Green Bay Packers: Quinton Patton, a Great Replacement for Greg Jennings

Unless the Green Bay Packers decide to apply their franchise tag to wide receiver Greg Jennings, he will be testing the open market once the free agent signing period gets started on March 12.

If Jennings were to find a new team, the Packers would lose the 425 receptions and 53 touchdowns he has brought to the team in his seven years there.

With Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb, the team would still possess a solid wide receiving corps. But Quinton Patton, a wide receiver out of Louisiana Tech, makes for an intriguing pick.

Patton figures to be drafted somewhere in the second round so the Packers may even have to move up to get him, but he would be a solid fit in Green Bay.

Patton had a strong senior season for the Bulldogs, catching 104 passes for 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers would love to throw the ball to a player like this because he can do everything Jennings does and maybe even more. Patton has the ability to stretch the field and get separation on deep routes. What may be the thing that attracts Green Bay most is what he can do after the catch.

Patton is very exciting with the ball in his hands and will rack up big yards after the catch. A bubble screen could easily become a 15-20 yard gain.

Jennings missed half the season last year, yet the other Packers' wide receivers still managed to combine for 148 receptions on the year.

Jennings will have a high asking price and even then, his heart may not be in Green Bay anymore. For those reasons, the team needs to move in another direction and Patton would be a great way to do that.

There are several good receiving prospects in this year's draft but by selecting Patton, the Packers would be getting one of the gems.