When the Green Bay Packers were on the clock with pick 44, the early run on wide receivers had just begun. Ole Miss receivers A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, whom many considered the best in the class, were available and ripe for the picking. With Randall Cobb going to the Cowboys, a slot man appeared to be a logical choice for the Green and Gold. Instead, the Packers selected offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins and disregarded the wide receiver position completely.
Despite losing Cobb in free agency, the Packers are evidently comfortable with the receivers group in house. Despite the lack of experience beyond star Davante Adams, the rest of the group is filled to the brim with potential. Gutekunst spent three picks on the position in 2018 and will give these young men the chance to prove themselves.
Alvis Whitted’s group will be one of the most enthralling position battles to follow come training camp (July 25th). What can we expect from this group, and who will make the roster on Green Bay’s Top Receiver competition?
WR 1 aka Davante Adams tier:
Davante Adams is the star skill player of this offense. No player on the Packers offense has been as consistent as the man out of Fresno State the last two seasons. Adams is finally getting the recognition he’s rightfully earned from the national audience as a top-five wide receiver in the league. Adams has the psychic connection with Rodgers, the dexterity to catch the ball wherever it ends up, and he burns defenders like an angry Targaryen. Adams is the clear number one.
Making the roster and playing significant snaps:
Geronimo Allison: With the myriad of problems the Packers offense had in 2018, it’s easy to forget how much of an impact the loss of Allison had. Allison was on pace for a phenomenal season before injuries prematurely ended his run. Geronimo isn’t as physically gifted as the names succeeding him on this list, but he’s paid the iron price to get where he is through effort and creating that vital trust with Aaron Rodgers. It’s unlikely he isn’t WR2 to start the season.
Equanimeous St. Brown: I adamantly believe EQ was a steal in the sixth round. He’s a prime physical specimen with a jaw-dropping size/speed combination, and it’s likely he would have gone much higher in the draft had he stayed for his senior year. EQ improved every week and was crucial in the Week 16 tilt against the Jets. If his raw talent can be honed, he has the highest ceiling of the 2018 receivers and could challenge for WR2 by mid-season.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: MVS has the potential to be a true deep threat. Like the previous #83, he possesses elite speed and athleticism. Unlike the last wearer of the number, he has the technical skills and potential to be more than a one trick pony. Like all rookies, he took his lumps, and he did fade by the season’s end, but MVS can develop into an important part of this offense.
More than likely making the roster:
J’Mon Moore: The first selected of 2018’s three receivers, Moore had the roughest rookie season. Moore caught only two passes on three targets for the season and struggled with drops and seizing opportunities. However, Moore has the gifts to succeed and would hardly be the first rookie wideout to struggle in his rookie season. A new offensive system and coaching staff could be the perfect new start for the promising talent.
Trevor Davis: Despite having breakneck speed, Davis has yet to develop into a quality wide receiver. Yet when out with injury, Packers fans saw how special teams fared without him as a returner. Punt and kick returns have been a bane for Green Bay, and currently, no one else seems up to the task. Special teams is Davis’s path to the roster until proven otherwise.
Fringe:
Jake Kumerow: Whitewater Jesus is the latest folk hero on the Packers roster. With luscious locks, a delightful preseason, and support from his quarterback, it’s easy to see why Kumerow is so popular. But he’s 27 and has yet to truly break into the NFL. Green Bay’s other receivers are younger and posses higher upside. Should the Packers keep seven wide receivers, Kumerow is the likely option, but his roster spot is far from guaranteed.
Jawill Davis: The Packers claimed the former Giant after the draft, for whom he was utilized as a return specialist. The former UDFA had 89 punt return yards and 171 kick return yards. He was likely brought in to compete with Trevor Davis as the primary return specialist, and that seems like his most likely path to the roster.
Allen Lazard: Lazard was signed in late 2018 when injuries decimated the Packers receiver group. Lazard hauled in a seven-yard catch against the Lions in the season finale. Lazard is still a relative unknown at this point, but the former first-team All-Big 12 player should fight for one of the last roster spots.
Other:
Teo Redding, Darrius Shepherd.
18 responses to “Analyzing the Packer’s Wide Receiver Group”
With this group, I would absolutely cut Allison. But of course, Green Bay is too stupid to do that.
this is exactly why no one in the NFL would hire you.
But you, of course, have teams lined up with offers…
Don’t even bother writing braindead posts like that. Just don’t.
NO but I’m not the idiot who said the Packers would release Allison. You have that honor. It’s OK to be a Packer hater, but stupidity is annoying.
So, your evidence that I’m a Packer hater is that I’d cut a player you would keep…
Arrogant, much?
Seriously, stop. Just stop. You’re embarrassing.
Damn you are stupid. Do you know what arrogance is? Maybe work on your grammar too.
Allison has experience with Rodgers, maybe you should read the article, he is also a very good receiver, the 3 drafts picks from last year have a chance to learn from him and Adams.
No one in their right mind would cut Allison at this time.
My grammar is fine.
You proclaimed me a Packer hater because I disagreed with you on a player. You were flat wrong making that idiotic assumption, but rather than own up to it like a grown man, you come back with more vicious insults.
What a child.
I read the article. I’ve read countless articles on the receiver position. I can easily back up my contention that Allison should be expendable–and I have, repeatedly–but I’ve already spent too much time interacting with some lunatic who can’t enunciate a single argument without rash assumptions aimed at me.
