GREEN BAY, WI – The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night, and for most teams, the first round is a time of glitz, hope, and franchise-altering decisions. For the Green Bay Packers? They’ll be watching from the sidelines—at least for the first 31 picks.

Thanks to last offseason’s blockbuster trade for superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s first-round selection is long gone. And you know what? General Manager Brian Gutekunst would make that trade a hundred times over. Parsons is a game-wrecking difference-maker, the kind of player who justifies any missing draft capital.

But not having a pick until No. 52 overall in the second round complicates things. It puts pressure on Gutekunst and his scouting staff to find gold in the middle rounds—to unearth the kind of talent that other teams overlook.

If longtime Packers reporter Bill Huber’s final seven-round mock draft is any indication, Green Bay may have done exactly that. And the pick they’re targeting in the fifth round has the potential to send shockwaves through the league.

Meet Jeff Caldwell: The Freakiest Receiver in the Class

With the No. 153 overall pick, Huber has the Packers selecting Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell—a player he describes as “one of the freakiest receiver prospects” to come out in years.

Let’s start with the measurements, because they’re almost unfair. Caldwell stands 6-foot-5 and 3/8 inches and weighs 216 pounds. That’s tight end size with wideout agility. Then comes the number that makes defensive backs shudder: he ran his 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds.

For context, that’s the kind of speed normally reserved for players six inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter. It’s the kind of athletic profile that makes scouts rub their eyes and double-check the stopwatch.

In an interview with Justin Melo of NFL Draft on SI, Caldwell didn’t mince words about his approach to the game.

“You need to have that mentality as a receiver. I want to score,” Caldwell said. “I’m the best player on this field. It doesn’t have to be cocky. You need to have that mindset at receiver. At both Cincinnati and Lindenwood, I had to find that mentality.”

That confidence—backed by rare physical tools—is exactly what Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love needs to hear. Imagine a target who towers over cornerbacks, runs past safeties, and believes he’s unstoppable. That’s Caldwell.

Numbers That Pop

Across a four-year college career split between Lindenwood and Cincinnati, Caldwell put up impressive production: 124 receptions for 2,229 yards and 28 touchdowns. Those are the kind of numbers that suggest a player who knows how to find the end zone—a trait Caldwell himself emphasizes as non-negotiable for any great receiver.

Why Wide Receiver Still Makes Sense for Green Bay

On the surface, the Packers’ wide receiver room looks solid. Green Bay currently boasts Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams. All four are capable of contributing significant snaps. The team also moved on from Romeo Doubs (free agency to New England) and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.

So why add another wideout?

Simple: The future is uncertain.

Only two of the Packers’ current wide receivers are under contract beyond the 2026 season. While an extension with Christian Watson seems likely, Jayden Reed’s long-term future in Green Bay is far less certain. Golden and Williams are signed for the future, but depth is never a bad thing—especially when that depth comes in the form of a potential mismatch nightmare.

Adding a player like Caldwell gives Gutekunst optionality. If Caldwell develops into a legitimate contributor, the Packers could let a more expensive veteran walk next offseason and save valuable cap space. If he doesn’t? It’s only a fifth-round pick.

The Bottom Line

The Packers don’t have a first-round pick this year. That’s a fact. But in Jeff Caldwell, they might have found a fifth-round gem who plays with a first-round chip on his shoulder.

At 6-foot-5 with 4.31 speed and a “I’m the best player on this field” attitude, Caldwell has all the ingredients to become a fan favorite at Lambeau Field—and a nightmare for opposing secondaries.

The league has been warned. If the Packers actually land Caldwell at No. 153, don’t be surprised when this “freaky” receiver starts breaking the league, one 40-yard touchdown at a time.

🚨 BREAKING: PACKERS PULL OFF ANOTHER DRAFT MASTERSTROKE, LANDING THE “MOST FREAKY RECEIVER” IN THE CLASS, A 4.31 GUY WHO’S POISED TO BREAK THE LEAGUE WIDE OPEN WITH HIS SPEED AND ATHLETICISM, NOW FANS CAN’T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS NEW ADDITION WILL SHAKE UP GREEN BAY’S OFFENSE.👇👇