With their 7th round pick (236th overall) in the 2014 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Jeff Janis, a WR from Saginaw Valley State.
PLAYER DETAILS:
Jeff Janis
WR
Saginaw Valley State
6’3″/219 lbs.
COMBINE:
4.42 40-yard dash, 2.48 20-yard, 1.51 10-yard, 37.5″ vertical, 10’3″ broad, 3.98 20 shuttle, 6.64 3-cone.
CAREER NOTES:
From the Saginaw Valley State Athletics webpage: “Competed in and started all 11 games for Saginaw Valley during his junior campaign…was second in the nation with 106 receptions and led all DII players with 1,635 receiving yards, both of which set new SVSU single season marks…set a Saginaw Valley and GLIAC record with 300 receiving yards at Lake Erie (Sep. 22)…broke the Cardinal and GLIAC single game mark for receptions with 18 against Michigan Tech (Oct. 27)…established a new season standard in the GLIAC with 92 conference receptions on the year…scored 18 total touchdowns (17 receiving, 1 rushing) to finish with a team-best 108 points on the season and ranked third in the GLIAC with a 9.8 points per game average…hauled in the game-winning touchdown pass in the season finale against Grand Valley St. (Nov. 10)…caught a season-long 73-yard reception at Lake Erie (Sep. 22)…named to the AP Little All-America Squad (Dec. 14) and the Darktronics Division II Football All-America First Team (Dec. 12)…honored as the GLIAC “Offensive Back of the Year” and was one of 24 candidates nominated for the annual Harlon Hill Award…selected to the All-GLIAC First Team and the GLIAC All-Academic team…chosen as the GLIAC “Offensive Player of the Week” four times during the season (Sep. 4, Sep. 24, Oct. 29, Nov. 12).”
SCOUTING REPORT:
From NFL.com: “Exceptional measurables and leaping ability — will test through the roof. Accelerates into routes quickly and can separate vertically and uncover underneath working short-to-intermediate zones. Terrific production — carves up lesser competition and creates chunk plays. Good red-zone target. Exceptional work ethic. Outstanding football character. Very passionate about the game.
“Has very small, inconsistent hands — will cradle the ball and use his body. Is not a nuanced route runner. Does not attack the ball in the air and will give up some break points. Not strong after the catch and will look for a soft landing spot. Can be fazed by traffic. Regularly faced Division II competition. Not a consistent blocker — does not play to his size.
“A Division II standout with rare measurables and production, Janis must prove that he can translate his small-school success to the field against better competition.”
COMMENTARY:
In a somewhat surprising selection, Ted Thompson selected another wide receiver in addition to Jared Abbrederis, creating a potentially crowded stable of receivers.
The pick makes sense from a value standpoint and from his measurables. Several draft pundits gave him a third or fourth round grade, so to select him in the back half of the seventh round could be a steal. Thompson might also be playing the game of “keeping up with the Joneses” here by picking a large and fast wide receiver that many teams have been doing. Wide receivers in the NFC North are getting larger, including Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery. Janis is fast (4.42) and strong, with his 20 reps on the bench press being the most of all wide receivers at the combine. He is also agile with his 6.64 3-cone drill being the best at the combine.
While talented, he will have a steep learning curve while adjusting to NFL competition after coming from a small school in a small-time conference.
Going into the draft, wide receiver depth was a question mark. Coming out of the draft, there are now several new potential toys Aaron Rodgers can play catch with.
Video:
——————
Jay Hodgson is an independent sports blogger writing for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WISports.com.
——————
7th round pick is a major surprise…Was Smallwood available?…How many WRs will make the 53?…
I don’t think any player taken in the 7th round can really be a surprise, it’s such a crap shoot that late that teams are really picking on preference rather than anything specific.
Isn’t Saginaw Valley St the school the Charles Johnson, last years 7th rd WR went to?
Edit… Charles Johnson, Grand Valley St.
Everyone was talking about him being another Jordy Nelson for a comparison. Size weight speed. Oh and happens to be white. No matter will be anxious to see how he plays. They saw his speed on tape and wondered if it was legit. Ran 4.42 so I guess that’s Legit! LOL
Yah that was my first thought, but really why not use a 7th rounder for a potential PS player that you can develop? It’s not like the hit rate of a 7th round pick is all that good and I bet drafted players do show some more loyalty after being cut.
One of the NFL’s worst defenses, do Ted spends almost half of his picks on pass catchers? Beauty of an AR, he can make decent receivers look real good. Way overkill! If not an LB or another safety, how about another TE? Yet another wasted pick and many holes still remain. Straight downhill after HA HA
Fishing season is open and someone is still trolling….
This was a bad draft.
Deflating.
Gotta do better than this when it’s your only source of acquiring players.
Damn.
Excellent draft.
Uplifting
Excellent job restocking the roster.
Hot damn!
Obviously the same level of competition Charles Johnson saw.
I am curious about the lack of a TE and what drafting all these WRs means for the WRs currently on the roster. Dorsey and Gillett must be curious about this and the UDFAs might yield another WR or two.
Creates competition for the guys at the bottom of the roster to see which are able to step up and become a legit NFL WR.
They used a 3rd round pick on a TE and have 4 others still on the roster. How many more TE do you want?
just 1 good one would have been nice.
I don’t care if it’s Division II, this kids got game. Good height, speed, production. If he can play ST’s I think he’ll knock Abby off the roster.
Strictly from where he was picked, he’s the Packers best value pick.
does he do Kick / Punt returns. he is fast enough and strong enough.
