Wide Receiver is one of the more uncertain position groups for the Green Bay Packers entering the 2018 season. There are a lot of promising young players behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, but several of them will need to prove themselves to develop a rapport with Aaron Rodgers and earn playing time.

 

Davante Adams

Adams was the only receiver to play well with Brett Hundley, and his ascent into superstardom is expected (and needed) this year with Aaron Rodgers. Adams health is going to be critical for the Packers offense to move back to the top of the league.

 

Randall Cobb

Cobb’s demise has been largely overstated. He’s still only 27 years old, and has the ability to beat defenders quickly off the line, and make plays with the ball in his hand. Cobb is a much better player when Green Bay moves him around to create mismatches, so other WRs will have to step up to play the outside position.

 

Geronimo Allison

Allison’s 2017 campaign was largely disappointing. As a rookie, he showed the ability to catch the ball on the outside in tight spaces Allison is the early favorite for the 3rd WR spot, but he will have to build on those skills to maintain his spot on the roster.

 

Michael Clark

Clark combines tremendous size with surprising athleticism, but he is super raw. If he can demonstrate improved route running, he has a great chance to make the roster and potentially make an impact as the 4th or 5th WR.

 

Trevor Davis

Davis has proved he can run in a straight line really fast. He combined an off-the-field incident in an airport with several special teams mistakes, and has put his roster spot in jeopardy. He is a good gunner on special teams, and has the ability to make an impact in the return game (when he makes the right decisions), but he will have to show the ability to run something other than a streak for the first time in his career.

 

J’Mon Moore

Moore has size, physicality, and route running ability. He’ll be able to make plays when he gets the ball in his hands, but rookie WRs have traditionally struggled to make any impact in the Packers’ offense. Moore will have to be buried in the playbook all offseason to learn all the positions and gain Aaron Rodgers’ trust. Moore is a good bet to win the 3rd or 4th WR spot.

 

Equanimeous St. Brown

Marquez Valdez-Scantling

St. Brown and Valdez-Scantling both have opportunities to make the roster, and either could have an impact on the field this year. They both have the ability to replace Jeff Janis as a gunner on the punt team. I like St. Brown’s physicality, mentality, and polish, but Valdez-Scantling has more experience and more explosiveness. The three rookies battling it out is the position race I’m most excited about this offseason.

 

DeAngelo Yancey

Jake Kumerow

Colby Pearson

Yancey has a chance to make a big impact in the preseason. He has great route running ability and the body type the Packers have prefered in their receivers in the past. He’ll be able to get RAC yards, and has an outside chance to make the roster (or spend another year on the Practice Squad).

Kumerow and Pearson will win some fans with their preseason performances. One of the two may stick to the Practice Squad.

 

Wide Receiver will be an exciting and often-discussed topic this offseason. Whatever decisions Green Bay makes will have a major impact on their ability to have a successful offensive season in 2018. The good news is that a significant amount of pressure will be taken off that WR position because of Jimmy Graham and the depth and Running Back.

Andrew Mertig is a a lifelong Packers fan and draft enthusiast. He has covered the NFL draft for radio and television stations in Green Bay. He is currently a host of the Pack-A-Day podcast and a writer for PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on Twitter @andrewmertig