As the Green Bay Packers and General Manager Ted Thompson often do, the team added a wide receiver during the 2016 NFL Draft over the weekend – Trevor Davis out of the University of California.

This seems like a logical move to make … take a guy whom the organization considered to be a great value pick in the fifth round, and look to bolster what was the worst passing attack in recent Packers’ memory.

But, it also creates in interesting decision to make as the Packers whittle their roster down to 53 before the start of the season.

With the addition of Davis and the return of Jordy Nelson, the current off-season roster looks like this:

  • Nelson
  • Randall Cobb
  • Jeff Janis
  • Jared Abbrederis
  • Davante Adams
  • Davis
  • Ty Montgomery
  • James Jones (UFA and will not be signed)
  • Ed Williams (FUT)
  • Jamel Johnson (FUT)

With the departure of backup quarterback Scott Tolzien, the Packers are expected to keep just Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundely. My guess: they’ll use that extra roster spot to keep a sixth wide receiver.

Here is how the wide receiver corps will likely look…

  • Nelson
  • Cobb
  • Janis
  • Adams
  • Montgomery
  • Davis

The case to keep Nelson and Cobb are more than obvious and requires no debate. It’s silly that I even brought it up just there.

With what Janis did in the latter portion of last season, his roster spot seems all but secured. The unknown with Montgomery (pending a full recovery and a strong training camp) should warrant him a roster spot. Especially considering the flashes of production he showed against Seattle and San Diego last season before injuring his ankle.

Davis was the only skill-position guy drafted this season by the Packers – that can indicate one of a few things:

  1. They like their skill players on both sides of the ball and didn’t see the need to reach and get players that weren’t “the best available” according to their big board.
  2. They saw tremendous value with Davis in the fifth round and had no choice but to take him there.

Those two points are not mutually exclusive – it’s likely both of those things. Regardless, it means Davis will have a spot on the 53-man roster.

This leaves a battle between Adams and Abbrederis. Adams will get the roster spot, but Abbrederis (or someone else) should. Not because Abbrederis (or someone else) is exceptionally good, but because Davante Adams has been so bad.

If you reject the premise that Davante Adams does not deserve a roster spot, please reference this article I wrote a few months ago.

No matter how things shake out, the group should be MUCH improved from their 25th-ranked passing attack last season.