Jan. 30, 2026, 3:45 p.m. CT

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

On the surface, the Green Bay Packers appear to be set up at wide receiver. Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Savion Williams give Jordan Love a young, talented wide receiver room to continue to grow with. However, Golden and Williams are the only ones under contract beyond this upcoming season.

It’s a safe bet that the Packers will work to lock Watson up on a long-term deal. The jury is still out on Reed, who has shown he can be a difference maker when he’s on the field.

After spending a pair of Top 100 picks on the position during the 2025 NFL Draft, it would be surprising, albeit not out of the realm of possibility, for the Packers to use another Top 100 pick on the position again during the 2026 NFL Draft. However, it’s far more likely they use a Day 3 pick on the position and a potential target could be Jeff Caldwell. The Cincinnati wide receiver checks in at No. 82 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

Caldwell, a native of Kentucky, started his collegiate career at Lindenwood and recorded 40 receptions for 740 yards and 12 touchdowns. During his final season at Lindenwood, he recorded 53 receptions for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns. Caldwell transferred to Cincinnati for the 2025 season and reeled in 32 receptions for 478 yards and six touchdowns.

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“He was a huge part of our pass game,” Cincinnati wide receivers coach Vijay Stingley said. “He gave us a big vertical threat down the field as well as someone who could make contested catches and win the one-on-one matchup.”

At 6-4, 208 pounds, Caldwell is a size and speed prospect who is going to put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine. His size and athleticism were a big reason why he was No. 29 on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks list. 

“Jeff is probably the most explosive wide receiver that I have ever coached,” Stingley said. “His ability to start, stop at his size is unique. He jumped an 11-9 broad jump over the summer, which goes to show just how explosive he is.”

Caldwell’s trump card is his ability to win on a vertical plane. With his size and speed, he can reach top speed in a blur. He accelerates smoothly off the line of scrimmage and challenges cornerbacks vertically. The Bearcat wide receiver is a coordinated mover downfield. He’s an explosive playmaker who averaged nearly 20 yards per reception during his final season at Lindenwood and nearly 15 yards per reception during his lone season with the Bearcats. With his leaping ability and frame, he has go-go-gadget catch radius, which makes him a dangerous weapon inside the 20s.

His route tree is growing and with his movement skills, it’s reasonable to expect him to continue to grow as a route runner and develop into a three-level threat. He has strong hands and does a good job of spearing the ball away from his body. He was targeted 40 times this season and was charged with three drops.

“Jeff’s route running improved throughout his time with us,” Stingley said. “A lot of the improvement came when he gained strength. When Jeff transferred to us in January, he was 192 pounds. By fall camp, he was 214 pounds. With that increased weight came the strength which allowed him to be more powerful in his lower half, which helped his route running, especially routes like stops, curls and comebacks. He also got much better at dropping his weight and playing with more bend. Obviously, the vertical, post part of his game has always been elite with his speed.”

With his size and strength, Caldwell can move defensive backs as a run blocker. The Cincinnati wide receiver is an effective stalk blocker.

“Blocking in the run game is a huge part of what we ask our wide receivers to do,” Stingley said. “We are a run-first, play-action pass offense, very similar to many NFL offenses. Jeff understood that his blocking in the run game would help open him up in the pass game through one-on-ones and setting up our play-action pass. His effort has always been very good. We had to work and develop some of his blocking techniques with his size and just being able to create the right type of leverage needed for perimeter blocking.”

Fit with the Packers

Given the current state of Green Bay’s wide receiver position, if the Packers are going to address the position during the 2026 NFL Draft, it will likely happen on Day 3.

Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Gutekunst has drafted 12 wide receivers, with seven of them being Day 3 selections.

Caldwell is built like some of those former Day 3 selections. J’Mon Moore (6-3, 207 pounds), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6-4, 206 pounds) and Equanimeous St. Brown (6-5, 214 pounds).

Given his size and athleticism, Caldwell figures to be on the short list of potential wide receivers the Packers could target in the sixth or seventh round as they look to add depth to the room.

“Caldwell has a unique size and speed combination that every NFL offense would love to have,” Stingley said. “The sky is truly the limit for Jeff. He still has a lot of room to grow and develop at the wide receiver position, which is intriguing for many organizations because he has not tapped out yet. He offers a true down-the-field threat that can stretch the field vertically while still being able to run a complete route tree.” 

Any wide receiver who joins Green Bay’s group this offseason is likely going to see limited snaps during their rookie season. Caldwell checks the boxes for what Gutekunst has looked for in Day 3 wide receivers. A year after taking fellow Bearcat John Williams in the seventh round, Gutekunst could turn back to the Cincinnati talent pool in the seventh round by targeting Caldwell.