It’s a new dawn for Packers wide receivers. All-Pro wideout Davante Adams is gone, opening the door for a fairly unproven group of pass-catchers to make a name for itself.
The concerns are obvious. Adams accounted for a third of Green Bay’s total receiving yards in 2021. Only one other player — Allen Lazard — cracked 500 receiving yards.
That means there’s a lot of room for growth for the Packers’ wide receiver room. With a host of newcomers, namely rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs and free agent-signing Sammy Watkins, it’s a new-look unit in more ways than one. And as long as Aaron Rodgers is under center, there will be more than enough opportunities for Green Bay’s receivers to shine.
The Sporting News breaks down the Packers’ options at receiver in 2022. This depth chart was released on Green Bay’s official website and is subject to change throughout the 2022 NFL season.
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Packers WR depth chart
1. Allen Lazard
With Adams’ departure, Lazard steps into the No. 1 WR role for the time being. The 26-year old has only exceeded 500 yards one time in his career so far (last year, with 513), but he snagged eight touchdowns in 2022, emerging as a key red zone target for Rodgers.
Lazard has a hulking build (6-5, 227 pounds) and seems the most primed for a breakout in a WR crowd devoid of Adams’ presence. It’s no surprise he’s projected as Rodgers’ No. 1 target for the upcoming season.
2. Sammy Watkins
Watkins isn’t quite the player he once was. Still, he’s a veteran wideout with top-line speed. That should translate to a Rodgers-led offense.
2021 was an underwhelming season for Watkins, who only posted 397 yards in 14 games. However, there’s a caveat to that; Baltimore’s offense was ravaged by injuries in both the run and pass game. For all of Tyler Huntley’s efforts, he just wasn’t able to replicate Lamar Jackson’s razzle dazzle.
With Rodgers, Watkins gets a chance in a true pass-first offense.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling, a speed demon with a similar skillset to Watkins, enjoyed some success in the green and yellow. He racked up nearly 700 receiving yards and six touchdowns in just 12 starts in 2020. Perhaps Watkins can have a similar impact at Lambeau Field.
3. Randall Cobb
Cobb is the old man of the group, having played 11 years in the NFL, nine of which have been with the Packers. He’s far from his best — Cobb amassed nearly 1,300 receiving yards with Rodgers and the Pack back in 2014. But Cobb still has something to offer on- and off-the field.
Cobb made just 28 catches for 375 yards in 2021. But five of those snags were touchdowns, meaning Cobb was something of a specialist for the Packers in the red zone. Lazard will likely see most of the coverage there, given his strength and size. Perhaps that opens the door for Cobb to showcase his playmaking skills. He’ll play a role in Green Bay’s offense in 2022.
4. Juwann Winfree
Winfree is something of an unknown commodity at the NFL level. The Colorado alum was taken in the sixth round of the 2019 draft by the Broncos but didn’t reel in a catch during his time in the Mile High City. Winfree only netted eight catches and 58 yards in his second year in Green Bay in 2021.
Winfree has apparently been one of the shining lights of training camp so far, though, impressing the Packers’ coaching staff with some strong route running and impressive athleticism.
Rodgers praised the third-year wideout for his skillset in training camp.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if [Winfree] is over there going, ‘Hey, I’m a pretty damn good football player, don’t forget about me’,” Rodgers said. “I think he definitely is going to put himself into a position to have an impact.”
5. Romeo Doubs
Doubs has been the talk of the town at Packers training camp so far. Matched up against star cornerback Jaire Alexander, Doubs has shined. Matt LaFleur even called Doubs one of the team’s “better players” already.
Asked Matt LaFleur if they put Jaire Alexander on Romeo Doubs in 1-on-1s for the first time yesterday to maybe humble the rookie after his hot start.
“Certainly you want your better players going against one another.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) August 9, 2022
That’s certainly some high praise for the rookie wideout.
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In recent years, first-year pass-catchers have established themselves as legit first options. Think Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson. Doubs, a second-round pick, still has a ways to go before cementing himself as a receiver on the caliber of those two. But all the whispers coming out of training camp have been encouraging. He should have a chance to do big things in LaFleur’s air attack.
6. Amari Rodgers
Rodgers showed some flashes last season, nabbing 20 punt returns and 11 kick returns in 2021.
He wasn’t quite able to make the grade as a wideout, though; Rodgers caught just four balls in 16 games last year.
Rodgers appears to be a workout warrior of sorts and has earned some glowing praise from those who watch him day-in and day-out.
Brian Gutekunst: “We’re very, very bullish on Amari Rodgers and what he can do for this football team.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) August 3, 2022
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7. Malik Taylor
Taylor hasn’t been a big part of Green Bay’s offense since making the grade for the Packers in 2020. He’s tended to have more of an impact on the special teams unit, nabbing 14 kickoff returns over the past two years.
He does have one receiving touchdown. However, don’t expect Taylor to make too much noise in the Pack’s passing game. If he stays on the roster, it would likely be as a returning specialist.
8. Danny Davis
Davis seems an unlikely bet to make the roster. The Wisconsin product has a solid, if unspectacular frame (6-1, 188 pounds). However, his athletic tools are…lacking. With a 4.62 40-yard dash time and a 31.5 inch vertical leap, Davis just doesn’t have the physical tools needed to play at the next level.
It’ll be an uphill climb for Davis to make the 53-man roster.
9. Osirus Mitchell
Mitchell, formerly of the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions, signed a deal to join the Pack in late-July. But while it would be mighty cool for Mitchell to earn a spot with the big boys of the NFL, it doesn’t seem too likely. Mitchell suffered a quad injury last week, forcing him out of practice Wednesday. It remains to be seen the impact that ailment could have on Mitchell’s future prospects.
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10. Samori Toure
Toure, a seventh round selection from FCS power Montana and Big Ten riser Nebraska, had plenty of chances to showcase his skillset in training camp. The jury is still out, with Toure impressing some at the Pack’s practices. He even did a Lambeau Leap, keeping in line with the traditions of the iconic field.
“I wasn’t really planning on doing it, but all the fans were motioning me to come over so I just did it and, yeah, it felt good,” Toure told reporters, per Lincoln Journal-Star’s Luke Mullin.
11. Ishmael Hyman
Hyman is the last wideout on the Packers’ depth chart. He hasn’t played a down in the league since the 2019 season with Tampa Bay. Perhaps Hyman can get a spot with the practice squad. But the odds of him cracking the 53-man roster seem slim to none.
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