Aaron Rodgers throws his support behind Packers' new No. 1 WR Allen Lazard

The Green Bay Packers are putting a ton of faith in wide receiver Allen Lazard, a former undrafted free agent and practice squad player.

Trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason allowed the Packers to go all-in on defense and give Aaron Rodgers potentially the best defensive unit he's ever played with. The Packers netted an extra first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for Adams, and they spent both of their first-rounders on talented defenders from Georgia in linebacker Quay Walker and defense lineman Devonte Wyatt, respectively.

Trading arguably the best wideout in football also opened up a ton of room on the wide receiver depth chart as well, obviously. Sure, the Packers drafted young wideout prospects with tons of potential in Christian Watkins and Romeo Doubs and they also signed Sammy Watkins and retained Randall Cobb, but potentially the biggest move they made this offseason at wideout was trusting that Lazard can take the next step and become a top wide receiver in the NFL.

For a player who seems to profile as a great No. 3 and a solid No. 2 in a pinch, that could be somewhat of a stretch. Lazard doesn't see it that way, though. In fact, he seems to relish the opportunity for more opportunities within Green Bay's offense.

“I think it added maybe a little fuel to that fire, so to speak,” Lazard recently told the Associated Press, specifically talking about the hole in the offense left by Adams. “But it wasn’t like it ignited the flame.

“Since I was 16 years old, when I committed to Iowa State, this is the vision I saw, this is the vision I had,” the wideout continued. “I never knew how I’d get here. I didn’t know I’d have to go through Jacksonville and fight my way up the roster to get to this point. But I knew eventually that I would be here.”

For what it's worth, Lazard has become an integral part of head coach Matt LaFleur's offense and he is coming off the best statistical season of his career, with 40 catches for 513 yards and eight touchdowns to his name in 2021.

He also has the support of Rodgers, a four-time MVP and winner of two straight. That certainly means something in Green Bay, especially considering how tough it is for wide receivers to gain the trust of the future Hall of Famer.

"I really think Allen is ready to make a jump and be a No. 1 receiver," Rodgers said, via the AP. "He has a lot to prove, I think, to himself and other people and maybe to the team as well. So I like a hungry Allen Lazard."