It’s no secret the Green Bay Packers have been in need of wide receivers for years. This offseason is no different and if anything the situation is even more dire. While you can debate whether the Packers need a top tier wideout on the roster, the need to bolster the receiving corps goes far beyond just adding star power.
The State of the Wide Receiver Room
Right now the Packers have 10 wide receivers under contract. But here’s the catch: 8 of them are on deals that expire within the next 2 years. Only Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are signed through 2026 and not a single wide receiver is signed beyond 2027. Let’s break it down:
Unrestricted Free Agents in 2025
Three players—Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Mecole Hardman —are set to hit free agency after the 2024 season.
- Doubs is projected to get around $11.9 million per year which isn’t crazy but he’s not exactly a game changer either. He’ll get an even bigger deal on the open market.
- Watson one of the starters is currently injured and won’t be back until midseason. His absence makes things even more complicated.
- Hardman signed a one year deal and hasn’t made an impact yet.
Restricted Free Agents
Two players—Malik Heath and Bo Melton —are restricted free agents. To keep their rights the Packers would need to tender them, the cheapest option is around $3.45 million. If they want compensation if another team signs them they’d have to pay a lot more (up to $7.89 million for a first round tender). If the Packers don’t tender them they’ll be unrestricted free agents.
Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
The three late season additions—Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, and Tulu Griffin —are all exclusive rights free agents if they make the roster. They’re cheap to keep but their roles are far from guaranteed.
How Did It Get This Bad?
The Packers had a good group of complementary receivers during the latter years of Aaron Rodgers’ tenure because Davante Adams was the clear alpha. But once Adams was gone, the cracks started to show. General manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t do enough to restock the position and the team was left scrambling.
In Matt LaFleur’s first three years as head coach, the Packers drafted one wide receiver Amari Rodgers in the third round of the 2021 draft—and he was cut two years later. The trade of Adams and the departures of Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard in free agency between 2022 and 2023 forced the Packers’ hand.
Gutekunst finally addressed the issue by drafting three wideouts in 2022 (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure) and 2023 (Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose). While this influx of young talent provides depth it also creates a clock: all these players are on rookie deals that will be up in the next two offseasons.
A Realistic Solution to the Problem
They can’t let this cycle happen again. If Gutekunst keeps drafting multiple wide receivers in a row without a long term plan the same problem will happen again in 4 years. Here’s how they can build sustainable depth at the position:
Draft Early and Often
Wide receiver is one of those positions where teams should be investing consistently. Like OL, DL and CBs wide receivers need regular infusions of talent. For the Packers this means targeting a Day 2 pick this year.
Re-Sign Key Players Strategically
Next offseason they can re-sign Watson or Doubs to reasonable extensions and keep Reed and Wicks around for at least one more year. By 2026, they can draft another receiver to replace Wicks and extend Reed before his deal expires.
Volume Over Perfection
Not every draft pick will work out—that’s just the NFL. But by drafting wide receivers consistently the Packers will always have a pipeline of cheap talent. Even if they miss on one or two picks the volume will help offset those losses.
Why This Matters Now
The Packers wide receiver room is bare and the lack of long term contracts is uncertainty. Without a plan they’ll be entering another offseason with huge holes at the position. By drafting receivers regularly and managing contracts strategically the Packers can avoid the same mistakes.
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