In 2022, the Packers attempted to get by with multiple rookie-contract cogs arriving in the wake of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s departures. The result: a season that began Aaron Rodgers‘ decline. However, the team has continued to stockpile rookie contracts at the position — with the most notable move coming last month. Even as Matt LaFleur minimized the need for a true No. 1-level wide receiver, the team snapped a 23-year drought by choosing Matthew Golden at No. 23 overall.
A roster that still includes the two players added to supplement a post-Adams receiver cadre — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs — received another youth infusion via Golden and third-round addition Savion Williams. If these four were all healthy and the only notable parts in Green Bay’s receiving group, no front-burner issue may have appeared. But the team also has two 2023 draftees as WR regulars. As a result, the Golden and Williams arrivals create big-picture questions.
While delayed QB ascents (amid a succession that dates back to 1992) define the Packers’ roster-building philosophy, the franchise’s reluctance to draft a wideout in Round 1 had become a core component as well. As the likes of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Adams revealed, the Pack regularly got by without selecting a receiver in the first round. After the Packers cut ties with 2002 first-rounder Javon Walker via a draft-weekend trade in 2006 (to the Broncos), they moved out of the first-round receiver business.
It could be argued the Pack did not do enough to supplement Rodgers during his heyday — one filled with playoff shortcomings following Super Bowl XLV — but a team once known for free agency avoidance managed to support four MVP seasons for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Entering Jordan Love‘s third season at the controls, however, the team deemed receiver a high enough priority — after no 900-yard seasons have occurred since Adams’ departure — to use two of its first three picks on the position.
The Jets sent the Packers two second-round picks for Rodgers in 2023. Jayden Reed did not arrive via one of those picks, as the Packers used their original second-rounder to trade down two spots (via the Buccaneers) for him. Dontayvion Wicks arrived in the 2023 fifth round. This already created a glut of Packers rookie-contract receivers, as backup Bo Melton and free agent signing Mecole Hardman are rostered as well. Hardman’s Super Bowl LVIII-winning reception notwithstanding, he provides more return-game value. But the Packers adding the seventh-year veteran and two more rookies creates a situation where notable changes are coming.
Reed is under contract for two more seasons, and he has seen Golden’s rookie terms ($17.58MM fully guaranteed) dwarf his. On a $7.18MM (4MM guaranteed) pact through 2026, Reed cannot discuss an extension until next year. Packers brass is believed to have met with Reed to clarify his situation recently. With Watson battling injuries before his Week 18 ACL tear, the Packers have turned to Reed as their nominal No. 1 receiver. The slot presence has totaled 1,650 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons. He now profiles as the team’s top veteran in a group now headlined by Golden, but what will happen to the other experienced presences?
Watson would carry considerable trade value, even with a past of soft-tissue maladies, but his knee rehab effectively ensures the North Dakota State product will not be going anywhere this year. Watson is expected to be sidelined until around midseason. This would leave Doubs and Wicks as potential options to be moved.
Wicks did not match his rookie-year yardage figure (581) in Year 2 (415), even as his snap share increased to 54% last season. Doubs, a 2022 fourth-rounder, has been more consistent; he enters a contract year riding back-to-back 600-yard seasons, playing 77% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in each of the past two seasons. Doubs, 25, managed to clear the 600-yard barrier despite missing four games last season. A team-imposed suspension, as Doubs expressed frustration about his role, took place. He will profile as a quality 2026 free agent, but that episode represents an important chapter in his Green Bay career.
Wicks will need better production to become a higher-end FA target in 2027. But Golden and Williams’ arrivals complicate Wicks’ 2025 place in the offense and Doubs’ post-2025 Wisconsin future. As Reed makes sense as an extension candidate, Doubs trade rumors may be coming. Though, a Packers team that has hoarded these pieces may be reluctant to move a key performer before the November deadline — especially with Watson not healthy. But calls will undoubtedly come in for the Nevada alum.
Steelers connections, as Rodgers played with Doubs in 2022, have already emerged in the wake of the team’s George Pickens trade. As of now, however, waiting to see how its younger players look alongside D.K. Metcalf looks to be Pittsburgh’s party line.
Even if Watson lands on the reserve/PUP list as expected, the Packers have plenty of options — fast-emerging tight end Tucker Kraft should also factor into the extension pie — for Love entering training camp. Williams, who did not eclipse 650 yards in any of his five TCU seasons, would have the luxury of an extended developmental arc thanks to the Packers’ bevy of young veterans. But how the team rearranges its pass-catching group in 2026 — or before then — makes this one of the NFL’s most interesting position groups presently.
If you’re paying your QB $55MM per year giving him an abundance of receiving options makes plenty of sense. A WR room can look overcrowded but injuries can change that pretty quickly. Stroud discovered that in Houston when Collins, Diggs and Dell all missed some game time.
That’s a lot of young receivers that they have drafted in the last 3 years. Somebody will definitely be moved, probably 2 that were named by the trade deadline if not before.
Doubt seriously any WR will be traded. Watson won’t be back till Dec. Doubs has a serious concussion issue he’s dealing with that no team will consider trading for. Wicks has a case of the drops that’s plagued him last 2 yrs. Reed is sitting pretty and if Golden develops as expected the packers drafting him round 1 they’ll look like geniuses. And I’m even taking about the TE position which looks likes it’s in good shape
None of the expected WRs are going anywhere. Suggesting they are admits you don’t follow the Packers and are playing on national media narratives only.
Doubs would make sense for the Steelers … if Rodgers likes his work ethic. Wicks and Watson might not be around much longer, unless Watson can stay healthy … doubtful.
Rodgers has no work ethic. Missing more offseason training like last year on his trip to Egypt.
Ridiculous comment.
