The Player
The Packers offense always seems to produce great players at the wide receivers position (thanks, Aaron Rodgers), and Jeff Janis could be the next one to come out of nowhere to surprise the NFL. While Davante Adams has been the talk of the offseason, Janis has been waiting his turn much like the way that Jordy Nelson had to wait behind Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver and James Jones before getting his chance.
Janis is a 6'3, 220-pound second-year prospect with explosive leaping ability, 4.42 speed and unbelievable short area burst and agility. But he played his college ball at Saginaw Valley State, and his seventh-round pedigree will keep him behind more regarded players on the team.
But don’t be surprised when his ability forces coaches to get him on the field sooner rather than later, perhaps even at the expense of more highly touted players. He can run, jump and catch with the best of them and dominated the lower level college players he faced.
Athletically, he tested as a superior prospect than many of the more impressive talents in the NFL in his size grouping:
| Name | Hght | Wght | 40 yd | Vert | Broad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dez Bryant | 6' 2" | 225 | 4.52 | 38" | 133" |
| Josh Gordon | 6' 3" | 224 | 4.52 | 36" | 121" |
| Dwayne Bowe | 6' 2" | 221 | 4.51 | 33" | 125" |
| Jordy Nelson | 6' 3" | 217 | 4.51 | 31" | 123" |
| Kenny Britt | 6' 3" | 218 | 4.49 | 37" | 124" |
| Alshon Jeffery | 6' 2⅞" | 216 | 4.48 | 36½" | 122" |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 6' 2⅞" | 225 | 4.48 | 38" | |
| Michael Floyd | 6' 3" | 220 | 4.47 | 36" | 122" |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 6' 2" | 216 | 4.42 | 37" | 128" |
| Jeff Janis | 6' 3" | 219 | 4.42 | 37½" | 123" |
| Demaryius Thomas | 6' 3¼" | 224 | 4.38 | ||
| Kevin White | 6' 3" | 215 | 4.35 | 36½" | 123" |
| Julio Jones | 6' 3" | 220 | 4.34 | 38½" | 135" |
Those are impressive measurables that link him with some of the league's best, but will he ever get the chance to get on the field?
The Opportunity
The Packers were the best offense in the NFL last season in schedule-adjusted Passing NEP per drop back (0.29), yet this is still a team that hasn't historically produced more than two dominant receiving weapons in a season. So, without an injury, it isn't likely that Janis sees enough of a workload to make an impact in 2014.
Yet, while most assume Davante Adams would be the better choice should Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb miss time, don't rule out Janis, who tested as a better athlete and has been impressing the coaches during offseason work. Adams may have draft pedigree on his side, but his 0.58 Reception NEP per target was just about average and on par with players like Jaron Brown and Jermaine Kearse. That's not great in such a highly-efficient offense.
Janis isn't a player to draft, but he's definitely worth keeping an eye on throughout the preseason. Remember, Jordy Nelson had to wait his turn behind talented veteran receivers before he became the lead target in Aaron Rodger's arsenal. Things can chance in the NFL in an instant, and talent often rises to the top.