The Green Bay Packers are being patient with their roster construction.
They still have some key remaining needs, but won’t rush to fill them. Green Bay prefers to build mostly through the draft, but not having a first-round pick was a bit handicapping.
The Packers are in solid shape financially, ranking in the middle of the NFL with approximately $15,830 million in effective salary cap space.
Green Bay Packers’ Decision to Add FA WR Will Be Impacted by OTAs, Minicamp
GettyPackers WR’s Matthew Golden and Christian Watson.
Among the position groups that are the most uncertain for Green Bay is the wide receiver corps. That can in large part be attributed to losing Romeo Doubs during free agency, who went on to sign with the New England Patriots.
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated believes the Packers’ biggest question mark is how the receiver room will shake out without Doubs. How the group performs during OTAs and minicamp will likely impact whether or not they add a free agent to the mix.
“In recent years, the Packers have enjoyed a deep receiver room, even if it lacked top-end talent. Now, the latter part is still true, but the depth is being tested. This offseason, Green Bay traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles and lost Doubs in free agency to the Patriots. Instead of replenishing the group, GM Brian Gutekunst is relying on Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden to be a solid trio alongside star tight end Tucker Kraft, who is coming off a torn ACL sustained in Week 9 against the Panthers.”
Verderame went on to point out that each Packers receiver has uncertainties, and they could be in trouble if none of them elevate their games.
“Watson has struggled to stay healthy, missing 20 games over his first four years. Reed is talented but was limited to seven games last season with a broken collarbone, catching only 19 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. Golden struggled as a rookie with 29 receptions for 361 yards. Green Bay hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Davante Adams in 2021, and it only had a wideout top 100 yards in a game one time last season, with Watson doing so in Week 17 against the Ravens. Going into this season, Kraft needs to be back for coach Matt LaFleur, who is losing Doubs’s team-high targets (85) and yards (724). Without the ability to throw four or five starting-caliber receivers on the field, missing a true gamebreaker could be a glaring problem.”
Bringing in Another WR Makes a Lot of Sense for Packers
GettyFree agent WR Tyreek Hill
Verderame hit the nail on the head regarding Green Bay’s WR corps. There are too many questions and concerns for the Packers to ignore. Watson has a lengthy injury history, Golden’s rookie season was a disappointment, and Reed and Kraft are coming off significant injuries.
Adding a veteran WR would give the Packers some much-needed insurance, and they have the cap space to do it. Some of the top ones remaining include Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and DeAndre Hopkins.
All of those receivers would bring significant experience and leadership to Green Bay. Hill may not be ready to start the season as he rehabs from a knee injury, but could provide a big boost down the stretch of the season.
Like HEAVY’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Packers’ OTAs Will Impact Important Roster Decision appeared first on HEAVY.