The Green Bay Packers made a splash on Monday when they signed Zach Tom to a 4 year, $88 million deal to make him the third highest paid right tackle in the NFL.
But that was not the only player-related move they made on the day, as they have also signed former Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver, Will Sheppard, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Prior to landing with Green Bay in July, Sheppard failed a physical with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before trying out with the Denver Broncos, who ultimately decided not to sign him to their pre-season roster.
Will Sheppard is not exactly a household name outside of Boulder, but he was certainly a fairly strong contributor this past season, managing 621 yards off of 48 receptions, scoring 6 receiving touchdowns.
Prior to 2024, Sheppard spent four seasons at Venderbilt in the SEC, where he was a regular target since 2021.
However, after achieving career highs in 2022, with 60 catches, 776 yards and 9 touchdowns, Sheppard’s production slowly waned over the subsequent two seasons, where he never managed more than 700 yards again in college.
How Was Will Sheppard Viewed Heading Into The NFL Draft?
Unlike some prospects that fall due to injury or off-the-field personality concerns, Sheppard was projected to be a pick in the last couple of rounds, or a priority free agent; the latter of which he ultimately became.
His excellent route-running made him a high-floor prospect in the draft, something that ultimately did not help him get drafted. But Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson believes that the former Buffalo certainly has some impressive traits and skills that could translate to the next level.
“Sheppard is a solid route-runner.” Parson wrote in mid-April, “He attacks leverage with jab steps at the line of scrimmage. He displays adequate short-area quickness to maneuver around defensive backs and get into his routes…Sheppard thrives against zone coverages. He finds soft spots within the coverage in the short-to-intermediate areas of the defense and works around spot-droppers to settle into the voids.
Sheppard excels at playing through contact at the catch point and after the catch. He is a dynamic leaper with outstanding body control. That allows him to make difficult and acrobatic catches on contested throws and back-shoulder fades.”
In contrast, Parson outlined straight-line speed (he ran a 4.59 40 yard dash) and lack of explosiveness as deficiencies prior to the draft back in April. But there is no doubt the Packers are signing a player with ability to succeed in the pros.
How Does Sheppard Fit In With The Packers?
At this point, he does not. Green Bay did not sign him to realistically compete on day 1, in what is already an overcrowded receiver room.
Between the Packers’ latest draft picks, Mathew Golden and Savion Williams, alongside existing players like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, it is very unlikely that he will even make the initial 53-man roster.
A win for Sheppard would be to make it onto the practice squad, then to show over the course of the next season or two what he is capable of in practice, and finally to take the opportunity – when given – to make plays out in an actual regular season game.
The focus is always – even for young players – on making the final roster that year, or making an immediate contribution. But there are many players; undrafted free agents and late-round draft picks; who have gone on to have long and successful NFL careers after starting out as a proud practice squad player.
The Sheppard signing, in all likelihood, will do little to nothing to impact the team in 2025. But there is certainly a chance he is a name to watch in a couple of years time.
