For the past three seasons Romeo Doubs has been Jordan Love’s favorite target in the passing game. This has been evident since his first start in 2023 when Doubs caught two of Love’s three touchdown passes. In Love’s four playoff starts, Doubs has been the team’s leading receiver in three of the four games.
Year Opponent Rec Yards TD
2023 Dallas 6 151 1
2023 San Francisco 4 83 0
2024 Philadelphia 2 13 0
2025 Chicago 8 124 1
However, in 2026 it is highly likely that Doubs will not be back in Green Bay, as he is an impending free agent. With the emergence in 2025 of Christian Watson as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, the flashes of big plays from both of the third-year receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks and the 2025 draft picks Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, there isn’t much room in the crowded receiver room.
This scenario does feel similar to when James Jones was a free agent in 2011 and the Packers had just drafted Randall Cobb, which meant Jones would be long gone in free agency. In 2011 there was the player lockout, which meant the NFL Draft was before free agency, which resulted in Jones signing a team-friendly deal after he did not get a big offer from another team. Jones did make the Packers geniuses in keeping him after he led the NFL in touchdown catches in 2012.
But in 2026, the NFL is not coming off a lockout and the salary cap is exploding which means it is more likely Doubs gets a yearly salary that is more than what Watson signed his extension for last September.
When Brian Gutekunst drafted Golden in the first round last April he planned ahead for when Watson, Doubs, Reed and Wicks would all be off their rookie deals by the 2027 offseason. Gutekunst could try to package Reed or Wicks in a trade and prioritizing keeping his quarterback’s favorite target, and also ensuring Golden sees the field much more often than he did last season.
Moving on with Golden in the top 3 wide receivers with Watson and Reed and letting Doubs leave in free agency seems like much more of a “Packer Way” of handling the wide receiver position this offseason.
Golden had 29 catches for 361 yards last season, which is disappointing for a rookie first round pick, but in Green Bay that is part of the development that comes with being a rookie wide receiver.
Golden’s first year stacks comparably with the second round wide receivers that were all drafted by Ted Thompson. From 2006 to 2014, Thompson drafted Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Cobb and Davante Adams in round 2. Gutekunst drafted two wide receivers in Round 2: Watson and Reed.
Packers 1st & 2nd Round WRs since 2006 - Rookie Seasons
Year Player Rec Yards TDs
2006 Greg Jennings 45 632 3
2008 Jordy Nelson 33 366 2
2011 Randall Cobb 25 375 1
2014 Davante Adams 38 446 3
2022 Christian Watson 41 611 7
2023 Jayden Reed 64 793 8
2025 Matthew Golden 29 361 0
Golden had just one touchdown catch last season, which came in the playoff loss to the Bears. Adams had a similar rookie season and it included a breakout in the playoff win over the Cowboys where he had 6 catches for 117 yards and a 46-uard touchdown.
The Packers had planned on Adams taking a second-year jump but an early-season ankle injury delayed Adams’ breakout until 2016.
As for 2026, the second-year jump from Golden to go along with the hope for good health from Reed, Watson and Wicks, should give the Packers a dynamic group at receiver and to be able withstand the loss of its leader in yards and catches in the last four seasons.