In 2014, the Green Bay Packers were in the conversation for having one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb both put up numbers that were good enough to land both of them in the top ten in almost every category.
While the Packers had one of the top duos last year, the expected emergence of Davante Adams could give Green Bay the best trio of wide receivers in football.
So far this offseason, Adams has received nothing but praise. Head coach Mike McCarthy stated that Adams was the MVP of OTAs, and that he had definitely appeared to have taken a major jump heading into his second year. Aaron Rodgers said that Adams is going to become a star.
All-in-all, the expectations are high for Adams in his second season. If he can live up to those expectations, the Packers would have the most dangerous group of wide receivers in the league.
Nelson took a huge step forward in 2014. After being underrated despite having stellar seasons in 2011 and 2013, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season and put himself into the conversation of a top five wide receiver. Nelson set career highs with 1,519 receiving yards and 98 receptions, and his 13 touchdowns were second to the 15 he had in 2011.
Those totals all ranked near the top of the league as well. Nelson had the second most touchdowns, fourth most yards, and seventh most receptions. Being the number one receiver for Aaron Rodgers helps, but Nelson’s totals from 2013, when Rodgers missed half the season, show that he is a legitimate top-tier receiver.
Green Bay also benefits from having another top-tier receiver in Randall Cobb as their number two. Other teams tried to pry Cobb from the Packers this offseason, and Cobb could have been the number one receiver for a number of NFL teams. But even though he is not the first receiver on the Packers’ depth chart, he performed like a top-fifteen player.
Cobb also set career highs with 91 receptions, 1,287 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. He excelled as a slot receiver, and time and time again made crucial catches for the Packers. Cobb ranked ninth in the NFL in receptions, 11th in receiving yards, and fourth in touchdowns, placing him in the upper echelon of wide receivers.
Adams will remain the number three receiver throughout the 2015 season. He had an up-and-down rookie year in which he showed that he could be either a major asset (he had 100 or more yards against the Patriots and against the Cowboys in the playoffs) or completely disappear (he had eight games with either one or zero receptions).
But Adams still managed to have 446 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers once thought that the trio of Nelson, Cobb, and James Jones could each have 1000 yards in the same season. That dream did not become a reality, but the Packers may have a shot at it this year.
Both Nelson and Cobb have proven their worth, and there is no reason to expect a significant drop off in either one of their production. Adams has a ton of potential, and if he lives up to the expectations that McCarthy and Rodgers have put on him, he could easily double his statistics from last year.
The Packers have plenty of weapons all over the field, and Aaron Rodgers will have no shortage of receiving options every time he drops back to pass. If Adams emerges in his second year, Green Bay will be able to boast the most dangerous trio of receivers in the NFL.
——————Sean Blashe is a Packers fan who grew up in Bears territory and is currently a journalism and history major at Marquette University. Sean is a writer with PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @SeanBlashe .
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3 responses to “Green Bay Packers Boast NFL’s Best Wide Receiver Trio”
With Arod at the helm and the wide receiver corp in Green Bay 50 touchdown passes is very possible. Let’s have a healthy year and 50 is the magic number ending in a win in Super Bowl 50 for Titletown.
Disagree that either Nelson or Cobb took a big step last year. Their numbers were better only by virtue of playing w/ a healthy Rodgers last year. Both had other seasons nearly as good in other years, or would have were it not for injuries, either to themselves or Rodgers. The fact that they both were recognized by real Packer fans for their great play. Only the rest of the league or media didn’t recognize them.
Adams can and will take a step this year, but he’ll be hard pressed to have more than 60 rec maybe 800 yds and 6-8 TD’s. He’ll poach 10-15 rec apiece from Nelson and Cobb, but I don’t see him getting 80 rec and 1000 yds. Nelson and Cobb are too good and Lacy will get his touches which will limit how much production Adams will have.
I think Pittsburgh has a tandem of great receivers, some more talented. Nelson and Cobb are in synch with Rodgers, that makes them extra successful. Te whole thing about Davante is purely speculative, though Rodgers has spoken highly of him and Rodgers has a keen eye. Three is a better package than two and helps their running game.