The Packers are oozing with talent right now.
All of their returning starters at wide receiver are on their rookie deals. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and even Dontayvion Wicks.
The Packers then went out and shocked the world by drafting a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002 this past spring. Matthew Golden will be competing for starting snaps this year, which will make that entire room so much better.
The wide receiver battle will be one of the most anticipated tests when training camp begins July 23.
“Green Bay’s wide receiver group might be the deepest young corps in the league,” said ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick. “No divas. All producers.”
And that’s the ironic part about the Packers wideouts. When you think about top wide receivers, the first thing you think of is flash or a me-first mentality. And that is certainly not the case with this group. The Packers lined Reed all over the field and he was just happy to contribute. Watson, despite being plagued by injuries, has continued to work and never used that as an excuse. Doubs is arguably the best route runner of the bunch with staccato movements that are nearly unguardable for an opposing defensive back. Then there’s Wicks, one of the most pure athletes in the wide receiver room.
The X-factor will be guys like Malik Heath, Savion Williams and Mecole Hardman. I’m not sure what role these guys will have because reps for this group will be inconsistent at best.
But even when Reed puts up 150 yards of all-purpose yards one week, followed by 40 the next week, these guys really have a Three Musketeers attitude, which is actually pretty refreshing.
“My goal going into this year is to be a winner,” said Doubs after OTAs this past June. “Obviously, to be a player within this offense and, ultimately, to help out two receivers that are here learning the system.”
Usually a coach has to massage egos, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with a position group that is synonymous with ego. When I think of NFL receivers, I think of Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase peacocking all over the field. There was also Randy Moss and Terrell Moss that did just about everything on the field — including the infamous fake-mooning by Moss at Lambeau Field.
But thankfully the Packers don’t have any of that. There are plenty of things that teams need to worry about and mull over.
The wide receiver room is not one of them.