gutey will draft one on day 3 and a few UFDAs with be signed.
PhantomII
March 22, 2022 at 08:01 pm
Being next to clark will definitely up his game and the secondary doing their job will get the rush home. He's a good run stopper also.
Gute should really be able to laser focus on the draft w/ those signed already.
murf7777
March 23, 2022 at 06:23 am
Maybe late second round pick. There are better options in the first with less risk. We need someone we can depend on to play right out of the gate, no time to waste.