Amari Rodgers of Catholic. (photo: Danny Parker)
By JESSE SMITHEY
Amari Rodgers, a former two-time Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winner from Catholic High School, probably waited longer than he thought he’d have to Friday to hear his name called in the 2021 NFL Draft.
But it just may be worth it in the end.
The Green Bay Packers traded up and selected the 5-foot-10, 215-pound wideout from Clemson in the third round with the 85th overall pick. They got the pick in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, who subsequently dropped down to the 92nd pick in the third round, taking linebacker Monty Rice from Georgia. The Titans also got the Packers’ fourth-round pick (135 overall) so that the Packers could move up and get their guy.
Most mock drafts had Rodgers going in the second round.
Nevertheless, he could wind up being a favorite target of Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, much like former Alcoa star Randall Cobb was from 2011-18.
But that’s all dependent upon Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay. The 16-year veteran recently voiced his displeasure with the organization about its efforts to surround him with capable talent.
Perhaps the drafting of Rodgers into the wide receiving corps will pacify those concerns.
Amari Rodgers was a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2020 and an All-ACC First Team selection, catching 77 passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll also likely add depth to the Packers’ return game.
Rodgers helped lead Catholic to a TSSAA state championship in 2015 and was an Under Armour All-American as a senior in 2016.
But headed into Draft Week this week, he said he heard the most from the Baltimore Ravens (where his dad Tee Martin coaches wide receivers), the Tennessee Titans, the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
We did a pre-Draft interview with Rodgers while he trained this week at Catholic…