Fresno State wide receiver Davante Adams makes a catch during a drill at the NFL combine. Credit: Associated Press

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Green Bay — Seven years ago, James Jones came out of San Jose State, measured 6 foot 1 and weighed 207 pounds. Jones ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds, completed the 20-yard shuttle in 4.20 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.06 seconds.

After seven extremely solid years, Jones left in free agency this off-season.

But last weekend, Green Bay Packer general manager Ted Thompson may have landed Jones 2.0.

Thompson used his second-round draft pick — the 53rd-overall selection — on Fresno State wide receiver Davante Adams. In many ways, the Packers may have found a younger — and potentially more explosive — Jones.

"We have a little bit different parts to our game," Adams said. "But he definitely is a great player, and has qualities I hope to take on myself moving forward into the NFL."

The measurables Adams has are highly similar to those Jones brought to the NFL in 2007.

Adams also measured 6 foot 1 and weighed 214 pounds. Adams ran the 40 in 4.56 seconds, timed 4.30 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and completed the three-cone drill in 6.82 seconds.

While those numbers were virtually identical, Adams held a 5½-inch edge in the vertical jump (391/2 to 34), and Jones did 22 reps of 225 pounds vs. 14 for Adams.

Interestingly, the two also share agent Frank Bauer, and they worked out together this off-season.

"Some similarities, but they're different players," Packer wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett said. "I think each man stands on their own credit.

"Certainly, some of the things that James was able to accomplish here — one of the most physical receivers I've ever been around in James. Davante, he'll come in here and lay his own foundation as far as what kind of player we'll see him as."

Adams, a redshirt sophomore who played just two years at Fresno State, had a remarkable run with the Bulldogs.

In his freshman year, he caught 102 passes for 1,312 yards (12.8 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. Adams became the first freshman wide receiver in Mountain West Conference history to be a unanimous all-league pick and was the conference's freshman of the year.

Amazingly, he took it up a notch in 2013 when he led the nation in receptions (131), receptions per game (10.08) and touchdown catches (24). Adams finished second nationally with 1,718 receiving yards and receiving yards per game (132.2).

Some argued that Adams' numbers were inflated playing out of a spread offense against inferior competition. He also benefitted by playing with quarterback Derek Carr, who was a second-round draft pick of Oakland.

But the Packers saw a tough, physical player with terrific hands capable of making the tough catch look routine. In addition, Adams won't turn 22 until December, so he has plenty of room to grow.

"When you watch him on tape, you love how he's a competitor. He competes," Bennett said. "Tremendous as far as his catching ability. Has good hands. Makes the tough catch. Goes up and attacks the football. Extremely productive.

"So from that standpoint, it was a lot of positives. Lot of positives. You look at YAC — yards after the catch — he's a strong runner, gets the ball north and south quickly, breaks tackles but also shows the ability to make people miss. That was really some of the things that stood out about him."

The wide receiver class in this draft was one of the deepest in years. And Thompson certainly had a lot to weigh when Green Bay's second-round selection arrived.

In fact, wideouts Cody Latimer (No. 56 to Denver) and Allen Robinson (No. 61 to Jacksonville) went just minutes after Adams. But Green Bay liked what it saw in Adams, and felt he could help a receiving group that has lost Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and Jones since the end of the 2012 season.

"I like him a lot," Thompson said. "If you watch the tape, they had a pretty dynamic offense this year.

"But I think his ability to catch the ball, first and foremost, and that's something we look very closely at when we're looking at receivers or tight ends or backs, is their ability to catch the ball. And I think he's remarkable at that.

"I think he'll fit in with our group very well in that regard, and we'll see how he does. We feel really good about the pick."

History shows that Thompson has every reason to feel good when drafting a wide receiver early.

Since 2006, Thompson selected Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb in the second round, and plucked Jones in the third.

"Don't jinx us," Thompson joked when reminded of his success drafting wideouts.

Adams should have a chance to contribute immediately. The high-powered passing offense needs several parts but has just three proven receivers in Nelson, Cobb and Jarrett Boykin.

Adams believes his skill set matched anyone in this draft, and he wants to make an impact in Green Bay from Day 1. Perhaps a good omen is that back in 2007, Jones caught 47 passes for 676 yards during his rookie season.

"I've always been confident in my abilities all throughout my life," Adams said. "And I've been slept on in different situations and I know I can rise to the occasion."

That opportunity figures to come right away in Green Bay.

This article appeared in Packer Plus Magazine