Are the Packers fully complete at the wide receiver position?

The Green Bay Packers have certainly addressed the wide receiver position this off-season.

After signing veteran free agent Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal, GM Brian Gutekunst drafted three new receivers in North Dakota State’s Christian Watson (second round), Nevada’s Romeo Doubs (fifth round), and Nebraska’s Samori Toure (seventh round).

As it stands right now, the Green Bay receiving corps includes Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Watkins, Amari Rodgers, Watson, Doubs, and Toure.

Also, practice squad receivers Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor have spent time on the 53-man roster in each of the past few seasons.

There are certainly a lot of receivers that QB Aaron Rodgers has to work with. He has more youth, speed, and size at his disposal. With nine players fighting for presumably seven spots at most, does Green Bay have enough help at WR on offense?

The team certainly has enough depth, but I wonder if Gutekunst has thought about adding one more veteran.

The locks at the position for the 53-man roster are Lazard, Cobb, Watkins, Watson, Doubs, and Rodgers.

That leaves what appears to be one more spot for Toure, Taylor, Winfree, or possibly another veteran. Unless LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich think eight receivers should be on the final 53-man roster.

Looking at the locks at the position, what do they bring?

Lazard is Mr. Do-It-All. He is one of the most complete receivers in the game. He is one of the best blocking receivers and can run nearly every route.

Also, his 6-foot-5 height is a huge plus for the Packers’ offense.

Cobb has played with Aaron Rodgers for a decade. He has No. 12’s complete trust in the slot. That connection cannot be undervalued.

Cobb can also help bring second-year receiver Amari Rodgers along, who is looking to have a much-improved sophomore season after only four receptions in his rookie year.

Rodgers is a versatile player. He returned punts, took jet sweeps, and played the role of Cobb at some points too. With no Davante Adams now, the Rodgers-to-Rodgers connection will take a better step in 2022.

Watkins is an experienced, true pro. What I mean by true pro, is that he can win one-on-one against any DB. He has 4.4 speed. He has a Super Bowl ring. Also, he has experience with Matt LaFleur, who was his offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.

Rookie Watson might be Green Bay’s most talented receiving prospect they’ve every drafted. At 6-foot-4, Watson can absolutely fly (4.3 speed).

He has experience returning kicks and punts (two touchdowns in college). He can take jet sweeps to the house with his game-breaking speed. His ability to go up and get contested balls is incredible.

Watson is the future in Green Bay.

Nevada’s Romeo Doubs plays like a younger Alshon Jeffery. He just plays bigger than the defender. He also has game-breaking speed (4.4 40-time).

Doubs takes long strides when he runs and has soft hands. He brings size (6-foot-2), production (back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Nevada to end his collegiate career), and also punt return ability.

If Green Bay elects to not go after a free agent, Toure would appear to have the inside track at that final spot.

He was an All-American at Montana before transferring to Nebraska in 2021 and averaging 17.8 yards per reception. He is a big-play receiver.

All three rookies the Packers drafted are 6-foot-2 or taller. Lazard was the only receiver above six feet on the roster after the Davante Adams trade.

Taylor and Winfree have a shot to make the roster too, of course. Taylor brings special teams value, while Winfree has the talent to win one-on-one with a lot of cornerbacks.

The way the Packers become better now than when they were with Davante Adams is by using a receiver-by-committee mentality.

The reason they were stopped in the postseason was because the defenses of Tampa and San Francisco knew the ball was going to Adams. They were too one-dimensional. Now, they have a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things, which is fantastic.

But if Matt LaFleur is even the slightest bit nervous about rookies and unproven players stepping in to fill the void left by a franchise legend in Adams, there are some veteran receivers available that can help round the receiving corps into form.

What about Julio Jones?

He is past his prime and spent his lone season in Tennessee fighting off the injury bug. But he is healthy now and looking for a Super Bowl ring to cap off one of the best careers of this era for a receiver.

Jones and LaFleur have history together seeing as LaFleur was the QBs coach in Atlanta from 2015-16. Jones, coincidentally, was a first-team All-Pro selection both of those years (only two of his career).

Aaron Rodgers and Julio Jones already have great respect for one another, and they would both grow to have a quick connection.

Another veteran option could be Jarvis Landry.

Landry, a five-time Pro-Bowler, has the NFL record for most catches in a player’s first six seasons to start a career (584). The former LSU Tiger has played for two not-terribly-successful franchises in the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.

He deserves to catch passes from arguably the greatest QB of all time.

His leadership and winning mentality have been a strong part of his game ever since he stepped foot into the NFL. The Packers would love more of that up in their neck of woods.

One final free agent option Green Bay could consider is Odell Beckham Jr.

The now-Super Bowl champion chose the Rams over the Packers late last season after he was released by Cleveland.

The three-time Pro-Bowler is still one of the most talented receivers in the game. But due to an ACL tear he suffered in the Super Bowl, he won’t be ready until mid-season most likely.

He could get healthy and join the Packers as they prepare for a possible Super Bowl run.

According to Over The Cap, the Packers still have over $10 million in cap space. If they wanted to make a short-term move at receiver to make that group an elite unit, they definitely could.

Regardless of what they do, they are in a much better spot than they were right after they lost Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown.

The Packers have more youth, size, speed, and an extra $10 million or so in cap space. They are in great shape.