The Packers have passed on every receiver this offseason whether it be via free agency or the draft. In fact, they actually lost one in slot man Randall Cobb who signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Green Bay did resign Geronimo Allison and are planning on one of last year’s rookies to emerge into a legitimate threat in their new offense.
When the Packers were on the clock at 44 they had their choosing: AJ Brown, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Parris Campbell, and even DK Metcalf were still on the board. When Brian Gutekunst traded up for the 21st pick, you were probably hoping it was for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Instead, he addressed a huge need by adding safety Darnell Savage.
The coaches know best, though. After all, they’re the ones who have been watching the likes of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, and J’Mon Moore to think someone might make a second-year jump.
Allison was coming on strong last season before he landed on injured reserve with multiple injuries. Rodgers has complete trust in him and he proved he can be a solid no.2 as long as Rodgers is throwing him the ball.
Jake Kumerow will also get ample opportunity to improve himself after spending much of 2018 with an injured shoulder. Kumerow and St. Brown appear to be early favorites to step into Cobb’s former place in the slot.
Still, at the beginning of the year, it would have been shocking to know Green Bay would not add a single receiver through free agency or the draft. They did select Jace Sternberger in the third round but tight ends need time to develop.
Matt LaFleur must have complete confidence his offense will be able to scheme players open better than Mike McCarthy’s. In the past, everything relied on Rodgers’ arm and less on receivers actually creating separation.
The important question to consider is how would the offense function without Adams? Is it nearly the equivalent to losing Rodgers? For the Packers, it sure seems that way.
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Brandon Carwile was a Cheesehead at birth. His dad grew up attending games at Lambeau and passed on the legacy. He has covered the Packers for over five years and currently works with packerstalk.com. Find him on twitter at @PackerScribe.
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7 responses to “Packers Pass On Receiver”
The only WR decision I disagreed with was re-signing Allison. Everything else was perfect.
As long as the plan is to play EQ at slot or Kumerow I am happy. I have heard options of putting Davante there. I am extremely nervous having our only proven star WR with a history of concussions running the inside routes.
I was really hoping we would draft a slot WR. Disappointed a guy like Penny Hart wasn’t picked up in the 7th. I do think he could have been a valuable addition.
Penny Hart is no good. Would be no value
A.J. Brown would have been a great pick at 44 and a starter day one of the season. He had the size the speed and the strength to be a game changer. Here’s hoping Adams stays healthy and has another great year and continues to be Rodgers go to guy just like Jordy Renfrow would have been a nice pick up also. The Raiders will utilize him on third down situations.
I’m happy with the receivers they’ve got. I thought they got some great bargains last year and two at least showed promise. I expect Scantling, Kumerow and Equanimious to make huge strides after a closed season working with Rodgers. Allison is a bit slow but has reliable hands: he’d be best in the slot.
Remember how ordinary Adams looked at the beginning of his career: he couldn’t catch a cold, and yet now…
The positional picks were spot on this draft, even if the actual guys were a bit meh. But even at 12 the best defensive players were gone.
I’m okay with it. We put too much draft capital into the position last year to not give them a chance to prove themselves and see if they develop. It’s not like they were average athletes either, they scored pretty high.
I agree there was some great value late, but given the depth chart, I get why they went the direction they did. Also, let’s not forget the most important thing our WRs need, chemistry with 12, so hopefully that grows leaps and bounds this year.