He purposefully missed OTA’s last season when he was signed. Lots of talk, he’ll only sign after they are completed this year. Many teams started them yesterday.
From google: The NFL’s organized team activities (OTAs) for the 2025 season began on May 27th for many teams, marking the start of Phase 3 of the offseason program. The OTAs are a voluntary offseason workout program where teams conduct up to 10 days of practice sessions. These practices are used for developing skills, chemistry, and timing between players, with no live contact allowed
Golden
Reed
Williams
Wicks
Melton
Hardman for kick off punts
Anyone else trade. I’d trade Watson to Pitt reunite him with Rodgers replace Pickens. Yes id sell high on a guy who’s been injury prone heading into a contract year cause you can always sign him in the off season if you want.
Sell high on Watson….LOL
Agreed. The only guy they would possibly trade that would have any value whatsoever would be Doubs. And it wouldn’t be much. So they won’t trade him. If he’s clear of the concussion issue by the end of this year, he’ll get a decent WR2 type deal next offseason. That’s it.
Wonder who SF would want out of that mix? Could be a conversation worth having for both sides.
15 games being being healthy 620 yards 21 yards per reception yeah I’d sell high on him maybe get a couple day 3 picks out of him. Like a 4th and 6th.
No way is a team giving up two picks for him.
On day 3? For a deep threat target who averaged 21 yards a reception? Yeah a team desperate for WR help will take a flier on him if he’s available at that price.
A guy who is gonna be 26, is always hurt, and has never had 700+ yards in a season.
You are vastly overestimating his value.
Yeah why he’s worth day 3 picks which are rounds 4-7. You’ve never seen a draft have you. Teams trade day 3 picks all the time taking chances on guys.
In fact PFN did a wonderful article showing many day 3 picks already exchanging hands
link to profootballrumors.com
Pretty mid receiver room (as the kids say)
I don’t think it’s “mid.” I think the Packers have done under Gute what they did under Thompson: Draft WR (and OL) by volume and hope one sticks. That has worked out plenty well in the past (Driver, Jennings, Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Adams just in the past 20 years).
The WRs collectively had a bad year in 2024. But a rebound is not out of the question – for any of them except Watson. I’d put the smart money on Reed and Wicks, along with two rookies who look promising. We’ll see.
I think the floor is “mid.” The ceiling is top 10.
Reed is a genuine threat and a very versatile one at that.
good slot receiver
I really don’t see why Watson would garner significant trade interest. What has he done to be talked about that way?
I was super high on the guy coming out of the draft and in 2021. But yeah. He’s been a straight line speed guy who can kind of do mid range stuff but isn’t great at that. And then he’s never healthy.
Yeah people talk about him like he’s still a rookie. He hasn’t become a legit #1 or #2 in four years and is always hurt.
They’ll probably do as they’ve always done the last few years-play all of the receivers in a platoon style and let them eat up snaps. The Packers’ Davonte Adams days were actually a bit of a departure from their prior model of having three or four receivers that they used frequently. Early in Adams’ career they did that, too, while Nelson was still there, but other than a couple of years of Nelson being the clear number one, they had a few receivers that they played significant snaps-from the Jennings/Driver/Nelson setup to the Nelson/Driver/Jones to Nelson/Adams/Jones to Nelson/Adams, and then just Adams.
The Packers have, since then, used a lot of players at that position to share the workload. None have been great, but they haven’t been bad, either. Green Bay has managed to get good production overall from the group, even if they haven’t had a star player to lead them as a true number one. Watson has the best size/speed, but is often injured, Doubs has the best possession profile, but has had inconsistency and concussions, Wicks has had moments but rife with inconsistency, and Reed’s probably shown the best connection with Love, despite having less than perfect size. They’ve all made impacts, and are decent contributors, but none are individual lynchpins of the offense. I expect Green Bay to continue to add to the room, unless a true number one emerges. I don’t expect the approach to change-it’s worked, even if there have been times where a superstar game changer could have helped.
I don’t think a platoon approach at WR is detrimental. In 2023 the Panthers had Adam Thielen catching 60 more balls than the next most productive WR on the team. That simplifies things for the defense as they can just focus on a single threat.
I don’t disagree with that. That “platoon” wasn’t meant critically, I hope it’s not interpreted as such. It was a good way to make use of what they had and maximize the strengths of the roster in a productive way.
I do think that Green Bay does and has needed a consistent game changer to help get over the hump, but it’s not a criticism if the approach in general. Their approach to solving that problem in several offensive areas (including at nearly position of the line) has been admirable. Gutekunst really could have hit much better on stocking the roster (perhaps Golden helps solidify that), but their approach staff has done an excellent job using their players to make up the difference in most cases. The approach has been well managed as well as it could have been. You can win in most situations like that; there will be times, however, where sometimes a star player makes a difference, and that’s what the Packers have missed the luxury of at that position since Adams left.
Now, when Adams was there in his final years, they had the opposite issue-one star and no support. Their second leading receiver was a running back, and they didn’t have a guy who had fifty catches at wideout. A group like Green Bay’s current stable with a true number one added would be quite impressive.
The Packers front office had all the drama they could handle the last time a diva was on the roster…so I think they’re happy to take a break from all that.
The dude sat behind Favre for years, never complained about his weapons, and came back from multiple serious injuries like those concussion issues he had.
The hate he gets is ridiculous.
The hate he gets is entirely earned. His opinions and self justifications are off the wall whacko.
Yeah sorry but you not liking his politics or views doesn’t equal him being a diva. He’s proven through years in Green Bay that he’s a team player.
It has very little to do with his politics. And everything to do with how he gaslights those whom he disagrees with. DB move. Great QB from 2009-2021. Not a great person.