NEWS FLASH: A SENSATIONAL ACE WITH A RELATIVE ATHLETIC SCORE OF 8.75 OUT OF 10 HAS PUT PEN TO PAPER.
Kelly stands 6’1,” weighs 191 pounds and posted a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.75 out of 10 during the pre-draft process. He played his college ball at Stanford where he primarily lined up on the boundary. Over his career, Kelly allowed a completion rate of 58 percent, including a low of 52 percent during his final season, at 14.3 yards per catch with three interceptions and 13 pass breakups. In four seasons, Kelly played 254 total special teams snaps.
For more on Kelly’s game and what he brings to this Packers team, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had this to say in his pre-draft scouting report:
“Defender with good size, length and NFL bloodlines, but a concerning lack of recovery speed and coverage stickiness against quality route runners. When in position, Kelly possesses the ball skills and competitiveness to contest catches. He’s patient and efficient from press, but he could struggle to stay in phase with vertical route threats in man-to-man coverage. Kelly might be best suited for a backup role in a zone scheme, but the aggression will need to be cranked up in run support.
To make room on the full 53-man roster, the Packers chose to move on from Gaines, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday. The Pittsburgh game was Gaines’ fourth appearance of the season. In each instance, he was added to the game day roster to provide special teams depth, where he played 59 total snaps. Although listed as a safety, Gaines primary role on defense when called upon briefly in 2022 and during the summer was as a slot cornerback.
Gaines will not hit waivers and if he goes unclaimed, he is a free agent and can sign wherever he pleases. Because the Packers have already used all three available practice squad elevations, even if they were to re-sign him to the practice squad, he could not be activated on game day without being added to the 53-man roster first. My guess is that like running back Patrick Taylor, who went through a similar experience, Gaines will end up elsewhere.
The cornerback room for the Packers has quickly gone from a position of depth and a strength, to one with some question marks. It was just a few weeks ago that Joe Barry said Green Bay had a “champagne problem” at the position, when asked how the team would find playing time for Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Eric Stokes, and Keisean Nixon
