Romeo Doubs is one of six Green Bay Packers starters who could hit unrestricted free agency in 2026. His contract situation is especially intriguing. While Doubs has been a reliable contributor since entering the league in 2022, he has not elevated his game to a star level within Green Bay’s offense.
Doubs has yet to surpass 675 receiving yards in a single season. In 2023, he led the team in targets, ranked second in receptions, and tied with Jayden Reed for the team lead in receiving touchdowns. Last season, he finished third in targets, and the Packers suspended him for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team following reported frustrations with his role. He also suffered two concussions during the year, which adds another layer of concern as Green Bay evaluates his long-term durability.
The 2025 season will be pivotal in defining the next phase of Doubs’ career — be it back in Green Bay with an extension or elsewhere — and clarifying his value on the wide receiver market. While he is not considered a lock for an extension the way Zach Tom is, it is hard to overlook that Doubs has been a key part of the offense over the past few seasons. Still, amid inconsistent production, durability concerns, and growing competition in the receiver room, he must prove one essential thing to convince the Packers he’s worth a long-term investment.
That he can be a reliable difference-maker when it matters most.
Brian Gutekunst said a lot about what he thinks of Green Bay’s receiver room during draft weekend, without saying a single word. The Packers used a first-round pick on Matthew Golden and a third on Savion Williams. While Green Bay’s receiving corps offers diverse skillsets, it still lacks a No. 1 option. Doubs must take the next step – from a reliable complementary target to the player defenses key in on, especially in the red zone.
Doubs quickly emerged as one of Jordan Love’s favorite targets after Love took over as the franchise quarterback in summer 2023. Their chemistry was apparent early during OTAs, particularly in red-zone drills.
“When in doubt, you can throw it out there and you know (Doubs) is going to make a play,” Love said after an OTA practice in 2023. “He’s done a great job of going to get the ball wherever it’s at. He’s made some really tough catches. Just builds everyone’s confidence, builds my confidence in him, being able to throw the ball out there and know he’s going to make a play.”
Doubs’ performances throughout offseason practices also caught Matt LaFleur’s attention.
“Rome has done a nice job of really making that next step,” LaFleur said. “Now he has to go out and do it in games, but what we’ve seen from him in practice … just how deliberate he is with what he’s trying to work on. He’s doing a great job of getting his feet in the ground, running violent routes, violent cuts. Being aggressive with his hands. I think he’s shown a lot of progress.”
Doubs enters 2025 with a built-in advantage: four years of chemistry with Jordan Love, dating back to the scout team reps they shared early in their careers. That familiarity could help him maximize his opportunities in a pivotal contract year. Still, Doubs likely needs to deliver a Pro Bowl-caliber season to earn a second deal in Green Bay.
With Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams all under contract through 2026, Green Bay’s long-term outlook at receiver is already deep and cost-controlled, making it difficult to justify a significant financial commitment to Doubs unless he separates himself from the pack.
Khalil Shakir signed a four-year, $60.2 million extension with the Buffalo Bills. Over his career, Shakir has recorded 125 receptions for 1,593 yards and seven touchdowns. In comparison, Romeo Doubs has posted 147 catches for 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, giving him a statistical edge in production and scoring.
Doubs could justifiably aim for a salary in the $16-18 million per year range. However, considering his injury history and the depth Green Bay has built at wide receiver, it’s uncertain whether the Packers would be willing to make that type of financial commitment without a breakout, Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2025.
Doubs should continue to see significant playing time, especially given his experience and rapport with Jordan Love. However, his push for a second contract has far more obstacles than advantages. Green Bay’s deep receiver room, his injury history, and the long-term roster structure all work against him. The clearest path to shifting the narrative is simple but demanding: deliver the best season of his career and establish himself as the undisputed No. 1 option in the passing game.
