The Packers have spent years hearing the same criticism about their receiver room: too many names, not enough clarity. That used to be the complaint in Green Bay, even with Christian Watson bringing obvious big-play ability to the mix.
This offseason flipped that script. Brian Gutekunst took a different route than the one Packers fans were used to, letting Romeo Doubs leave in free agency and sending Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. On paper, that should have made the room leaner and more defined for Matt LaFleur.
And yet Green Bay still went looking. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the Packers recently worked out Kobe Hudson, Kisean Johnson and Cornell Powell.
Those aren’t the kind of names that would immediately change the conversation in Green Bay. At first glance, they look like depth options, the sort of players who would be fighting for practice-squad consideration.
But the move still says something. If a team already has its answers, it usually doesn’t keep shopping.
Watson is still the obvious lead option. The Packers are paying him like a No. 1, and the second contract extension only reinforces how much faith the organization has in him.
The catch, as always, is availability. He has the talent to anchor the group, but staying on the field remains part of the equation.
Behind him, Matthew Golden looks like the player with the biggest chance to make a leap. As a former first-round pick, the pressure is on him to deliver in year two, and the early signs from training camp have been encouraging. His speed and twitchiness give Jordan Love a clear weapon on go-routes and explosive plays.
Jayden Reed also sits in a useful spot. He’s dependable, if not flashy, and profiles as a solid WR3 with WR2 upside. He isn’t being treated like a star, but he has done enough to earn a three-year deal with the team.
After that, the picture gets thinner. Savion Williams and the fast-moving Skyy Moore are the only other receivers who appear to have a real shot at making the 53-man roster and contributing meaningful snaps. That’s why the Packers’ decision to bring in more bodies stands out.
There’s also a bigger offensive backdrop here. LaFleur’s offense is heading into a season that matters, with the reshaped offensive line facing plenty of pressure and Love needing to lift his production to match his $55 million AAV. In that kind of setup, Green Bay can’t afford to ignore any possible answer before Week 1.
In Other News...
Jordan Love Is Showing Why The Packers Stayed Patient
Jordan Loves growth has been easy to trace if you watch the details before the snap. The Packers quarterback said his years behind Aaron Rodgers gave him a front-row view of how much control a quarterback can have at the line of scrimmage, especially when it comes to protection adjustments and getting everyone settled before the play starts. It is the kind of lesson that does not always show up in the box score, but it has clearly helped shape the player Green Bay has now.
Love has gone from apprentice to steady starter, and the last three seasons have only reinforced why the Packers were willing to wait. He has developed into a quarterback who can handle the mental side of the job as well as the physical one, and that matters most in January, where Green Bay has been back in the playoff picture multiple times. The next step is less about proving he belongs and more about just how far that command can carry him. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Forgotten Draft Pick Worth Watching
John Williams barely got a chance to show what Green Bay thought it was getting when it drafted the former Cincinnati Bearcats guard, because a back injury wiped out his entire rookie season. Now he is back in training camp, and the early return has been encouraging for a Packers offensive line that can always use more flexibility. General manager Brian Gutekunst has already pointed to Williams progress, especially the way he has handled a variety of responsibilities up front.
What makes Williams interesting again is not just that he is healthy, but that he has been movable across the line in a way that gives the Packers options if he keeps building on this camp. Preseason games will matter here, because roster spots are never handed out on potential alone, and Williams still has to beat out the other names in the mix before Green Bay decides whether this forgotten draft pick is ready to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Matt LaFleur Opens Up About A Personal Loss Beyond Packers Camp
Packers coach Matt LaFleur had planned to leave training camp and make the trip to a funeral service for Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of his longtime friend Jeff Ulbrich, but a mechanical problem with his private plane kept him from attending. The aircraft failed its preflight check, interrupting a personal obligation that had been on LaFleurs calendar as he balanced camp duties with a difficult off-field moment.
Cristina Ulbrich died last month after a battle with cancer, and the Falcons announced her death on July 30. LaFleur and his wife had intended to fly in for the service, a reminder that even in the middle of camp, football people are still carrying the kinds of personal losses that pull them away from the field. [Read more 🡒]