Unpacking Future Packers: No. 66, Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers used three draft picks on the wide receiver position in the 2022 NFL Draft as they looked to reload at the position after trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Christian Watson has the makings of the team’s new No. 1 wide receiver. Romeo Doubs flashed and could be the team’s No. 2 or No. 3 wide receiver. A seventh-round pick, Samori Toure could have a place on the depth chart.
As Brian Gutekunst looks to continue to reload at the position, it would be surprising if he doesn’t take a wide receiver early in the upcoming draft.
A wide receiver that Green Bay’s general manager could target on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft is A.T. Perry. The Wake Forest wide receiver checks in at No. 66 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
Perry, a three-star recruit finished the 2021 season with 71 receptions for 1,293 yards and a program-record 15 receiving touchdowns.
This past season, the Wake Forest wide receiver recorded 81 receptions for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“It’s hard to find much fault with Perry’s season, especially considering he’d already broken out in the season prior,” Conor O’Neill, the publisher for Deacons Illustrated, said. “There’s a part of me that’s more impressed with his 2022 season than ’21 because there was no element of sneaking up on people; you knew he was the No. 1 option, teams had a full season of tape on him, and he still consistently produced.”
At 6-3, with long arms, Perry passes the eye test and uses that size to his advantage. The Wake Forest wide receiver has a go-go gadget catch radius. He has outstanding body control and is able to adjust to the ball in the air. He has no issue making catches in traffic, or with the defensive back in his hip pocket. He showcases good boundary awareness and works the sideline.
There are times when Perry doesn’t attack the ball at its highest point. He lets the ball fall into his body, rather than going up and stabbing it out of the air. Now, having said that there were also times that Perry had his man beat, but was hurt by poor throws.
“Perry’s greatest strength is probably playing through contact,” O’Neill said. “That’s also the area he seemed to grow the most through five seasons at Wake Forest, and where he really thrived in the last two years.”
Perry does a good job of mixing up his speed to keep defensive backs off balance. He has long strides to help him get on top of cornerbacks quickly. He has a second gear downfield to help create vertical separation. Perry has impressive flexibility to break in and out of his cuts.
“Perry is able to get in and out of breaks well and get clean releases,” O’Neill said. “He uses his size well in making contested catches.”
Perry was a downfield threat for Wake Forest and didn’t run an expansive route tree in their offense. He was never really put in a position to showcase any run-after-the-catch ability. If he makes the first defender miss he has long strides and adequate speed to quickly pick up yards after the catch.
“He’s never been the biggest game-breaking threat when it comes to YAC,” O’Neill said. “But he’s better than he gets credit for. He’s got a long stride and can pick up yards in a hurry when he’s in the open field. We didn’t see that much of him in open space, though, because a lot of his routes were deep balls or to the sidelines.”
As a blocker, Perry was asked to crash down. He has long arms to help him seal outside running lanes or drive defensive backs to the sideline.
“He’s a willing blocker,” O’Neill said. “Though it’s kind of like YAC, not his best attribute, but it’s passable.
Fit with the Packers
The Davante Adams replacement plan got off to a rough start. To everybody’s surprise (sarcasm) Sammy Watkins was a dud. Randall Cobb, when healthy, proved to be a reliable veteran presence. When healthy, Watson was a dynamic playmaker. Doubs, when healthy, showed flashes of being a solid contributor.
Even with the success of Watson, the Packers still have one of the worst wide receiver rooms in the league. Gutekunst needs to continue to add young talent to that room as they look to reload after losing the best wide receiver in the league.
“I’d draft him for his size and athletic ability,” O’Neill said. “You can’t teach 6-3, and he uses that frame well. Also, to plug A.T. a bit: His growth in the past two seasons was impressive. He was frustrated with his snaps and usage for his first two seasons, and then his third was the COVID season in 2020. Perry showed up in fall camp of 2021 looking like he’d finally turned a corner, and that came to fruition with more than 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns.”
