It's no secret that the Green Bay Packers haven't had a truly elite wide receiver since Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders following the 2021 campaign.
In fact, in the three seasons since Adams was dealt, not only have the Packers not had a wideout—or a tight end, for that matter—reach the 1,000-yard mark, they've only had one player even reach 800 yards.
In 2022, which was Aaron Rodgers' final year with the franchise, Green Bay's leading receiver was Allen Lazard, who caught 60 passes for 788 yards. In 2023, with Jordan Love under center, Jayden Reed led the way with 793 yards on 64 receptions.
And this past season, Reed again took the top spot with 55 catches for 857 yards, marking the team's highest total since Adams went for a career-high 1,553 yards in his final season in Green Bay.
Tucker Kraft is developing into a solid tight end, going for 707 yards this past season, and Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson have been decent enough options for the last three years. But again, these aren't guys who can be considered elite.
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And with Watson set to miss the start of the 2025 season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 18, the Packers' receiving room looks a lot weaker. Add in the fact that Doubs suffered two concussions over the last couple of months of last season, things look even worse.
As such, many Packers fans are hoping the franchise will buck tradition and select a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft for the first time since 2002. But ESPN's Mina Kimes doesn't think that's going to happen.
Mina Kimes says she'd be surprised if the Packers took a WR in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft
Over the last several months, several mock drafts have Green Bay taking a wideout at No. 23 overall, one of those being Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest edition.
If Kiper's prediction comes to fruition, the Packers would take Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka.
Other options have been floated, including Missouri's Luther Burden III, and during a recent episode of NFL Live, Bill Barnwell suggested that Texas wideout Matthew Golden could be an even better option.
During that same episode, however, Kimes went and burst the bubble, saying she'd be "surprised" if Green Bay went with a wideout at No. 23, noting the team has other needs that may take priority.
"Unless Golden was there or, God willing, Tet McMillan, then I would run in the pick," Kimes said. "But if that doesn't happen, I would be surprised if they took a receiver. I really like Egbuka, who Mel Kiper assigned to them. I just think he's a little bit too similar to receivers already on their roster."
"Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed give you that slot production, jetsweeps, work out of the backfield even. They need what Bill described, which is speed on the outside, and I'm not sure that will be available for them there."
"They also have other needs," she continued. "Corner. Edge. And, of course, as you just discussed, a history of not drafting receivers in the first round. So, I would actually be kind of surprised if they changed up their tendencies this year, just based on the actual receivers in the draft."
Some Cheeseheads may not want to hear it, but Kimes isn't wrong here.
While the Packers signed cornerback Nate Hobbs, he doesn't fill the full gap at the position if Jaire Alexander is released, traded, or gets injured again if he does end up being retained. And Green Bay has done nothing thus far to improve its pass rush.
On the other hand, though, they haven't done anything to improve the receiver room either. With all due respect to Mecole Hardman, he wasn't brought in to become the team's new WR1.
So, general manager Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur have an important decision to make in the next month. And with the draft taking place in Green Bay for the first time ever, Packers fans will undoubtedly let them know if they agree with their selection.