Entering the 2025 NFL offseason, everyone knew that the Green Bay Packers were going to address the wide receiver position. Christian Watson, of course, will miss the start of the upcoming season after tearing his ACL in Week 18 of last year. Additionally, Jayden Reed (12.0%), Dontayvion Wicks (11.8%), and Romeo Doubs (9.7%) all ranked among the NFL leaders in drop pass percentage.
The Packers, of course, addressed the position by signing three-time Super Bowl Champion Mecole Hardman. Additionally, they selected Matthew Golden (first round) and Savion Williams (third round) in the 2025 NFL Draft.
These additions, along with their other undrafted free agent signings at the position, have created a very crowded wide receiver room that is going to force players to be at their best if they want to make the roster.
The Green Bay Packers Previously Had Trade Interest in Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman
Prior to the NFL Draft, it was assumed by many that the Packers would look to add a wide receiver via trade. Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals and DK Metcalf, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, were the two names many believed Green Bay would look into.
However, Higgins signed a contract extension with the Bengals and Metcalf was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he will now play with former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Despite these rumors, though, it was later revealed that Green Bay did not attempt to trade for either of them. However, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN recently reported that they did try to have talks with the Baltimore Ravens about Rashod Bateman.
How trade talks helped spark a Rashod Bateman extension in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/5sQfD8beY4
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 7, 2025
Bateman recently signed a three-year $36.75 million contract extension with the Ravens after they had previously picked up his fifth-year option. However, before he signed his extension, he had been given permission to look for possible trade partners.
“So this is fascinating. What led to his contract extension was that he was almost traded during this offseason,” Fowler said. “Because he went to the Ravens, wanted a new deal, they essentially said ‘No’ but they gave him permission to seek a trade.
“So he went out on the open market and talked to teams, and I was told there were several involved. Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers. So he saw he had a market, the Ravens saw it, and said, ‘We’ll just pay you instead.'”
Bateman is coming off of the best season of his career thus far, a year that saw him catch 45 passes for 756 yards and nine touchdowns.
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