Packers: The perfect offseason fix at wide receiver

The most fascinating position group in the entire NFL is the wide receiver corps of the Green Bay Packers.

Arguably the biggest question is how Green Bay will fix their need at that position. Franchise legend Davante Adams is now a Las Vegas Raider.

Speedster Marquez Valdes-Scantling is now a Kansas City Chief. Equanimeous St. Brown signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay needs help.

They have two quality receivers in Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard.

Cobb is valuable because of his overall experience in the NFL (entering his 12th career season) and his experience catching passes in the slot from Aaron Rodgers.

Lazard is a unique player because he is Mr. Do-It-All. He can line up everywhere. He can run every route in the playbook. His run-blocking abilities are extremely valuable in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

However, outside of those two pieces, there isn’t much.

Second-year Amari Rodgers only logged in four receptions for 45 yards as a rookie. Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor are predominantly practice squad receivers.

It is safe to say the Packers are in need of not one, not two, but possibly three impact receivers. They can address that need via the draft in two weeks, free agency, and/or a trade.

Looking at the NFL Draft, Green Bay has two top-30 picks and four top-60 picks. In the first round, they pick at No. 22 and No. 28.

The receivers who the Packers could be interested in include Ohio State’s Chris Olave, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, and Georgia’s George Pickens.

When it comes to free agency, there are a few veterans that could be of great help to LaFleur’s offense.

Future Hall-of-Famer Julio Jones, who played for LaFleur in Atlanta, is still sitting out there. Jarvis Landry, a five-time Pro Bowler, is looking for a new team. Speedster Will Fuller, who played for LaFleur at Notre Dame, could help fill the void left by Valdes-Scantling.

Odell Beckham Jr., who will be spending part of next season returning from an ACL tear, is still one of the most talented receivers in the game and almost came to Green Bay last season after his release from Cleveland.

Other free agents include A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders, Sammy Watkins, and Keelan Cole. There are plenty of veterans still available if Green Bay wants to use some of their roughly $15 million in cap space.

Probably the most appetizing way for GM Brian Gutekunst to upgrade his team’s receiving corps could come via a trade. With four top-60 picks, the Packers have some ammunition to swing a trade.

Exciting, young names like D.K. Metcalf and Terry McLaurin, who will be looking for new contracts, could be names to watch.

Metcalf is currently slated to play for a rebuilding franchise in the Seattle Seahawks. McLaurin has caught passes from six different quarterbacks in his young career. Maybe it might be nice to play with some stability. He’d find that in No. 12.

Other possible veterans that could be dealt are Metcalf’s teammate Tyler Lockett and Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen.

Lockett, a three-time All-Pro, has had eight fantastic seasons in Seattle and is signed through 2026. The 29-year-old would also bring return experience (three career special teams touchdowns) and a clutch gene that he and Russell Wilson shared for many years in Seattle.

But Wilson is gone. That is why Metcalf and Lockett could be looking to now join a contender.

In regards to Allen, the Chargers are paying his teammate Mike Williams $20 million per year. If the Chargers can’t afford Allen, maybe GM Brian Gutekunst would consider trading for him. The former Cal Golden Bear is one of the best route-runners in the game.

The dream scenario for Green Bay would be to add three impact pieces.

For example, if the Packers were to draft Treylon Burks, sign Julio Jones, and trade for Tyler Lockett, this WR corps would be one of the best in the NFL. Add those three receivers to Cobb and Lazard.

The depth chart would look like this: Lockett, Jones, Lazard, Cobb, Burks, and Amari Rodgers. Look out.

After Green Bay traded Davante Adams, there was a belief out there that the Packers could very well come out of this offseason deeper because they wouldn’t be force-feeding Adams.

Defenses knew how to stop the Packers when it mattered most in the postseason because they knew Adams was Aaron Rodgers’ No. 1 option. If Green Bay can find a way to take that WR-by-committee approach and find 2-3 capable receivers who can excel in LaFleur’s offense, they can go to a whole new level.

It’s not about finding another dominant All-Pro receiver. It’s about finding multiple pass-catchers who can force defenses into a tough spot by guessing where they think the ball is going to go as opposed to knowing that it was probably going to Davante Adams.

It’s all about a “win-now” mentality. Green Bay can’t just go draft three straight receivers in the early rounds. That would mean Aaron Rodgers and other key offensive players would have to wait for those young players to get up to speed with the offense.

Use one first-round pick on a talented receiver. Then try to sign/trade for veterans who have played the game at a high level and/or know the system LaFleur runs.

The Packers have a four-time MVP at QB. They have the best RB duo in the game. They have the best defense they’ve had in over a decade. Their special teams, which was their only glaring issue last season, will be much improved.

It’s about winning right now in Green Bay. Go get a talented rookie, like an Olave or a Burks. That is important.

But go get some veterans who have a track record of playing big-time ball, like a Jones or a Lockett. This is the position that will determine this season’s fate for the Green Bay Packers.