The Green Bay Packers are one of the youngest and most exciting teams in the NFL going into the 2024 regular season. At this time last offseason, there were serious doubts and questions regarding the Packers, especially at the quarterback position. The team had traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets and handed the keys to the offense over to 2020 NFL Draft pick Jordan Love. However, that was not the only big question people had about Green Bay last year, especially on offense.
After Davante Adams forced a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Packers replaced him with three rookie wide receivers (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure) and veteran Sammy Watkins. Of course, Watkins was released before the 2022 season ended and Toure barely saw any playing time.
When Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb were not re-signed following that year, both joined Rodgers and the New York Jets. Green Bay, meanwhile, drafted three more wide receivers: Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Grant Dubose.
The Green Bay Packers Do Not Have a True #1 Wide Receiver
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Last season, all of Green Bay’s wide receivers and tight ends were either rookies or second-year players. While a few of them could potentially emerge as a number one wide receiver, the Packers are thrilled with the balance that they all bring. Last week, Love talked about how he does not believe that his team needs a wide receiver like that because any of his current pass catchers can be wide receiver one on any given Sunday.
Last season, it was Reed who led the Packers in receptions and receiving yards. He also tied Doubs for the team-lead in touchdown receptions. Green Bay was also without Watson, who many believe could be a number one wide receiver in the NFL, due to two different hamstring injuries. In the games that he has played and in which he has been fully healthy, Watson has proven that he can be as dynamic as any pass catcher in the NFL.
The key, of course, has been his health. Watson missed eight games last year due to his injuries, including the final five games of the regular season. That being said, he also had the second-highest receiving touchdown total on the team, with five. If he truly has figured out what was causing his injury issues, he will be a valuable part of the offense.
Green Bay Packers Writer Suggests the Team Trade Christian Watson for Tee Higgins
Despite the fact that no one within the Packers organization or on its roster has said anything about needing a top wide receiver, there are still those that believe Green Bay should try to acquire one. One of these is Sayre Bedinger of Lombardi Ave who suggests the Packers send Watson and a draft pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for Tee Higgins:
“Watson has struggled to stay on the field consistently due to injuries. He’s only four months younger than Tee Higgins despite being in the league two fewer seasons. Then there’s the matter of contract. If Watson pops off this season, the market value for his position is going to be substantially different a year or two from now. The Packers could get Higgins for current market value and have a more established player at the position, who is roughly the same age.
“There’s also the chance Watson doesn’t develop into a second contract player, and the Packers would have missed a chance to get a true WR1 for Jordan Love.”
While the prospect of getting a player like Higgins may be intriguing, trading away a player of Watson’s caliber (and a draft pick) is not the way general manager Brian Gutekunst operates. The Packers have put a lot of money into finding out why Watson was getting hurt so much; they are not going to trade him before they get a chance to see a return on that investment, and if he plays well, they will not trade him at all.
Not that Watson is on the table anyway because he is just in his third season of his rookie contract. The Packers have made it clear that they are ready to win with the playmakers they have now, and that includes Watson.
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