One of the drawbacks of having a wide receiver room full of great, rising stars is that you’re bound to speculate on which ones won’t stick around.
And, while the Green Bay Packers’ receivers may not have developed as expected last season, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks are all under the age of 26, with Watson being the oldest (25).
There are probably worse difficulties than deciding which of your roster’s young, 700-yard receivers are worth extending, but it does take the pleasure out of the scenario when you spend the entire offseason worrying about who’s leaving.
So, with that in mind, here’s some speculation about who’s going somewhere else. Thanks to the actual Packers draft experts among us, we’re getting a fascinating insight into where Brian Gutekunst and the rest of Green Bay’s front office are focusing their time in the last weeks before their homefield draft later this month. And right now, it appears that they are starting to consider life beyond Christian Watson. Consider this example from Easton Butler, a writer and reporter for Packers Report.
According to Butler, the Packers have met with 18 receiver prospects, the most of any position.
In addition to meeting with nearly half of the draft-eligible wide receivers in this year’s class, some of the players they’re bringing in for pre-draft visits appear to be convenient substitutes for Watson and his role in the Packers’ scheme. Take, for example, Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. Golden is the quickest receiver in this year’s class (4.29!), which would be extremely beneficial to the Packers’ offense as their top receiver recovers from ACL surgery.
Maybe we’re reaching for straws here, but that’s the name of the game this time of year.
The Green Bay Packers may be signaling a shift in their offensive approach, which might include planning for a future without wide receiver Christian Watson. After another season marred by injury and inconsistency, Watson’s long-term dependability is in doubt. The Packers have responded with steps that indicate they are already prepared for life after their 2022 second-round selection.
Green Bay has recently signed two intriguing wideouts in free agency and appears to be targeting more receiving talent in the 2017 NFL Draft. According to rumors, the team has expressed considerable interest in numerous high-potential players, particularly those with the height and speed to fill Watson’s vertical-threat position.
While the Packers have not formally released Watson, the writing may be on the wall. Head coach Matt LaFleur has highlighted the need of “availability and consistency” in his receiving corps, which Watson has battled with during his brief NFL career.
The Packers don’t take chances. With Jordan Love’s development as the focal point of their reconstruction, they are determined to surround him with tough and reliable weapons. If Watson is unable to maintain his health, a replacement may already be on the way.
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