Green Bay Packers 2015 season grades: Wide receivers

Randall Cobb

Randall Cobb was put in tough spot in 2015. When Jordy Nelson was lost for the year, Cobb was expected to step up and become the No. 1 receiver for the Packers. Cobb is a completely different receiver to Nelson, so this was never going to be an easy task.

Cobb’s versatility makes him tough to cover. He can line up just about anywhere, but his best work comes in the slot when a guy like Nelson is working on the boundary. Without a reliable threat on the outside, Cobb ran into traffic and was getting pressed at the line. The result was a season with 829 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

It was far from an awful season, but after a flying start he failed to achieve any consistency, and often went missing. Four of Cobb’s six touchdowns were caught in the Packers’ first three games, and he scored just two more during the remainder of the season.

What we learned is that Cobb can’t be the No. 1 receiver in this offense. He’s a special talent who can do so much for the Packers, but needs a talent like Nelson to draw away some coverage. Cobb excels after the catch, but this was impossible with defenses not threatened by the deep ball.

Grade: C+

Next: James Jones