It seems like this question is always a favorite among the fan base each training camp, so I wanted to take an early look at it as OTAs get started this week. It’s one of the most interesting roster battles, in my opinion, as the summer program gets underway.
The top of the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart is essentially locked in from spots 1 through 5 with (in no particular order) Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Romeo Doubs returning from the 2024 group. Of course, Green Bay spent a first-round pick—for the first time in 20 years—on a wide receiver and brought in Matthew Golden to join the aforementioned trio. Third-round pick and Swiss Army knife Savion Williams rounds out the fifth spot, leaving the Packers with a young and promising core.
Will they run with just those five to start, or will they carry an extra one or two, as they’ve done in recent seasons?
The rest of the wide receiver depth chart includes 2024 holdovers Bo Melton and Malik Heath. Both spent the entirety of the 2024 NFL season on the Packers’ active roster. Melton finished the season with just eight receptions on 17 targets for 91 yards after being active for all 17 games for the first time in his career. He added one reception for three yards in the playoff loss to the Eagles after being pressed into action once Reed and Doubs left with injuries. While it wasn’t the most impressive season, Melton is (probably) the best insurance option for Reed as a true slot receiver and offers value on special teams as a returner. He also had a strong stretch at the end of the 2023 season after being promoted to the active roster, though that feels like forever ago now.
Heath is a favorite of head coach Matt LaFleur, who loves physical receivers that play aggressively and block with intensity. LaFleur has consistently praised Heath’s physicality, particularly his ability to win at the point of attack as both a route runner and blocker. Heath finished 2024 with 10 receptions on 13 targets for 97 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. He was targeted four times in the playoff loss but didn’t record a catch. Notably, Heath was a healthy scratch four times last season, with the team often opting to keep Melton active instead. Heath also contributes on special teams as a blocker on punt coverage. If he’s going to make the team again in 2025 and contribute throughout the season, his role will likely mirror what it was in 2024.
Free-agent acquisition Mecole Hardman is arguably the most intriguing name in this conversation. The 27-year-old former Chief—and short-time Jet—has made his name as a return specialist, both on kickoffs and punts. That likely appealed most to Green Bay when they signed him this past March. With Keisean Nixon stating he isn’t interested in returning kicks anymore, and Jayden Reed’s offensive role too important to risk on returns, Hardman could step in as the starter in both roles. His 1,892 career return yards and two touchdowns would make him the best return option on the current roster outside of Nixon.
The issue for Hardman is his fit within the offense. He’s primarily been used as a deep threat in his career—exactly the role the Packers drafted Matthew Golden to fill with his 4.29 speed. Also, Christian Watson is expected to return in the second half of the season, and the team likely doesn’t need three deep threats. A more diverse skill set may be a better use of a roster spot. While Hardman does have 178 career receptions, 2,302 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns, he’s now four years removed from his best season. In 2021, he posted 59 receptions for 693 yards with the Chiefs. Over the next three seasons combined, he totaled just 52 receptions for 511 yards—despite having Patrick Mahomes throwing to him in an offense often desperate for a receiver not named Travis Kelce to step up.
Other receivers currently on the team include Cornelius Johnson, Julian Hicks, and Jadon Janke. Hicks spent all of last season on the Packers’ practice squad and re-signed on a reserve/future deal to take another shot at the roster in 2025. Johnson, originally drafted by the Chargers, joined Green Bay via the practice squad last September. Janke signed with the team a few weeks ago after spending last year on the Texans and Dolphins practice squads. None of the three stand a real chance of breaking camp with the Packers and are likely competing for a single practice squad spot. The best guess is whoever performs best on special teams will get the nod.
This brings us back to Melton vs. Heath vs. Hardman. My end-of-May prediction, as things stand, is that Hardman makes the team out of training camp as the return specialist and occasional deep threat, with the added wrinkle of occasionally lining up in the backfield—a fun gadget for Matt LaFleur to play with. At 27, Hardman is still young enough that if he has a solid season and builds chemistry with Jordan Love, he could be back next year—especially with the possibility of losing Doubs, Watson, or both in 2026.
At that point, Brian Gutekunst may release both Melton and Heath, hoping they clear waivers, then decide who to bring back on the practice squad. For a change of pace, I’d guess Heath gets that spot, but it will come down to training camp and preseason performance.
That would leave the answer to the original question: Green Bay rosters six wide receivers to start the 2025 season—Reed, Wicks, Doubs, Golden, Williams, and Hardman.
At least to start. Once Christian Watson returns, another decision will have to be made—but that’s a conversation for another day.