The Green Bay Packers have made the wide receiver position one of their biggest priorities this offseason. Of course, this was out of dire necessity due to the departures of Davante Adams and Marquez-Valdes-Scantling. First, the Packers signed Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal worth $1.85M. Green Bay then spent three draft picks on wide receivers. These four new arrivals have been added to a receiving room that also includes Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers. For those who have been counting, that is a total of seven wide receivers. Malik Taylor and Juwann Winfree, though, are also out to make the roster. According to Rob Demovsky, the plethora of young talent may be enough to end Watkins’ time in Green Bay before it even starts.
Sammy Watkins Is on the Packers Roster Bubble
Whereas fellow free agent signee Jarran Reed is still expected to have a big role on the team, Sammy Watkins is facing fierce competition from young receivers without a long history of injuries. Yes, the Packers drafted Devonte Wyatt, who plays the same position as Reed. However, Reed’s reputation as a staunch defender has all but cemented his place on the roster.
Watkins, though, is facing challengers left and right. If Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers make the 53-man roster this year, as they did last year, that leaves three spots for six other wide receivers to fill. Most teams keep six wide receivers on their roster, though it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Packers keep seven. Even if they do, though, that would leave four spots and the same seven players competing for them.
Of this situation, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky said:
“The Packers didn’t invest much in Watkins — $350,000 signing bonus as part of a one-year deal. They’ve cut free-agent signees with bigger bonuses (see Devin Funchess). While they don’t have much veteran experience at the position, they did load up at receiver in the draft. If all three draft picks (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure) look ready to contribute by Week 1, perhaps Watkins won’t stick.”
The Rookie Wide Receivers Were Impressive in OTAs
When OTAs began, everyone wanted to see how the rookie wide receivers would perform. While Romeo Doubs garnered the most praise early in camp, Christian Watson turned a lot of heads when mandatory mini camp (and Aaron Rodgers) came around. Speaking of Rodgers, he had some very flattering things to say about Samori Toure, the Packers’ seventh round wide receiver.
Any guesses about who was NOT at OTAs? That would have been Watkins, and Matt LaFleur had some pretty strong words about it.
Malik Taylor and Juwann Winfree both spent time on the roster last season due to injuries to other players. They are both considered up-and-coming prospects who may end up making the 53-man roster this season. If either one of them outperforms Watkins in training camp, he could be looking for a different job.
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