The Green Bay Packers have five players who seem to be locks to make the roster at wide receiver once the season starts. Of course, that is if they stay healthy and no trades are made. They are Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. Christian Watson will start the season on the PUP list. That leaves the rest of the receivers in training camp fighting for what is likely one more roster spot on the initial 53-man roster. The favorites to claim that spot are veterans Malik Heath and Mecole Hardman.
Both players have different skills that they bring to the table and that give them a chance to win the job. But which player will GM Brian Gutekunst, and head coach Matt LaFleur ultimately choose? It is also possible the team goes in a completely different direction and neither makes the team. Another possibility is that both players make the team due to injuries or strong performances by both.
Heath has been with the Packers for the last two seasons after making the team as an undrafted free agent. He caught 25 passes combined over those two years for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He knows the system, is familiar with Jordan Love, and also contributes on special teams.
Perhaps the biggest advantage Heath has is his blocking ability. At 6’2” and 213 pounds, he has good size for a receiver. He can block on running plays and on passes when he isn’t getting the ball himself. The Packers run wide receiver screens and checkdown passes and Heath’s blocking ability helps make those plays successful. LaFleur values blocking by his receivers and Heath is one of the best on the team when it comes to blocking.
Hardman brings a very different skill set. He has more experience than Heath. The former Georgia star has played six seasons in the NFL. He has also been a part of three Super Bowl winning teams in Kansas City. In fact, Hardman has come through in the clutch for the Chiefs. He caught the winning touchdown in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.
Hardman has also been productive at times as a receiver for the Chiefs. He caught 59 passes for 693 yards back in 2021. In recent years, his role in the offense has been reduced. He caught just 12 passes last season on 14 targets while playing just 14 percent of the Chiefs offensive snaps.
Hardman is smaller than Heath and is not as good a blocker. But where Hardman may have a big advantage is his ability to return kicks and punts. He went to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist during his rookie year in 2019. Twice he’s averaged more than 10 yards per punt return in a season and twice he’s averaged more than 26 yards per kick return.
Last year, the Packers had Reed returning punts, but he was average at best at the job. In addition, the Packers want Reed to continue to play a major role in the offense as a receiver. He’s led the team in catches in each of the last two seasons. Having him risk injury by returning punts doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially if he isn’t producing results.
The primary kick returner has been Keisean Nixon. After the playoff loss to Philadelphia in January, Nixon indicated he didn’t want to return kicks anymore and wanted to concentrate on being the team’s top cornerback. He retracted that statement at OTAs, but do the Packers want to save Nixon for key situations and have another kick returner to keep Nixon from risking injuries? With Nate Hobbs already injured and the team’s lack of depth at cornerback, keeping Nixon healthy will be critical. Hardman can return kicks and help in this area.
So, do the Packers go with the bigger body who can block and has more experience in the offense, or the smaller newcomer who can help as a return specialist?
This will be a battle throughout the rest of training camp and throughout the preseason. How both players perform against the Jets and beyond will have a big impact on the outcome of this battle for the final roster spot at receiver.