Packers: Wide receiver battle will highlight 2019 training camp

Training camp is set to start next week, and the battle at wide receiver is sure to take center stage for the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers‘ wide receiver position has undergone a massive overhaul over the last two seasons. It started with cutting Jordy Nelson before the start of last season and continued this past offseason with letting Randall Cobb walk in free agency.

In between, the Packers drafted three receivers with great height/speed measurables on the third day of the 2018 NFL Draft.

With the massive amount of turnover, the Packers now have one proven commodity and many unknowns at the receiver position.

As the Packers enter 2019 training camp, the receiver position should have one of the most intense battles of the summer. There are young and hungry players looking to make an impact, as well as two veterans looking to make pay days in contract years.

There are technically two starting positions up for grabs as the third receiver is now pretty much a starting position in the NFL. The only player guaranteed a position is Davante Adams. Everyone else will have to fight.

A glass half full look at the Packers receiver position shows a team with a bunch of young talent full of speed and size that most teams would love to have. There are two promising 2018 draft picks (Equanimeous St. Brown and Marquez Valdes-Scantling) who got a lot of playing time in their rookie seasons and are primed to make a year two jump.

The team also has undrafted receivers, Jake Kumerow and Geronimo Allison, who have earned the trust of start QB Aaron Rodgers with their work ethic and reliable hands.

A glass half empty approach shows the team with one reliable receiver and unproven talent behind him.

While St. Brown and MVS got in a lot of snaps last season, both were inconsistent and day three draft picks for a reason.

J’Mon Moore couldn’t find his footing despite being the highest of the three drafted receivers, and the other two players with NFL experience (Allison and Trevor Davis) couldn’t stay healthy. The injury bug also extended to Kumerow, who made an ill-timed dive into the end zone, costing him half the season on injured reserve.

The facts are, the Packers do have good young talent behind Adams to mold.

MVS has dedicated himself and has taken to working with a Hall-of-Fame wide receiver to ensure he’s doing what it takes to be great in the NFL.

St. Brown showed he can be a solid target in the middle of the field at 6-feet-5 inches and 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

Kumerow’s injury was unfortunate, but a freak occurrence that shouldn’t be viewed as a problem moving forward.

Allison was having a breakout type year before a groin injury derailed his season. But he’s healthy and ready to earn a long-term deal heading into his first offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

Reports out of OTAs and minicamp regarding Trevor Davis have been positive, as he also looks for a second contract in the NFL.

This training camp will be crucial for the team at the wide receiver position. Should two or more of these receivers step up and prove to be worthy of starting in the NFL, the offense is set up for this season, as well as the future.

Should no one step up next to Adams, then the Packers could be wasting another year of Aaron Rodgers’ prime and be forced to spend money and draft resources on the position next year.

The talent is there. Now it’s up to the players to step up and seize the moment and a starting job this training camp.