Packers better not think about signing this veteran receiver

The Green Bay Packers decided to get younger at wide receiver this offseason. They parted ways with their most experienced receivers, Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard, in free agency, replacing them with rookies in the draft.

Jeff Cotton is the only Packers wide receiver over 25 years old. He is 26, but has never caught a pass in the NFL.

Green Bay has one of the least experienced receiving corps in the NFL, especially if we include tight ends, a position where the Packers could have two rookie starters.

It could make sense, then, to sign a veteran this summer, right?

Not necessarily. Any incoming veteran receiver will take snaps away from the Packers' young players.

Packers shouldn't sign free-agent wide receiver Jarvis Landry

ESPN's Field Yates suggested a move each team in the league should make this summer. For the Packers, the move was to sign free-agent receiver Jarvis Landry.

Yates wrote: "I understand that very few veteran pass-catchers available right now have a chance to be a major impact player on the field, but I do think there is a spot for a player who brings leadership qualities to make his mark."

He added that Landry "would bring instant lessons in preparation that would pay off."

Yates makes some fair points. Even if Landry didn't contribute much this season, his experience and leadership could help a young receiver room. Players like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs would have someone to look up to and learn from.

Davante Adams began his Packers career as the No. 3 receiver, learning from Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. In 2015, James Jones provided that leadership after Nelson suffered a season-ending injury.

By the time Adams became the No. 1 receiver, he could pass down the same knowledge to the younger players.

However, Nelson, Cobb, and Jones weren't on the team to mentor Adams. They were all significant contributors.

It's tough to justify signing Landry, who would take valuable snaps away from talented young players like rookie Jayden Reed. Landry played in nine games last season, making just 25 catches for 272 yards and one touchdown.

Watson and Doubs are inexperienced, but they did get to learn from Cobb and Lazard for a season. If the Packers felt it was important to keep a veteran, re-signing one of them would've made more sense than signing Landry.

Green Bay signed Sammy Watkins a year ago. Watkins took snaps away from the Packers' rookies and was released before the end of the regular season.

The Packers shouldn't sign Landry.

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