The Green Bay Packers didn’t select a wide receiver in the draft, but they did add a heck of an intriguing prospect as an undrafted free agent in Florida’s J. Michael Sturdivant. And if you go by what’s on paper, he’s a picture-perfect fit for the Packers.
At 6’3”, 210 lbs., and a blazing 4.4-second 40-yard dash time, Sturdivant has a dream frame for the Packers. However, look at the box scores from last year when he was a Gator playing in the SEC, and the excitement might drop a little. Sturdivant finished the season with just 27 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games. While his production isn’t up to par and is part of the reason Sturdivant went undrafted, there’s no denying his raw talent.
To go along with his speedy 40-yard time, Sturdivant had a vertical of 39″ and an overall RAS of 9.96 out of 10. To offer some perspective, Sturdivant’s RAS ranks 17th out of a possible 3,844 wide receivers dating back to 1987.
Even with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone, Green Bay’s receiver depth is still strong. Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed form a solid trio atop the depth chart. Savion Williams is a lock to make the roster after being a third-round pick last April, and Skyy Moore‘s status feels safe, although most of his production will come at both return spots.
After that, everything is up for grabs, and Sturdivant has an opportunity to make a name for himself.
Fit and scheme will be important for Sturdivant, given that he’s at his best going vertical, using his size and speed to get past the defense. As NFL Draft Buzz put it in the lead-up to the draft, the scheme has to be right for Sturdivant to be at his best at the next level.
Scheme fit will be crucial for Sturdivant’s success at the next level. He would thrive in an offense that emphasizes play-action passes and deep shots, allowing him to use his long speed to get behind defenses. A team with a strong-armed quarterback and an established short/intermediate threat could maximize Sturdivant’s big-play ability while he continues to refine the nuances of his game.
So how does that translate to Green Bay’s offense?
Quarterback Jordan Love is not shy about slinging it deep downfield. Last year, despite missing two full games and a large chunk of another, Love finished tied for sixth in the NFL with eight completions of 40 or more yards. He was also top 10 in 20-plus-yard completions with 49.
The completion numbers are fine, but the deeper data reveal just how much Love likes throwing deep.
Among all quarterbacks with at least 10 starts, Love finished fifth in intended air yards per pass attempt at 8.7. Did those intended passes lead to completions, though?
Yes. Love was eighth in the league in completed air yards per pass attempt.
Watson, Golden, and Reed all have speed among their top traits. Watson’s frame is also a massive asset. Strudivant has the frame and the speed without question. Other areas of his game, like a stronger commitment to blocking for the ground game and not letting his routes drift, need some polishing.
Nobody is expecting Sturdivant to emerge as a significant piece of Green Bay’s offense in 2026. The Packers drafted Sturdivant because they appreciate the untapped potential and traits of an undrafted wideout who fit their ideal metrics, so they took a shot.
Sturdivant’s best pathway in Green Bay may end up being landing a practice squad early and climbing the ladder from there. The Packers essentially have five wide receivers locked in. If Bo Melton is going to be a receiver instead of a cornerback in 2026, it would push that number to six.
Sturdivant isn’t a plug-and-play option anyway. Almost every draft profile uses the phrases “raw talent” and “developmental project” to summarize where Sturdivant is in his development. There won’t be any rush in Green Bay, and that’s a plus for the Florida product. He’ll have time to try and figure out ways to bring out his best. The bonus of getting to watch a polished product like Watson will only help.
