The Green Bay Packers have the second-youngest offense in the NFL. Led by 24-year old quarterback Jordan Love, it is comprised of veteran linemen and running backs, but rookies and second-year players at wide receiver and tight end. Due to the inexperience at these skill positions, many believed that the offense would take a step backwards in 2023.
While there have been some bumps and inconsistencies, the Packers have scored the second-most points in the NFL through two weeks. Love leads the NFL in passer rating (118.8) and is tied for the league-lead in touchdown passes (six). He already has more games with three touchdown passes (two) than Aaron Rodgers had all of last season (one).
In short, Love certainly appears to be an upgrade over the 2022 version of Rodgers (who played with a broken thumb for much of the season). However, he is not the only new player/starter that is outperforming the player he has replaced.
Green Bay Packers Tight End Luke Musgrave Is an Upgrade Over Robert Tonyan
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
It may only be two games, but rookie tight end Luke Musgrave, who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has been a big upgrade over Robert Tonyan, who now plays for the Chicago Bears.
So far this season, Musgrave has five receptions for 75 yards. While that may not appear to be very much, it puts him on pace for 637 yards this year. This would be historic, as no rookie tight end in the history of the NFC North has ever had 500 yards receiving, much less 600.
Tonyan’s career-high in receiving yards is 586, which he accomplished in 2020. Last season was his second-best season in terms of receiving yards, putting up 470.
So far this season, Tonyan has yet to record a single catch with the Bears.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Jayden Reed Is an Upgrade Over Randall Cobb
Jayden Reed, the other Packers second round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was widely expected to be the starting slot wide receiver and Randall Cobb’s replacement. So far, he has lived up and possibly exceeded those expectations.
Reed caught four passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. For the season, he has 85 yards receiving through two games, which puts him on pace for 722 yards if he plays all 17 games.
This would be the best receiving season for any Packers’ rookie wide receiver since Sterling Sharpe had 791 in 1988 (and he only had one touchdown that year). 722 yards also would have made him Green Bay’s second-leading receiver last season.
In fact, 722 yards would be close to the total receiving yards Cobb had with Green Bay in the last two seasons combined (792). The last time Cobb had 722 yards in a season was 2019 when he played with the Dallas Cowboys and had 828. The last time he put up that many yards in a season for the Packers was 2015 when he had 829.
So far this season, Cobb has not recorded a single reception either.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Dontayvion Wicks Is an Upgrade Over Allen Lazard
Dontayvion Wicks was not drafted to necessarily replace Allen Lazard. As the Packers leading wide receiver last season (which is not saying much), Lazard’s replacement in the passing game is going to be either Romeo Doubs or Christian Watson.
But Wicks took Lazard’s number and has taken on the dirty work that Lazard was known for in Green Bay. So far this season, Wicks has a higher PFF grade (61.1) than Lazard (58.5) and has scored a touchdown while Lazard has not.
To be fair, Lazard has more receiving yards (69 to 40), but has also been targeted more (eight to six) and played a higher percentage of snaps (85% to 56%). In other words, Wicks has been a great deal more efficient.
It has only been two games, and a lot can change throughout the course of a season. However, early signs show that the Green Bay offense is going to be a great deal more dynamic and exciting than it was last year.
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