About a year ago today marked the beginning of an onslaught of reports that hailed fourth-round rookie Romeo Doubs as a potential X-factor in the wake of Davante Adams’ departure. Every day it was a new contested catch, one-on-one victory, or quote from Aaron Rodgers that kept his hype train going all through training camp and into the season. A receiver out of Nevada, Doubs fell to Day 3 due to his unspectacular measurables. However, he was spectacular in college, stringing together back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard and touchdown-per-game seasons in that span. At 6’2” with a 4.47 40 time, his name was called well behind freak-of-nature Christian Watson (6’5”, 4.36), whom Green Bay selected two rounds earlier.
Disappointingly, yet somewhat predictably, Doubs failed to emerge as the reliable target and fantasy football menace that some had hoped. Rodgers’ surgical approach to running an offense, from hard counts to telepathic audibles, proved difficult for the rookies to keep up with. This was one of a handful of factors that led to an underwhelming season, one defined by offensive miscues. Sometimes it was drops and sometimes it was missed assignments. Regardless, Doubs failed to generate any sort of rhythm. He had flash plays, perhaps most significantly an acrobatic 19-yard touchdown reception in Buffalo. However, his rookie season could fairly be categorized as a mess, and it culminated in a zero-catch showing in the do-or-die Week 18 matchup at Lambeau Field.
Now things are very different in Green Bay. Gone are the title expectations, along with most of the veteran presence at offensive skill positions. Jordan Love has taken the reins. Now the focus is squarely on Watson following his cosmic breakout and April’s second-round pick Jayden Reed after Doubs vacuumed up most of the media attention this time last year. That trio, alongside the other second-round pick in Luke Musgrave, round out a pass-catching group that is composed entirely of rookies and sophomores. As exciting as Watson’s ceiling is, and as interesting as it is to discuss how Reed may fit into Matt LaFleur’s system, Doubs has once again been making the most noise in the early going.
Earlier this month, he told reporters, “I just know that coming into this year, I will have a huge role in this room.” And his role could be taking shape with the way the Packers have used him in practice.
Given Watson’s blazing speed and long build, he does most of his damage on deep shots or crossers that get him green grass ahead. At 5’11”, Reed is the obvious pick to line up in the slot, and I expect him to get a lot of his touches moving laterally and in the quick game as LaFleur seeks to give Love a plethora of easy outlets and pre-snap reads. That will set Doubs up to be the potential third-down guy. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky sees that unfolding, writing that he’s hauling in target after target, and that “when Love isn’t throwing ducks…he’s throwing to No. 87.”
Aaron Rodgers is gone, but there’s still plenty to talk about in Titletown, from the dawn of the Love era to Rashan Gary‘s return. It’s prove-it time for guys like Joe Barry, and potential break-out time for the likes of Devonte Wyatt and Quay Walker. After losing Adams and Rodgers in successive offseasons, David Bakhtiari is potentially heading into his last dance with the green and gold, and he hasn’t minced words regarding his feelings on the franchise’s direction.
All of this to say, there’s a lot going on right now. It’s why you’ll see the Packers as often as any other team on national TV this season, despite the dire expectations for the young team. Easily lost in those narratives is a 2022 fourth-round pick with loads of potential, coming off a tough rookie year, who just so happens to be gearing up to play damn near every snap this fall.
The national media is going to fixate on Love, Watson, and the Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon backfield duo. But when you’re picturing this offense methodically marching down the field (if that’s something you’re able to do at this point), and when you’re sitting down for your fantasy drafts, don’t forget about Romeo Doubs. LaFleur has had nothing but positive things to say about his potential and the types of strides he’s made in practice. But he candidly pointed out that, “now, he’s got to go out and do it in games.” He’s going to have a lot to do, and improvements in his experience and environment point towards him getting it done. There’s no telling what this season will be, but it feels fair to say that Doubs will have a heavy hand in directing it.