If this kid works out , he could play outside and take the top off the D
“Bad hands”. Catches everything by cradling ball with hands and body instead of catching with hands. You can catch kickoff like that but not passes from AR.
Every GB pick either had small hands, short arms or no foot speed or two or more of the above. Makes me doubt this draft class. Looks like it fits with draft classes of 2010-2011-2012 and they were all poor.
Since ’93 GB has had three R1 picks I liked: Wayne Simmons; AROD; and CMIII. That is 3 out of 21 or 1 out of 7. By that measure I can’t wait for 2016.
On highlight reel he catches the ball, runs 20, 40 or 60 yards every time and scores. He catches over the shoulder and when poorly thrown. I don’t care if he catches the ball with his feet. Did you watch him? 300 yards in one game receiving. Megatron number.
Rest of the division made up ground because the GM voted worst in the NFC North by NFL Network blew another one (not that there’s anything wrong with that Theodore) what a pity!
Worst GM in the North? OK, so he’s got a Super Bowl win, (5) straight playoffs, best in the NFL.
Precisely how many Super Bowls have the Viqueens, Cubs and Kittens been to since TT joined the Pack?
ZERO – ZERO – ZERO
Worst GM in the North? OK, so he’s got a Super Bowl win, (5) straight playoffs, best in the NFL.
Precisely how many Super Bowls have the Viqueens, Cubs and Kittens been to since TT joined the Pack?
ZERO – ZERO – ZERO
John – don’t waste your time. Bag has not realized that there are reasons why the professionals are paid by real NFL teams to do their jobs and why those who failed or never had an NFL job (except for some players) are on the NFL network. So if one of the airheads on the NFL network (who never was or could be an NFL GM)says a GM is good or bad, Bag believes that it must be true. It that way he does not have to pay any attention to facts or the truth like TTs team has 3 consecutive division titles, or 5 consecutive playoff seasons with a Super Bowl win. On Bag’s planet he would rather have one of the GM’s from the Viqueens, Kittens or Cubs who have one Super Bowl win between them in their entire history. To be fair the Cubs and Kittens did win a few NFL titles before the SB days, but fair is not part of Bag’s world anyway. Just remember that his comments tell us more about him than whatever he thinks his point is. And now, back to the draft. Thanks, Since ’61
Good explanation ’61. I would add that posters like Bag/Cow/Big T will selectively grab the most negative “expert” evaluation and tout that one in their constant need to be critical. Troller’s riding in the same boat!
good prospect you take a flier. its low risk, relatively high reward
I am little surprised at another WR but we don’t have access to GB’s board or any other team’s board or any info that the professionals have so I am going with this pick until we see how he performs. There is all upside at this point, so why not. If he makes it he’s a 7th round steal, if not, well he’s a 7th round pick. Go Pack Go. Thanks, Since ’61
Understand, it’s not a personal attack on TT. It’s all about his outdated ineffective philosophic viewpoints relative to building a winning program. You blind mice keep taking about the SB and the division titles. What you’re missing is the fact this team could easily have been a dynasty built around his one great draft pick. Instead, it’s year in and year out of bad drafts, bad coaching and no strategy relative to a free agent piece now and again to fill a slot. Has nothing to do with the fact he’s socially awkward, in a semi coma most of the time or gay. Those traits do not preclude one from doing their job. Antiquated ideas and stubbornness however do!
All you had to do was look at what the Packers looked like last year w/o AROD to know what a piss-poor job TT/MM are doing. You are right, good drafting combined with AROD and CMIII would have equaled several SB wins. Instead it’s a one-off and we watch our team fall further and further from grace. A .500 team last year and a .500 team again in 2014. There’s no excuse for that when you have the best QB on the planet and one of the best pass rushers on the planet, both in their prime. But they stick with Hawk/Jones at ILB, nothing at S, a DL that can’t rush the passer or stop the run. When it comes to defense this group is the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. It amazes me that fans are so patient. This guy has been drafting for us for a decade and he has brought in two different defensive regimes yet everything stays the same. Apparently all reason goes out the window because we won a SB. Nevermind that it was the miracle of miracles. It is so bad that after 55 years as a Packer fan I am actually beginning to think about changing allegiances. So far I can’t do it because of AROD and CMIII. But I am really liking the looks of the Rams DL.
Don’t get too attached.
Definition of ‘Project player’.
Packers will hope he clears waivers and makes it to the PS.
He’s a physical specimen but not a very good WR.. They took him on a flier because god doesn’t make a lot of 6’3″, 220lbs guys who clock a 4.3 40.. yes, he ran a 4.3.. But he doesn’t have hands.
It’s not as if he did nothing but run fast and eat his Wheaties. Dominated his level of competition, and you don’t catch 106 passes if you’ve got no hands.
Looks like he has hands from the video.
fair enough, i was probably overly negative.
I am just not sold on him being an nfl talent.
Well, there has to be a reason why he’s a 7th rounder, eh?
The problem I see with this kid is he has no catching radius, he nevers extends himself to catch the ball or at least jump. All the catches I saw where when the ball hits his chest. You can´t survive in the NFL catching like that.
The packers coaching staff probably has a combined 100 years of coaching experience.
I bet one of them knows how to make the kid catch a little better. If that is indeed a problem.
No doubt they can coach it. The question is can the player execute what is being taught. If he can, the sky is the limit.
But there is a reason why some very athletic WRs in HS end up playing CB in college. And also why some very successful collegiate players end up selling insurance instead of playing the NFL.
Now onto the udfa signings. Interested to see who they come up with this year. TT seems always able to find a few gems rummaging through the scrap heap.
There was already about ten kids signed by 8:30 last night, you should have plenty to peruse today!