In 2019, it quickly became clear that the Green Bay Packers need upgrades at wide receiver.
We continue our offseason position reviews with the wide receivers.
The Green Bay Packers invested three draft picks at the position in 2018, but there was just as much opportunity for undrafted receivers this season.
Here’s our review for the WRs in 2019.
2019 season review
Davante Adams is a star. Outside of that, the Packers didn’t get a whole lot of production from their wide receivers.
Despite missing a month of the regular season with a toe injury, Adams led the Packers in receiving by a mile and had more than twice as many receiving yards as Allen Lazard, who was second. Adams fell three yards short of a second straight 1,000-yard season, but to even come close was impressive after missing four games then being limited for a few weeks following his return.
Lazard performed admirably to finish the season with 477 yards and three touchdowns despite entering the regular season near the bottom of the depth chart.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison were among the Packers’ biggest disappointments in 2019.
Week 1 was encouraging for MVS as he caught four passes for 52 yards against the Chicago Bears’ talented pass defense on the road. He also had a 99-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos. Valdes-Scantling then caught three passes for 133 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders.
But that’s as good as it got for the second-year receiver. As the season went on, he became less and less of a factor in the Packers offense. In the final eight games, MVS caught just five passes for 36 yards and no touchdowns.
Allison’s best performance was three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. He struggled with drops all year, never had more than four catches in a game and only topped 40 yards once.
The other two receivers selected in the 2018 draft didn’t play. Equanimeous St. Brown was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the season. J’Mon Moore was released in September.
What’s next in 2020?
Expect to see some significant changes at the position.
Allison is a free agent and it’s hard to imagine he’ll be back after a disappointing 2019 season. Jake Kumerow is an exclusive rights free agent, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he also doesn’t make the 53-man roster next season.
The Packers will need to use free agency and the draft to fix the receiver position this offseason. There could be a few options in free agency, but the great news is this year’s draft class is one of the best at the position in recent memory.
In an ideal world, the Packers will add a couple of receivers via free agency and/or the draft, and the young receivers on the roster continue to develop.
Adams is an elite wide receiver. Lazard proved he can be reliable but would be better suited as the third or fourth option. With a couple of offseason additions and a third-year jump from either Valdes-Scantling or St. Brown, wide receiver could become a strength for the Packers in 2020.