The Green Bay Packers are extremely optimistic about the direction their franchise is headed. Just one year removed from trading away Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are in a real position to be a contender in 2024. That speaks volumes about the work the front office has done to keep the team competitive.
Former New England Patriots Wide Receiver Julian Edelman has noticed the wide receivers in Green Bay and took the time to comment on them.
Super Bowl Champion Wide Receiver Julian Edelman Comments On The State Of The Green Bay Packers
During an interview with Heavy, Edelman spoke about his partnership with Bud Light’s Easy Wishes NFL Draft Experience.
Edelman talked about the wide receiver room at Green Bay during the interview. Though he wasn’t high on any one player, he had a very positive outlook for the group as a whole:
“I don’t think they have a number one receiver,” Edelman told Heavy. “They have a lot of really good potential guys that haven’t even reached their prime…But the thing is, it’s better to have something like that. It trains the quarterback to throw to the right area. You don’t have the pressure to heave the target to the guy that’s pissed off.”
“Let’s let this thing develop,” he said. “Maybe one of these guys comes out and has a dominant year…It takes time for these guys to be able to just go out and know what to do against a guy with veteran moves.”
“They have something good. They’re young, they’re fresh. I’m excited to watch the Packers in what feels like a winnable division.”
The Packers Have An Extremely Bright Future At The Wide Receiver Position
The Packers had a record breaking year when it comes to their young pass catchers. Here are a few of those records:
- — The Packers set NFL records for catches by rookies (191) and receiving yards by rookies (2,250).
- — Jayden Reed set the Packers rookie record for catches (64). He also became the first Packers rookie to lead the team in catches and receiving yards since Sterling Sharpe in 1988.
- — Jayden Reed became the first rookie in NFL history to produce 60 or more catches, 750 or more receiving yards, eight or more receiving touchdowns, 100 or more rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns.
- — Six different rookies caught touchdown passes, the most by one team in the Super Bowl era.
- — Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks became the first rookie pair to both go over 500 receiving yards since 2014.
- — Luke Musgrave tied Bubba Franks’ team record for catches by a rookie tight end (34).
- — The Packers had four rookies catch at least 30 passes for the first time in team history. It’s the first time this has happened in the NFL since at least 1970.
- — Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft became the first rookie tight end duo to each catch at least 30 passes, 350 receiving yards and at least one tight end since Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2010.
- — The Packers became the first team to have rookies produce at least 200 receiving yards in four different games during a regular season. The Packers did so in Week 10 (at PIT), Week 11 (vs. LAC), Week 15 (vs. TB) and Week 18 (vs. CHI). The 19 catches for 235 yards by rookies against the Buccaneers were both team records.
- — Among players picked in the fifth round or later, Dontayvion Wicks finished second in team history in receiving yards (trailing only Max McGee’s 614 yards). He’s one of only three fifth-round picks or later to produce 500 or more receiving yards in team history, and just the 16th in the NFL since 2000.
It is easy to see how the young Packers’ skill position group is garnering attention from NFL legends like Julian Edelman.
Jordan Love will be able to grow with this group for years to come. Hopefully, this offensive nucleus can stick around for more than just one contract. It will be interesting navigating multiple contract extensions at the same position in the coming years.
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