After investing heavily in the offense in the previous two NFL drafts, Green Bay finds itself with an abundance of players at skill positions. With Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, and Jayden Reed all in the mix, the receiver room looks strong. These players all offer different skill sets, and each one has played an important role at various times this season. Add in the emergence of rookie tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave and this Packers offense boasts an array of speedy pass catchers.
Outside of the aforementioned group, players like Bo Melton and Malik Heath have had chances to shine in 2023. The decision to build around Jordan Love with these players has paid dividends.
With a suddenly crowded receiver room, the question for Green Bay becomes: which Packers skill players will make the cut in 2024?
Assessing the Packers Skill Players Going into 2024
The short answer is none. Going into the season, Green Bay carried eight receivers on their 70-man roster. Two of those players, Melton and Grant DuBose were practice squad players. The other six have all seen significant reps this season. Samori Toure is the only receiver to not start one game this season. Toure is also the only Packers receiver not to catch a touchdown this season.
If there were to be an odd man out, it could be Toure. A seventh-round pick out of Nebraska in 2022, Toure saw limited time last season and ended his rookie year with one touchdown catch. He also recently hit the injured reserve list. That made way for Melton to be signed to the active roster. This could signal the end of the road for Toure in Green Bay, and perhaps the start of something strong for Melton.
Comparing Old And New
Looking at how these Packers receivers complement one another, it’s easy to see why the organization will want to keep the core intact. A memorable group of receivers made life easier for Aaron Rodgers in his early tenure with the Packers, and this current core has shades of that group.
Fans might be quick to draw comparisons between those players and these. For entertainment’s sake, let’s say Doubs is James Jones. Watching Watson tear down the field brings memories of Greg Jennings in his prime. A natural runner, Reed has shades of Randall Cobb to his game. No player is a direct comparison to Jordy Nelson, but Reed might also be the closest of the bunch. As for Wicks, he’s in a class of his own. Few players have shown the sort of pop and tenacity in the open field as Wicks. And if you’re expecting there to be a comparison to Devante Adams, there is not.
Big Questions For The Backs
It is safe to assume that both Kraft and Musgrave are safe at tight end. That leaves the running backs. A.J. Dillon is set to be a free agent in the spring. As for Aaron Jones, he’s playing out a restructured contract that is supposed to keep him in Green Bay through 2024. That restructure gave Green Bay flexibility going forward and signaled Jones’ desire to stay a Packer. But with players like Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs all likely to hit the open market this spring, there’s a chance Green Bay enters next season with neither Jones nor Dillon.
Whether they sign a free agent running back to shore up the room or not, the Packers are poised to draft one. The 2024 class does not boast a blue-chip talent like Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson. But both Bucky Irving (Oregon) and Trey Benson (Florida State) could be big upgrades to the running back room. Irving is more of a power back but has the speed and agility to break loose. Benson has shades of Joe Mixon to his game and could offer a workhorse for Green Bay if they are in the market for one.
All in all, entering the off-season with more answers than questions about the young offense is an ideal place to be. As for the defense, that’s another story.
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