The Green Bay Packers have the worst receiver corps in the NFL after trading away Davante Adams. The Packers have three options for filling out their receiver room – trade, draft, or free agency. If Green Bay opts to sign someone in free agency, they have to be careful not to overpay for someone who isn’t a true WR1.
Jarvis Landry is reportedly asking for $20 million a year, and nobody’s biting with that price tag. The wide-receiver market completely changed when the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Christian Kirk to a four-year, $72 million contract. The contract itself isn’t necessarily outlandish. But if you expect to be paid like the best wide receivers in the league, you’d better play like them. Amari Cooper, Chris Godwin, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and D.J. Moore are $20 million receivers. Michael Thomas makes $19 million. Kirk signed for $18 million a year. The Packers shouldn’t give Landry the same money as these players after how he performed last season.
With a huge signing like Landry, they wouldn’t be able to add any other significant wide receivers in free agency. Signing Landry would also mean they wouldn’t be able to add any impact receivers through trade. They wouldn’t be able to fit Tyler Lockett, Brandin Cooks, or Michael Thomas under the cap.
Landry, 29, only played 12 games last season. He finished with 570 yards, 52 catches, and two touchdowns as the Cleveland Browns’ WR1.
As he closes in on 30, Landry is at the tail end of his prime and will likely see his play continue to decline. If this past season’s injury is any indication of what is to come, that decline could already be starting. You rarely see a productive wide receiver well in their mid-30s, minus Hall of Famers like Larry Fitzgerald and Jerry Rice.
Injuries tend to linger as players enter their 30s, especially receivers who have a spotty medical record. Last year Landry had some knee issues with his MCL after a twisted-leg tackle against the Houston Texans.
Landry isn’t the answer if the Packers are looking for a long-term WR1 solution. An older receiver on his last legs trying to be the primary target on a team without a deep threat isn’t a winning formula. Aaron Rodgers would be going from Davante Adams and a slew of reliable pass-catchers to Landry and a depleted receiving corps. It’s not a great way to keep the mercurial quarterback happy.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the Packers without a deep threat. Although Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, and Allen Lazard are all decent receivers, none of them can stretch the field. They all play in the slot or are short- to medium-range targets.
Landry is the exact same kind of receiver.
In his career, most of his yardage is off quick catches and yards after the catch. That includes two seasons with over 100 catches, only one of which is a 1,000-yard season. He doesn’t bring anything different to a wide receiver room that needs a dynamic leader.
The Packers should not sign Landry. He’s 29, has had injuries, and isn’t a deep threat. Green Bay is up against the cap and needs to spend their money wisely. They would be making a mistake by signing Landry.
