During draft, Packers hoped WR Kadarius Toney would fall to No. 29
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The Green Bay Packers stayed put and selected Georiga cornerback Eric Stokes at No. 29 overall in the first round of the 2021 draft, possibly because one of the team’s preferred targets came off the board nine picks earlier.
According to Bob McGinn of The Athletic, the Packers were “extremely high” on Florida receiver Kadarius Toney and had their “fingers crossed” he would fall into their range in the first round.
The New York Giants dashed those dreams. Toney was picked by Giants general manager Dave Gettleman at No. 20 overall.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed on Thursday night that he explored trading up in the first round, but he eventually stayed at No. 29 and grabbed Stokes, the super-fast cornerback from Georgia.
How far would Toney have had to fall for Gutekunst to move up to get him? We’ll never know. It’s worth noting that the Jacksonville Jaguars were fully prepared to take Toney at No. 25 overall, so several hurdles stood between the Florida star and the Packers.
It just wasn’t going to happen without a major move up the board, and the Packers lacked the draft capital to make the aggressive play.
A dynamic playmaker, Toney could have provided the electric quickness and elusiveness in the open field necessary for maximizing the slot and gadget role within Matt LaFleur’s offense. Arguably no player in the draft class was better with the ball in his hands at the college level than Toney.
The Packers’ consolation prize was Amari Rodgers, the Clemson receiver Gutekunst traded up to get in the third round.
Last year, the Packers missed out on receiver Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk in the back half of the first round. Toney was the miss this year. Tracking the careers of Toney in New York and Rodgers in Green Bay will be interesting. Who got the better value? The Giants landed the more dynamic player in the first round, but the Packers probably got a more polished player in the third.
