Green Bay Packers wide receiver battle will be intense
There will be a number of important battles for starting spots during Green Bay Packers training camp, most notably at cornerback and right guard. But one of the most hotly contested battles will come not at the top of the depth chart, but at the bottom.
After the top three receivers, there are at least five with a legitimate opportunity at two to four roster spots.
Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are locked in as the top three wideouts on the team. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s battle.
Geronimo Allison will have the inside track as the fourth receiver. He was a key part of the offense in the playoff run last season, notching 66 and 91 yards in the last two games of the regular season and catching three passes in the memorable divisional round win at Dallas.
Allison is the most proven of the backup receivers, at least from an offensive standpoint. But he’s athletically limited, and we’ve seen undrafted gems see promising careers sputter before.
Trevor Davis was the Packers’ fifth-round pick last year from California. While Allison succeeds on size, positioning, hands, and route-running, Davis’ biggest attribute is his overall athleticism and 4.42 speed.
Davis posted a breakout game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, with three catches, an impressive touchdown and a 55-yard punt return. But those were his only three catches of the year, and he fumbled twice as well.
Jeff Janis, the people’s hero, is probably never going to be a regular offensive player for the Packers, as his route-running and chemistry with Aaron Rodgers just aren’t good enough. But he’s the best special teams player on the team, as his 6-feet-3 inches height and 4.42 speed make him an exceptional gunner. Despite a broken hand in training camp, Janis made the team and logged five tackles despite being double-teamed on virtually every punt.
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After Janis, things get interesting.
The two front-runners for a roster spot, of course, are the Packers’ fifth- and seventh-round draft choices, DeAngelo Yancey from Purdue and Malachi Dupre from LSU.
Yancey is a size-speed prospect who has been described by scouts as a vertical threat, but an unrefined overall receiver. Here’s a note from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
"“Yancey is a stiff-hipped vertical receiver only with good size but below average hands. A team could sniff around on him on Day 3, but he will struggle to uncover against NFL man coverage.”"
Dupre, meanwhile, was a big-name player in college as LSU’s top receiver for each of the past two seasons. He’s big at 6 feet 2 inches and has outstanding jumping ability, but he’s an average athlete otherwise. Zierlein wrote:
"“Dupre is a developmental receiver with some upside but it could take some time before he’s ready to contribute. Could be a potential third or fourth wide receiver with time and coaching.”"
Outside of the experienced players and drafted talent, of course, the undrafted free agents that the Packers bring to camp will have an opportunity to make the team. Those players are Michael Clark, Montay Crockett, and second-year player Max McCaffrey.
Clark measures 6-feet-6 inches tall and played basketball for most of his high school and college career, playing just one year of football as a junior at Marshall. Crockett is 6-feet tall from Georgia Southern and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day.
McCaffrey, meanwhile, was actually activated to the Packers’ 53-man roster before the NFC Championship Game last season, though he ended up not being active for the game. He’s the brother of Christian McCaffrey, the Carolina Panthers’ first round running back.
So how will it all shake out?
There’s a maximum of seven spots available, though six is probably more likely. Three of those spots are guaranteed for Nelson, Cobb and Adams.
That would likely leave three spots open for Allison, Janis, Davis, Yancey, Dupre, and the undrafted players.
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It’s early, but here’s my prediction for the Packers receivers on opening day: Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Allison, Davis, Yancey.
For the fourth spot, the ability to contribute on offense will be most important. I think that this will get Allison on the team. He showed great chemistry with Aaron Rodgers last year, and Mike McCarthy would likely be most comfortable with him if one of the top three receivers were to be injured.
After that, special teams gets important.
Janis is an enigma. If special teams is as important to the Packers as they claim it is, then it would be tough to justify cutting Janis. Though he’s dispensable as a kick returner, there’s nobody else on the Packers who can cover punts like Janis can.
But Ted Thompson may be more disposed to keep one or both of his draft picks. Janis can make catches when called upon, but at this point he doesn’t have the offensive potential of Yancey or Dupre.
Davis, meanwhile, could be one of the front-runners to return punts this year with Micah Hyde gone. He didn’t get too many offensive opportunities last year, but he shone in Atlanta with exceptional body control along the sidelines, an extremely important quality when playing with the ever-scrambling Aaron Rodgers.
It’s tough to know much about the rookies until they start actually lining up against NFL talent and catching passes from Rodgers. Both Yancey and Dupre were projected to be picked late or go undrafted, so they are hardly guaranteed roster spots. But it’s tough to see Thompson cutting both.
I hope that Janis makes the team, because he is an absolute force on special teams. But with Jordy Nelson gradually aging and Davante Adams facing a contract year, Ted Thompson might want to retain a young player with a bit more receiving potential.
I’m really high on Allison and Davis, and so that would leave just one spot available. At this point, I would give it to Yancey, but that can all change once training camp starts and actual drills and 7-on-7 scrimmaging begin.
The Packers don’t need seven receivers, especially with Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks joining the team as receiving options. That extra roster spot is probably better spent on the offensive line or anywhere on defense.
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But if a lot of these players live up to their potential, then they could make Ted Thompson’s decision very difficult. No matter how it plays out, the Packers receiving room will be a talented group come Week 1.