Brian Gutekunst and Mark Murphy have turned over a new leaf within the Green Bay Packers organization. Mike McCarthy lost his job just a day after a demoralizing 20-17 loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field last year. The front office went out and hired then-Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur as their new head coach.
The introductory press conference was one of smiles and laughter and promise. However, when both Gutekunst and Murphy returned to their offices, they both saw sitting on their desks the figurative clock of a Super Bowl window with Aaron Rodgers ticking and ticking away. That clock is now ticking even faster.
The departure of Randall Cobb to the Dallas Cowboys was a lot more significant than people think. Cobb was Rodgers’ longtime teammate and go-to security blanket on offense along with the now-retired Jordy Nelson. This offense is in absolutely no condition to compete for a Super Bowl. Rodgers is 35 and is coming off of two very injury-riddled seasons and the offense ranked 14th in Points For and 12th in Total Yards last year with three rookie wide receivers.
The lone bright spot is Davante Adams who is one of the top five wide receivers in the league. Gutekunst did a great job in the first wave of free agency, but Green Bay needs to find a veteran receiver to pair opposite Adams.
Top Three Wide Receiver Targets for the Packers in Late Free Agency
3. Jermaine Kearse
Packers fans are all-too-familiar with Jermaine Kearse. Remember how the Packers had the 2014 NFC Championship Game pretty much won? And then Jermaine Kearse happened? Yeah, I remember too. Russell Wilson threw a perfect 35-yard touchdown pass to Kearse in overtime and decimated the Packers’ season.
But, all is forgiven and now Kearse seems to be in need of a new home. Last year, Kearse had his worst statistical year since his rookie season, only mustering 371 yards and one touchdown for the New York Jets. However, Kearse put up 810 yards and five touchdowns in his first season with the Jets. Kearse is extremely reliable and can be that security blanket for Rodgers in third and long situations as to not rely solely on Adams.
Kearse is a big receiver who can line up in the slot and in single man coverage, has proven time and again he can use his knowledge as a veteran to counter a defensive scheme and beat his man. He isn’t the fastest or most physical wide receiver but you can always count on him to make plays down the stretch. If you line Kearse up next to Adams, defenses would not be able to double up on Adams as Kearse can make you pay over the middle and make big yardage plays.
Now 29 years old, Kearse is getting up there in age but could prove extremely valuable in mentoring the young receiver core in place. The Packers could offer Kearse a two-year/$7-8 million deal and ultimately have Geronimo Allison split time with Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the WR 3 spot.
2. Michael Crabtree
Michael Crabtree has seen his fair share of highs and lows in his career. From being on a Super Bowl contending San Francisco 49ers team to being sporadically used by a Baltimore Ravens squad that couldn’t find an identity on offense, Crabtree can still be a threat in the red zone.
Crabtree finished the 2018 season with 54 receptions for 607 yards and three touchdowns. It may have been his worst statistical year but he still showed consistency and reliability. He was a dependable threat in the red zone standing 6’1” and being 215lbs and using his size to create separation.
Crabtree was able to produce a 1,000-yard season with a young Derek Carr at quarterback. The 10-year veteran has since aged a bit but imagine what kind of threat in the red zone he could be with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him. In his time in Oakland, Crabtree demonstrated quick slants over the middle and corner/sideline routes that made it easy for Carr to put the ball in a position where only Crabtree could catch it. Crabtree loves catching over the top of defenders in the end zone, something Rodgers is great at setting up for his receivers. This duo would be extremely deadly if paired together. The Packers could get Crabtree on a two-year/$10 million deal that would allow the young guys to learn deadly red zone routes that could send this offense into another dimension.
1. Chris Hogan
One of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL, Chris Hogan has been a silent yet valuable player to the most decorated organization in football for the past three years. After spending his first four years in Buffalo, Hogan shipped up north to the New England Patriots and has blossomed into a consistent offensive weapon.
In his first season in New England, Hogan tallied 680 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 17.9 yards per reception. During the 2018 season, Hogan held a catching percentage of 63.6%. In my opinion, Hogan is a receiver whom the Packers can get on the cheap from a winning culture who could help balance out the passing attack. Hogan is a playmaker that is quick and can spread the field. He is much more of a yardage receiver than a scoring machine but that is completely fine as the Packers already boast one of the top receivers in the league in Davante Adams.
Hogan has been a part of an offense that heavily relies on the passing game, so nothing would change if he came to Green Bay and he would still see his fair share of targets. He is a fantastic down-the-field playmaker that understands where he needs to position himself in order to eliminate the threat of his defender. Hogan is fast but small. He gets brought down quicker but the Packers are in dire need of a replacement for Randall Cobb. Hogan is the answer. He is around the same size as Cobb yet is considerably more durable. If the Packers decide to pursue Hogan, they could offer him a three-year/$11 million deal and lock up their number two wide receiver slot and it would give Rodgers time to build a relationship with his new speedster.
Last Word on the Green Bay Packers Wide Receivers
The Packers are in need of a second playmaker on offense. It has shown over the past two years as Rodgers has been overloading on Adams. The defensive acquisitions were smart and needed, but with Cobb gone and an aging Jimmy Graham, the Packers must look to the free agent market one more time to find that diamond in the rough to make a run at bringing the Lombardi trophy home.
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