GB Receiver Rankings heading into 2024

Reed and Wicks are going to be huge this year. Slants and reverses. Watson, if healthy, a home run hitter, and great red zone guy. Doubs seems like a third down,  possession guy. Reliable hands. Great 50-50 guy.

Any one of them could have a 10 catch, 100+ game. Hell, Bo did it. Don't get us started on Musgrave and Kraft. Who ya gonna cover?

So, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D.

The first annual “unstoppable offense” sighting.

First?? 😆

1. Wicks - Has Davante written all over him.
2. Watson - Health is the reason he's not #1
3. Reed - Ultra smooth slot guy
4. Doubs - Perfect possession guy. Reliable
5. Melton - 4b. I really think he's underrated

Yeah I said it....by seasons end, Wicks will be all over every talking head show. The argument will be who is Green Bay #1 WR? Answer...ALL of them!! Including the TE's

I created a WR/TE thread talking about our receiving corps.

https://packers.timesfour.com/...er-receiver-te-group

If this group can stay healthy I truly believe this group stacks up there with the Packers receiver group when they won the SB.  If they continue to grow and stay healthy I would put this receiver group up against anyone in the NFL.

Their blocking also will lead to a good running game and a nice balanced offense.

I don't know how serious Reed's injury is, other than it is a "non football injury."  When he gets healthy I'd put him at #4. I think Watson is #1, Doubs is #2, Wicks is #3, Melton is #5 and Heath is #6. I think Toure may get traded or released during camp, or shortly after. Heath will be on the bench but will fill in for anyone injured. DuBose, Hicks and the new signings will be on the PS. Isn't depth a good problem to have? Last season, just based on videos of players I watched, I would have had DuBose fill in for Reed, as their skill sets are similar, if Reed goes down. This season, I see Wicks rising in the ranks and getting a lot more playing time. Like others have said, we'll see a lot of switching of WRs, when we are in the Red Zone, where Doubs shines. Loving the Wicks/Davante comparison Boris mentioned.  GO PACK, GO!!!

I don't think this group has shown they are as good as the Jennings, Nelson, Driver, Jones, Finley group from 2009-11. Maybe they'll get there, but I think even I sometimes forget how deep that group was. I see this group, with one exception, as being a bunch of young James Jones. There are almost certainly not any D. Adams among them. That is, these guys are all very good WRs but a good group of DBs can limit them. In other words, a bunch of B+ level guys. I also don't see any of these guys being as good as Jennings in terms of fluidity of running routes. Jennings left on poor terms which negatively influences how we remember him, but he was as good a route runner as any Packers WR I've ever seen. Having said that, I think I'd rather build an offense around 4-5 B+ level WRs than 1 future HOFer and a bunch of stiffs like the late Rodgers years featured. It opens up more options in play calling and it mitigates the risk that one injury will basically end your chances of advancing in the playoffs. I'd rather have five 10 million dollar/year guys than one 35 million/year and four 4 million dollar guys.

The one exception is Watson. He has the natural athleticism to be a Calvin Johnson type. The type of guy that no matter how well you cover him, it won't matter. I think there are two problems with him. First, can he stay healthy. And, second, if he does and has a big year, I think he's likely to go WR diva on you and turn into a S. Diggs, T. Owens, type.

Wicks has gotten more offseason buzz heading into camp than any of the other receivers. 

I think Musgrave may be the forgotten "next" breakout guy of that group if he stays healthy.

It will be difficult to compare the two groups because the individuals in each group are different from their counterparts.  You have to compare overall effectiveness of each group and the current crop really needs at least another year or two to show what they can become.

But in trying to handicap the comparison by aligning similarities, I may try it this way:

Jordy - Watson: JN looks like he had a much bigger catch radius and became a very polished overall WR.  Watson shows more potential with elite athleticism but has a lot of work to do to put it all together.  Availability also needs to improve.

Driver - Doubs: DD was a tough as nails and tireless player that seemed to exceed expectations by pure will more than god given talent.  Very productive for a long time.  Doubs may be more comparable to Jennings but then Reed would be here which seems like more of a mismatch.  Doubs has shown 1B ability but needs to be more consistent.

Jennings - Reed: Jennings was smooth like Rice as well as clutch in big moments.  Only Davante was a better route runner but he wasn't in this group.  Reed could become a very similar guy but used in more versatile ways.  Smaller but that matters less in today's NFL.

Jones - Wicks: Jones had issues with drops early in his career but then became a walking highlight reel for contested catches.  Could reliably get open despite his lack of elite speed.  Clutch receiver later on.  Wicks is lankier and appears more athletic overall, still developing.

Where is Janis?!?

Working at the Muff Shop

@Chongo posted:

Working at the Muff Shop

There's a shop for that? What a great time to be alive.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

I don't think this group has shown they are as good as the Jennings, Nelson, Driver, Jones, Finley group from 2009-11. Maybe they'll get there, but I think even I sometimes forget how deep that group was.

This is a bigger discussion and really needs to include QB and OL fir comparisons. I'd also align them year over year.

2009 to 2024

2010 to 2025

2011 to 2026

@Chongo posted:

Working at the Muff Shop

No muff....too tuff.

Davante is better route runner than Jennings IMO

@Chongo posted:

Working at the Muff Shop

He's an OB-Gyn?

@Boris posted:

No muff....too tuff.

Davante is better route runner than Jennings IMO

I think Davante is much better getting off the LOS against press coverage. He might be the best WR in football in doing that. Jennings' could be disrupted more by bump and run coverage at the LOS than Adams.

Adams is obviously a very good route runner, but Jennings was approaching Jerry Rice territory in terms of how fluid and quick he was out of cuts and slants.

Neither Adams or Jennings has the straight line speed that Watson has though. He's approaches Tyreke Hill territory for that.