The Green Bay Packers may be mentally prepared to hand the keys to a new starting in quarterback, but the roster isn’t ready yet.
The Packers have a good offensive line and a dynamic running back duo, something that certainly helps Jordan Love. But the offense doesn’t have a ton of passing-game options for the first-year starter.
Right now, Romeo Doubs, last year’s fourth-round pick, is the most experienced wide receiver on the roster in terms of snaps. He and fellow sophomore Christian Watson showed a lot to be excited about, and they’ll be relied on to take big steps forward in Year 2. But Watson and Doubs don’t have much experience yet. The tight end room is equally empty in terms of proven pass-catching experience. Green Bay certainly needs to add talent to make Love’s life easier.
The Packers will certainly pick up a veteran wide receiver at some point, but they’ll look to add pass-catchers throughout the draft. Unfortunately, this class isn’t as deep as the ones of the past few years. And many of the top receivers are tiny. (By NFL standards. They aren’t, like, halflings or something.)
Green Bay is traditionally strict with its size requirements for the position. Since the Ted Thompson era began, the Packers have only taken “smaller” wide receivers — Randall Cobb in 2011 and Amari Rodgers in 2021. Cobb played a valuable role in his years with Green Bay, but Rodgers’ career in Wisconsin was short and often painful to watch.
Still, if Brian Gutekunst is serious about getting Love some help, he may need to relax those traditional thresholds (generally above 6’0″, 200 lbs.). Will the Packers break from their MO and take a more diminutive wide receiver?
Being a small receiver often means being viewed purely as a slot receiver in the NFL. And those are valuable in the NFL but aren’t a requirement for the LaFleur offense.
The Packers generally haven’t prioritized pure slot receivers, preferring to move their bigger guys around to exploit matchups when it fits. LaFleur’s illusion of complexity means he likes receivers who can do a bit of everything, which includes a lot of blocking. Smaller receivers obviously struggle more to block bigger defensive players. But that doesn’t mean they couldn’t change things.
The offense under Jordan Love will look a lot different than it did under Aaron Rodgers, so giving him a diverse toolbox is wise.
Consider a player like Boston College WR Zay Flowers, a prospect with lots of first-round hype. Flowers is small and light at 5’9 1/4” and 182 lbs., definitely not Green Bay’s usually type. And yet he’d bring an element the Packers’ offense currently doesn’t have. Flowers is a twitched-up athlete who spent plenty of time on the perimeter in college and made a name for himself thanks to his separation abilities. His speed, well-developed route tree, and separation would add an exciting element to the offense.
While the Packers almost definitely won’t take a smaller prospect in the first round, there are plenty of other receivers with a similar model to Flowers. A smaller receiver would allow LaFleur to get more creative with gadget plays, something that was lacking the past few seasons. While smaller receivers are more prone to injury, LaFleur can scheme to get that player the ball in space, letting them use their abilities to gain yards without being hit hard.
A smaller receiver could also double as a dynamic return threat. Keisean Nixon proved himself to be the best returner in football last season, but he’s only on a one-year deal in Green Bay. He could very well be gone next season, leaving the role open for a new player.
There’s a chance the Packers may not need to go this route. There are a handful of bigger lads that fit the mold of a typical Green Bay receiver, though the only one I’d take in the first round is Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and it might take a trade up to get him. Mississippi’s Jonathan Mingo looks like a picturesque Packer and compares favorably to Allen Lazard as a dynamic blocking receiver. He could be an exciting option in the middle rounds. But the vast majority of this class is on the smaller side, and Green Bay may need to embrace a new mold of receiver if the board falls that way.
It’s a new era for Packers football, with quarterback uncertainty for the first time since before Brett Favre wore green and gold. Their athletic thresholds have mostly served them well in the past, but the league is always evolving. Green Bay can’t be afraid to try something new, especially when it comes to giving Love weapons.
This is a deep tight end class, so the Packers can get their big targets there. But if the right player is available that can boost this offense, Green Bay can’t be afraid to go against their usual type and take a smaller wide receiver.