Stop posting. Just stop. You lack the requisite IQ for public interaction. Just go away.
But hey, I can tell you’re one of these screaming bloggers who needs the last word, so go ahead. No matter what you write, I’m done with you.
Bye.
You really are dumb. Your grammar sucks, if you think it’s fine than you are even dumber than I thought.
True Packer fans don’t say “But of course, Green Bay is too stupid to do that.”
This “just stop” nonsense is hysterical.
You have provided no reason for the Packers to cut Allison, I’ve explained why they would never do it. Reading comprehension is something you should work on. Has that been covered in grade school yet.
I’ve given you plenty of facts as to why you are a moron. Now it must be time for your dinner, so go see mom and don’t forget to do your homework, grade school is tough.
Damn you are stupid. Do you know what arrogance is? Maybe work on your grammar too.
Allison has experience with Rodgers, maybe you should read the article, he is also a very good receiver, the 3 drafts picks from last year have a chance to learn from him and Adams.
No one in their right mind would cut Allison at this time.
Why cut Allison Pandabucks? Allison was putting up damn nice numbers before getting injured last year, works his ass off, and he catches the ball when he gets open and most when he’s not.
I know many get hung up on his 40 time which IMO is just ridiculous. From time to time I’ll re-watch Packers games. There were games last season or the year before where Allison seems to be able to get open without any problems and catch the ball. The guy delivers every time when thrown to. I’m curios why the Geronimo hate.
There’s no Geronimo hate here. Don’t assign such emotions to me. I simply don’t feel he’s a good investment with our current group of receivers.
Allison’s biggest advantage is his familiarity with Rodgers, but the other young receivers now have another offseason working with His Holiness. If you look at the catch numbers, YPC, and catch % rates for MVS and ESB last season, they rank even or superior to guys like Davante and Geronimo and Randall Cobb as rookies. Put simply, this myth that they can’t form “chemistry” with His Holiness is ridiculous. All they need is reps–reps that are wasted by throwing away over $2 million in cap space on Geronimo.
Kumerow already has chemistry with Rodgers, and he’s a little taller and substantially faster than Allison. Moore has excellent ability, but was thinking too much in his routes last year–and that always produces drops.
Now, about your 40-time hangup. 32 teams watch timers and personally clock players at the Combine, so unless you’re saying you know more than 32 teams, the 40-time is pretty important. Don’t like that? Too bad.
When the Packers had several slow receivers/TE’s at once, it was devastating for field spacing. Defenses were defending about 10-15 yards of field, the running game was suffocated, and all that sitting on routes was forcing Aaron to buy endless time for guys to get open.
Last season, before he went down, I could already see teams adapting to Geronimo. His lack of speed allowed sitting on routes and compressing the field overall. CB’s overdid this at times, allowing some long catches but it was clear they’d adjust. He’s just very sound technically in his routes, but very slow. He’s more developed than the younger receivers, but far less talented–and they’re improving fast.
We need the field opened up, both for overall passing spacing and the running game. Ideally, I’d like to see MVS and ESB start outside, with Davante dominating the slot–then rotate guys in from there. For depth, I like Kumerow, Moore, and one other guy for returns.
J’Moore needs one more opportunity before GB cuts bait. Davis on the other hand takes up space. Lazard was a beast catching red zone TDs at ISU, hope he gets the opportunity to prove his worth. Great hands, uses his height and body well.
As Bill Cosby was accused for like the 40th time, and finally went to prison for being a Date Rape guy, I simply continued to say in the national media, over and over, like a broken record, the following: “if it quacks like a duck, sometimes it’s actually a duck”. If this dude isn’t Mr. STICKY FINGERS I’ve caught anything throw at me, including a few I shouldn’t have, Cut bait and FISH already.. Telling you, just wait…. Camp rolls around and “problems continue for Moore who keeps racking up the drops”… Telling you right now, It is what it is.. Hey Moore, don’t like reading this? AWESOME!! Go out and do something about it, otherwise get off the roster, too many guy’s we’d rather see catch the ball?? Like Kumerow who catches anything thrown at him and scores TD’s… LONG TD’s… Oh, I forgot, he’s a fringe guy according to the article, because you were drafted IN THE FORTH ROUND!!!!! Suck it up buttercup!!! Catch the football!
Neither Moore nor Davis should be on this roster. You can either play, you either have “it”, or you don’t. I would have cut Davis 2 years ago already. Moore, you can talk all you want about it, the if and buts. The bottom line is you either have great hands, or you don’t.
How about this scenario, you’re in the playoffs, down by 4, on the 8 yard line, 4th down, 15 seconds left on the game clock. Moore finds himself open, Rodgers delivers a perfect ball, and he drops it! Do you love him now? Because WR’s that drop footballs, lose football games, period!
Kumerow on the other hand, finds himself open all the flipping time, catches anything within reason, creates huge plays and TD’s, and he’s a fringe guy? Exactly why is that? Because we were stupid enough to spend a 4th round pick on Moore? Not only no, but **LL no! Of those 3 guys, the one with the real proven upside is Kumerow? How can he be a fringe guy?
I would give Moore a slight chance, but would keep Kumetow for sure, as he will surprise many!