Wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant would have made this team even if Savion Williams hadn't landed on injured reserve to begin the year. The undrafted rookie gave the Green Bay Packers no choice with a strong summer capped off by a six-catch, 112-yard outing in the preseason finale. Whether the Packers carried six receivers or seven, Sturdivant's ticket was punched.
Of course, it's fair to call him the last one in. Bo Melton and Skyy Moore are veterans who play important roles on special teams. Their roster spots were in little, if any doubt.
But at 6-foot-3 with a 4.40-second 40-time, Sturdivant can be more than just the sixth name in the receiver room. Aside from Christian Watson, he is the only Packers wideout at or above six feet.
Add that to his field-stretching speed and Sturdivant's physical traits give him an advantage that should earn him more playing time than you might expect for an undrafted rookie and seeming No. 6 receiver.
Packers receiver room has a clear place for Sturdivant's skill set
For the first time in a while, Green Bay has a clear-cut hierarchy in the receiver room. Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden represent the top three, in that order. No one further down on the roster is going to break into that group, barring injury.
After that, though, the rotation is wide open. Neither Melton nor Moore is likely to provide more than window dressing as a pass-catcher. They have 17 receptions combined since 2024.
That paves the way for Sturdivant to exceed expectations early on. To be clear, he won't be a primary target, but aside from Watson, he could be the best contested-catch weapon Jordan Love has at his disposal.
The reason is fairly simple. Everyone else in that room is 5-foot-11 or below. Golden can certainly go up and get it, but he is most dangerous for his ability to get behind the defense using his speed. Reed operates mainly in the middle of the field, working out of the slot.
Even when the 6-foot-4 Williams returns, Sturdivant has the edge in vertical speed; the Packers have thus far used Williams as a gadget receiver. In the meantime, Sturdivant should get regular targets downfield and near the sidelines. He can be a dangerous tool in Matt LaFleur's toolbox on wheel routes and comebacks.
Is that getting a little carried away? Well, maybe. Sturdivant is, after all, a rookie, and it's not like he was tearing it up in college.
But with a receiver room that will elevate his abilities, with Love in the pocket and LaFleur calling plays, the Packers have an obvious opportunity to capitalize on Sturdivant's skill set.
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