Wide receiver remains atop the Packers' to-do list as April approaches
Nearly two weeks into the 2022 league year, the Packers still have questions to answer about their wide receivers.
Good morning!
Since the shocking trade of Davante Adams, the Green Bay Packers' wideout depth has become an area of intense scrutiny. The subsequent departure of Marquez Valdes-Scantling only exacerbated those concerns, making the dearth of receivers the most important story surrounding the team. The Leap wrote extensively on this subject since the trade went down, including a breakdown of the risks for all parties as well as a two-part series attempting to identify which wideouts Green Bay could target in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Today, we will again dive into the Packers' receiver issues, including a look into how the front office might navigate the draft as well as the lack of action in the free-agent market.
Thank you for reading and supporting our coverage. You can also support our work by following us on Twitter:
Jason B. Hirschhorn: @by_JBH
Peter Bukowski: @Peter_Bukowski
The Leap: @TheLeapGB
Thanks for making The Leap a part of your day.
Now armed with 11 total picks in the upcoming draft, do you see a scenario where the Packers trade up in the first round?
Jason B. Hirschhorn: The idea of using both of the Packers' first-rounders in order to jump into the top 10 has already made the rounds on social media, hence the motivation for this prompt. While the team's win-now modus operandi could result in a truly out-of-character move, the prospect of trading both of those selections in order to, say, secure the No. 1 wideout on the draft board seems highly unlikely. Green Bay didn't conduct itself in that fashion under Ted Thompson and hasn't shown a willingness to do so under Brian Gutekunst, at least so far.
However, that doesn't mean one should dismiss the notion of trading up in the first round altogether. In addition to the first- and second-round picks the Packers procured in the Adams trade, they also received an extra choice in the fourth via the compensatory system. Perhaps Gutekunst doesn't feel compelled to burn significant draft capital in order to jump into the top 10, but using a Day 3 pick to slide up a few spots doesn't seem unreasonable. Green Bay has done so in the recent past, trading the 30th overall pick and a fourth-rounder in order to take Jordan Love at No. 26.
Speaking of Love, perhaps the Packers could use him as the kicker in a draft-day trade. The new extension for Aaron Rodgers effectively blocks Love from becoming the starter in Green Bay. While the front office doesn't have to trade him, a swap sending the third-year pro and a first-rounder to move up in the draft order could provide an acceptable solution to all parties.
Why haven't the Packers signed a veteran wide receiver yet?
JBH: Obviously, the Packers need reinforcements in their receiving corps, and rookies cannot address the need alone no matter how talented. Rodgers famously hasn't clicked with first-year pass catchers very often, with none producing more than 38 catches, 581 receiving yards, and three touchdowns as rookies. While playing time and opportunity contributed to those figures, it remains important for Green Bay to add a veteran starter or two in order to assist Rodgers.
Presently, the market doesn't have any overly enticing wideouts. Julio Jones has missed seven games in each of the last two years and turned 33 earlier this year. Will Fuller has age on his side but still hasn't managed to stay on the field, missing all but two games in 2021 and at least five in each of the preceding four seasons. Jarvis Landry never had much speed and only plays in certain, limited roles. Unless a quality veteran hits the trade market, the Packers have only so many viable options.
But because those veteran receivers come with concerns, they also will lose leverage as the draft nears. The Packers know this and could conceivably plan to offer one or more of them once the price comes down. They took that tactic last season, waiting until the summer to sign De'Vondre Campbell and Dennis Kelly to cheap deals. While waiting to add a free-agent wideout might exacerbate fan anxiety, doing so should provide significant savings.
Other than receiver, what area of the Packers' roster requires the most attention at this stage?
JBH: The Packers have already addressed several of their areas of concern this offseason. The signing of Campbell took care of off-ball linebacker while the new deal for Rasul Douglas provided the biggest missing piece of the secondary. The defensive front also received a boost in the form of Jarran Reed. While adding another pass rusher remains high on the team's to-do list, Reed's arrival and Preston Smith's extension allow the front office to prioritize other needs.
That leaves the offensive line as the Packers' top non-receiver need. David Bakhtiari expects a full return after essentially missing all of the 2021 season, Josh Myers and Jon Runyan Jr. look like multiyear starters, and Elgton Jenkins can slot into wherever the offense needs him once he recovers from his ACL tear. Still, that leaves the unit with some questions and depth concerns.
Royce Newman, a fourth-round pick from last year, had an up-and-down first season as a starter. While not atypical for a rookie, he'll need to take the leap in Year 2 in order to secure a starting job. And while Jenkins could move to right tackle and fill the void left by Billy Turner's release, his return date remains wholly uncertain at this time. Yosh Nijman can start in his place, but that leaves the Packers without their top swing tackle from 2021.
The Packers could take an offensive lineman early, especially given the surplus of draft capital. But even if the team opts to wait, expect a lineman or two in the middle rounds to rebuild the depth chart.
Parting shots
JBH: Packers' second-year cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles did a really cool thing about which you might not have heard:
A lot of NFL players perform acts of service, and many of them receive little to no attention for their work. Jean-Charles raised thousands of dollars earlier this year during the peak winter months, a difficult time for countless people in Wisconsin and across the country. While he presumably didn't perform that work to applause, he deserves them.
Thanks for pointing out Shemar Jean-Charles' work of public service. Oftentimes, these happen due to something in their own back-story that causes them to reach out and help. Regardless of the motivation, it's a wonderful thing to do.