Packers’ work to rebuild receiving corps is far from done
The Green Bay Packers made significant changes to their receiving corps this season.
Following the departures of Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown, the Packers drafted Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure.
Watson enjoyed a breakout second half to the 2022 season, while Doubs showed plenty of promise early in the year. Both could have big futures in Green Bay.
But with more veteran pass catchers potentially gone in the offseason, the Packers’ work in rebuilding their receiving corps is far from over.
Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, and tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis, are free agents this spring. The four combined for 153 receptions, 1,741 yards, and 11 touchdowns this season.
That’s a lot of production to replace.
More opportunities for Watson and Doubs in year two will help make up for some of that, but the Packers need to keep strengthening their receiving corps. And, of course, Green Bay could re-sign one or two of them.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III made a great point on Twitter, speaking about the strength of the skill position groups on the teams remaining in the playoffs.
The skill groups of the last 4 teams in the Playoffs are RIDICULOUS. The Eagles and 49ers have two #1 WRs and a #1 TE. The Bengals have two #1 WRs. Only the Chiefs don’t have a bonafide #1 WR and they all have a RB that CAN GO. You have to give your QB MULTIPLE REAL DUDES to win.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 24, 2023
The San Francisco 49ers have Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. That’s an incredible group.
Joe Burrow has plenty of receiving options in Cincinnati. He gets to throw to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Chase is one of the league’s best wide receivers and Higgins has put up consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
They also have a great running back in Joe Mixon.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a strong run game led by Miles Sanders, and quarterback Jalen Hurts also had 760 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season.
They also have two star wide receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, along with an excellent tight end in Dallas Goedert.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the only team remaining without a superstar wide receiver, but it sure helps when you have seven-time All-Pro and future Hall-of-Fame tight end Travis Kelce.
San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia have either two WR1s, or one star receiver with a star tight end.
The 49ers have Samuel and Kittle. The Bengals have Chase and Higgins. The Eagles have Brown and Smith.
The Packers never found a consistent WR2 to pair with Davante Adams, which made the offense too reliant on Adams in the playoffs.
They have two talented young wide receivers in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs to build around, but they need to keep adding talent.
Whether that’s through early draft picks, free agency, or a trade, the Packers need to ensure Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love has an excellent receiving corps to work with in 2023.