The Green Bay Packers are going to have a completely different wide receiving corps from last year when week 1 rolls around. At minimum, the Packers will certainly have a different WR1 I(Davante Adams), WR2 (MVS), and WR4(or 5) (EQ St. Brown). The key new additions to their wide receiving corps include; Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Sammy Watkins. Those additions on top of retaining wide receiver Allen Lazard will make for an entirely different passing attack in 2022. All of this change in one off-season is sure to bring a ton of competition for that number one spot. Maruice Jones-Drew had a very bold prediction regarding who the number one guy will be in Green Bay.
Maurice Jones-Drew Says Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs Will be 1-2?
Not only does MJD think that Watson can be good enough to be WR1, but he made a surprising pick for WR2.
The Packers’ pass game is going to look significantly different without all-world wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams had more receptions (123) and receiving yards (1,553) than all other Green Bay receivers had combined (117 catches, 1,533 receiving yards) in 2021. In fact, Adams accounted for 34.3 percent of Green Bay’s receiving yards last season. That was the third-highest percentage of a team’s receiving yards by any player league-wide. So who pick up Adams’ production in 2022?
It’s a tough assessment when looking at this group, but I believe Watson will emerge as Aaron Rodgers’ go-to target. The Packers traded up to select him 34th overall. He’s the highest-drafted wideout by the Packers since Rodgers became the starting QB in 2008. The 6-5, 208-pound rookie will be tough to defend, with quickness in and out of his breaks and downfield speed. Watkins, entering his ninth season, has a real opportunity to have a career season catching passes from the back-to-back MVP, but he MUST stay healthy.
Cobb has great chemistry with Rodgers, so expect the vet to get his share of targets. Lazard, who signed his restricted free agent tender last week but still desires a long-term deal, has a chance to be a playmaker in 2022, but to me, the fact that the Packers drafted two players at his position is telling. That brings me to Doubs, who I’ve heard nothing but good things about since he arrived in Green Bay. He has strong hands and can take the top off the defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if the fourth-rounder ends up as the team’s WR2 at some point during the season.
How realistic is it to have your top two wide receivers as rookies?
Last season the NFL saw Ja’Maar Chase do things that no rookie wide receiver has done since maybe Randy Moss. However Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a college rapport with either rookie wide receiver like Joe Burrow did with Chase. It is going to take time to establish that connection between both rookie wide receivers and Rodgers. I would say it is definitely a possibility that one of those two is a legitimate number two option by seasons end. Sammy Watkins and Allen Lazard will be fighting for a career year all season.
Either way, like mentioned above, this wide receiver room will create for some extremely good competition. A few veterans trying define themselves / save their career. Along with younger guys trying to prove they belong in this league and live up to the hype.
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