Could Devin Funchess‘ stint with the Packers end without him appearing in a game? There’s certainly a chance. As ESPN’s Rob Demovsky recently wrote, the veteran receiver is on the roster bubble heading into training camp.
There’s a variety of reasons why the Packers could look to move on from Funchess. For starters, the wideout has only appeared in a single game since the 2019 season; a broken collarbone limited him to only one content in 2019 (with the Colts), and he opted out of his first season with the Packers in 2020 due to COVID concerns. Funchess is still only 27-years-old, but it’s never easy for any player to return following a two-year absence.
Further, the Packers depth chart is packed. Behind Davante Adams, the Packers are eyeing a grouping that includes holdovers like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Malik Taylor. There’s also third-round rookie Amari Rodgers, and if you add Funchess to that bunch, that’s seven guys competing for at most six spots…and that doesn’t include the journeymen and undrafted free agents who are rounding out the offseason roster.
The financials aren’t necessarily in the receiver’s favor, either. The team would get around $1.2MM in savings by cutting the 27-year-old…while that doesn’t sound like a significant chunk of money, it still provides more financial breathing room than some of the other receiver options. While Funchess could theoretically give the team some money back, he’s already participated in one restructuring this offseason.
To top it all off, Funchess skipped OTAs earlier this offseason, and he only showed up to two of the three minicamp sessions. As a result, coach Matt LaFleur recently indicated that the six-foot-four receiver has some catching up to do.
“Well, he sure looks the part, there’s no doubt about that,” LaFleur said (via Wes Hodkiewicz of the team website). “You’re talking about a big, strong, long, physical guy that can run, sink his hips. So, I know he’s got a lot to learn, but we’re excited about having him on this team and letting him go compete and we’ll see what he can do.”
Funchess is only four years removed from a campaign where he finished with 840 yards from scrimmage and eight scores, and he hasn’t necessarily had the best luck over the past few years. As a result, there’s a good chance that the receiver will end up cracking a Week 1 roster. However, there’s also a chance that might not be in Green Bay.
This is another article based on hearsay and the opinion of a beat writer. If anything, St.Brown should be the cut candidate.
I mean I don’t see that logic at all.
what logic don’t you see? St.Brown as a cut candidate. He’s had enough time to show something and has done nothing.
Well the very first word of the article is “Could” so…..
“Further, the Packers depth chart is packed.”I’ll give you Devonte Adams, but after that it’s 50/50 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, garbage Equanimeous St. Brown, and two undrafted street FA’s no one else wanted in Allen Lazard and Malik Taylor.
Lazard was a disappointment overall last year but has had moments of production. Further, he’s an excellent blocker, which is a big boost for a lower on the depth chart player. He’s also a big guy. If Green Bay moves on from him, he’ll certainly find work. I don’t think that there’s huge separation between him, St. Brown, and Valdez-Scantling, but I’d put Lazard at the top. If Green Bay wanted to, I think they could get a low pick for him, but I do agree with you overall that the separation after Adams is not huge and none of those guys are real number two receivers.
If MVS can catch the ball he is a number 2. This is his year. Everyone forgets that Adam’s had a ton of drops his first 3 or 4 years. MVS led the league in yards per catch. He takes the leap that Adam’s did in the same year he is a legit 2.
This would really sink that hot air balloon that Gutekunst has put effort into building the team’s receiving corps.
Funchess is the only big possession receiver on the Packers’ roster, so he has that going for him, but opting out last year in his first season with a new team was just not helpful. I can’t say that it was stupid without knowing the man and his personal situation, but Funchess was already entering into a sort of “get on track” season as is. He played decently well for Indy, but he was short of a 1000 yard season, and the Packers deal represented a chance to show that he was a number one or two receiver.
His size should give an inside track to winning a job this year in a group of tall but thin pass catchers, but his having to learn the offense and timing-without Rodgers present-likely seals his fate with Green Bay.
I think you mean he played decently well for Carolina, as he only played one game for the Colts.
I did, thank you for the correction. Apologies.
This can’t be true. I mean, he’s the reason so many fans gave for why gb didn’t need to draft a wr (at all) in 2020, or in the first 2 rounds this year.
And I’m sure he’s Rodgers favorite teammate of all time. Gute, Murphy and Co must be doing this just to further alienate their mediocre, aging qb.
It’s just not possible that a game changing, bona-fide stud like Devon Funchess could be on the bubble.