In 2022 we saw the Packers offense struggle to put up points. Part of it was because of their in-experience at wide receiver.
With the trade of Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Packers were left with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers as the only returning receivers last year. As it turned out by the end of the year only Lazard and Cobb were left, as Amari was released during the season.
Heading into 2023 the Packers only have three Wide Receivers returning (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure) as Lazard and Cobb are set to become free agents in 2023.
The emergence of Watson and Doubs throughout the 2022 season was great to see but without Lazard or Cobb do the Packers need to sign a veteran receiver?
There are a lot of questions that need to be answered to answer that.
One of the questions is if Christian Watson is ready to be that guy, the number one receiver, the go to guy for the Packers? Watson showed potential to be that guy late in the season scoring 7 touchdowns. But keep in mind also he struggled in the first half of the season and had some injuries that kept him out in some games.
Romeo Doubs also has potential to possibly be the number one receiver. He showed flashes of it during the first half of the season while Watson was out with an injury. Once Watson came back though, Doubs didn’t get as many looks as he did at the beginning of the season.
The other question that needs to be answered is who is going to be throwing them the football? Aaron Rodgers still has yet to make a decision on whether or not he’ll be back with the Pack in 2023. Rodgers did develop a connection with both Doubs and Watson last year. Can they build on their chemistry?
If the Packers do decide to go make a move, they could possibly get one several ways.
The first option would be to bring back Randall Cobb or Allen Lazard. The Packers would then have a veteran presence in the wide receiver room and they could keep grooming Watson.
The second option would be through free agency or trade. The Packers don’t have much cap room to bring in someone like DeAndre Hopkins or Brandon Cooks. But they could bring in someone like Jarvis Landry or Sterling Shepard. It depends on how much the Packers are willing to spend and or how they are going to make cap room.
The third and final option would be through the draft. There are a lot of options this year but keep in mind the Packers haven’t drafted a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
This is the most likely option the Packers will go with because of their past history with drafting wide receivers and developing them.
The wide receiver room has changed a lot in one year and it is headed for more changes this year but a one or two pieces could make that group better in 2023.
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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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