Heading into the 2023 season there were a lot of question about the Packers Wide Receivers.
At this point last year, we knew there were possibly going to be big changes.
Big changes in 2023
About a month later, the Packers knew they were going to be starting a new Quarterback.
With Aaron Rodgers leaving for the New York Jets, the Packers number one receiver from the year before Allen Lazard left along with him.
Along with Lazard, the Packers chose not to resign veteran Wide Receiver Randall Cobb.
That left the Packers Wide Receivers room with a young group of players.
Taking a risk
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst took a big risk and stuck to his plan.
When the Free Agent signing period opened up, he decided to not sign a veteran Wide Receiver.
Learning from the year before where he signed Sammy Watkins to a one year deal.
This move though disappointed the fans though as they were hoping to get some help with the position.
Instead he waited until the draft to address the issue and drafted Jayden Reed in the second round.
Gutekunst also signed rookie free agents like Malik Heath after the draft.
Growing Pains
It was a rough start for the Packers Wide Receivers from the start of the season.
The Packers top Reciever Christian Watson was out for multiple games due to a hamstring injury.
That left the Packers playing with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks as their top 3 Wide Receivers.
While it took time for them to gain a connection with Jordan Love, that was all they needed.
While Doubs was excelling at being Love’s go to guy, Wicks and Reed continued to learn and develop.
Heath stepped into the role of being the 4th Wide Receiver earlier in the season, while Watson was recovering from injury.
Later in the season Bo Melton stepped up giving the Packers a Wide Receiver room that can be trusted.
Spreading the Love
Through out all the 2023 offseason, there was alway the question of whose going to be the number one receiver.
By default, the answer would be Christian Watson because of his big play ability.
But with Watson out with an injury most of the season, it forced Love to spread the ball around more.
One stat that is surprising throughout the 2023 season was that the Packers had a different leading receiver in yardage for each month of the season.
In reality, it didn’t matter who was the number one receiver.
That put an expectation on the receivers.
No matter who you are, or what year you are in, if you are on the field as a receiver be ready.
No one expected Malik Heath or Bo Melton to make as much impact as both did this season.
But when they were on the field Love was giving them chances to make plays.
Conclusion
The Packers Wide Receivers have come a long way since last off-season.
Before the season started we wondered, who was going to be our go to guy?
Who was going to be our number one receiver?
When all along Brian Gutekunst knew, that his quarterback would give these young receiver the chances they needed to develop.
The future is bring for this group of Packers Wide Receivers.
Now to only question we have is, whose going to score the most touchdowns in the group next year.
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Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.
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