Brian Gutekunst said a lot about what he thinks of the Green Bay Packers’ roster during draft weekend without saying a single word.
Green Bay’s 2025 draft was peculiar for several reasons. They selected a wide receiver in the first round, breaking a 22-year streak of not drafting the position on Day 1. They also didn’t pick a defensive player until the fourth round. Green Bay’s draft class signals its trust in Jeff Hafley to develop and maximize talent on the defensive side, while the primary focus was on bolstering the offense and surrounding Jordan Love with the necessary weapons to succeed.
The Packers selected two wide receivers with two of their first three picks. Much of the attention will naturally fall on Matthew Golden as the player who broke the streak. However, Savion Williams can potentially add a dynamic element to Green Bay’s offense similar to what Deebo Samuel once brought to the San Francisco 49ers.
Last year, Williams lined up for 345 snaps as an outside receiver. He also took 38 snaps in the backfield and 46 as a quarterback in the wildcat formation. Green Bay has the flexibility to use him in many ways, and his adaptability was one of the key traits NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein highlighted in his draft profile.
Developmental wideout who offers an alluring blend of physical gifts and untapped potential. Williams is big, strong and fast but very raw as a route-runner and is unreliable with his hands. His production is uneven as a traditional wideout, but he adds a dynamic kick to the offense as a gadget runner and as a catch-and-run option underneath.
He excels on power sweeps and is willful enough for consideration on short-yardage and goal-line carries on direct snaps. The ball skills can be hit-or-miss. but there are flashes to work with on tape. The difference between “siren song” or “pot of gold” could rest in Williams’ technical development and the creativity of his play-caller.
Williams is the kind of receiver who makes the tough catches look easy and the easy ones look tough. Among 194 wideouts with at least 10 contested catches since 2017, he ranks first in career contested catch rate, pulling in 75% of his 50/50 targets. Still, despite his strong hands in traffic, he had a career-high eight drops at TCU last season.
The Packers need receivers who can consistently catch the ball, but Williams still has much to offer. They can move him around to help create space for others, opening up easier throws and lanes for his teammates. Green Bay can also use him on jet sweeps and end-arounds to stretch the field horizontally and keep defenses honest.
Last season, Williams posted a career-high in yards after the catch. While he will need to work on his hands during training camp, the best way for the Packers to maximize his touches early is to get him the ball quickly on screens and short routes. Williams brings a rare blend of size and power, and cornerbacks will find little enjoyment trying to bring him down in the cold, snowy conditions of Lambeau Field.
He shares several traits with Deebo Samuel: strength, versatility, and the ability to create after the catch. And Williams has the size advantage; while Samuel is listed at 6’0”, 215 lbs., Williams stands 6’4”, 220 lbs. Still, Matt LaFleur was careful not to compare him directly to Samuel, even though he expressed excitement about Williams’ unique ability.
“You love the versatility,” LaFleur said. “The ability to go in there and play wildcat quarterback, get in the backfield and play halfback, or jet sweeps. You just want to find different ways to get him the ball because he’s so big, he’s so powerful, so explosive, and guys just have a tendency to bounce off him. He’s just scratching the surface of the playmaker that he can become.”
Green Bay could still have a long way to go before Williams becomes a consistent contributor in the short passing game. His best value comes when the ball is in his hands with space to work, allowing him to use his size and athleticism to make defenders miss. The Packers will likely focus on getting him the ball through quick screens, jet motions, and designed touches that take advantage of his physical tools, much like the Niners did with Samuel.
With time, training, and experience in the system, Williams should grow more comfortable running a full route tree. As he continues to develop, he has the potential to become a more traditional receiver and contribute across all levels of the field.
