The Green Bay Packers are using one of their open roster spots on an intriguing tryout receiver from rookie minicamp.
According to Bill Huber of Packer Report, the Packers will sign North Dakota State receiver and returner Darrius Shepherd to a contract.
Shepherd (5-10, 182) caught 188 passes for 2,841 yards and 20 touchdowns over four seasons. He set career highs in catches (62), receiving yards (1,065) and touchdowns (nine) while working with fifth-round pick Easton Stick as a senior in 2018. He also has several years of punt return experience (44 returns, one touchdown), including 19 returns last season.
At North Dakota State’s pro day in March, Shepherd ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds, hit 35.5 inches in the vertical and finished the three-cone drill in 7.13 seconds.
Although undersized and from a small school, Shepherd has the experience and production as a slot receiver and returner to legitimately compete for a roster spot this summer.
Pro Football Focus ranked Shepherd as the second-highest graded receiver in college football last season, trailing only second-round pick Andy Isabella. He was third in the country in overall yards per route run, a stat that measures the productivity of receivers against opportunity, and fourth in yards per route run from the slot. He also caught 13 of 22 passes traveling over 20 yards in the air for 501 yards and five scores, proving his big-play ability.
