How the Packers wide receiver roles will shake out in 2025 as young core looks to take next step with Jordan Love

This is a great topic of discussion, because it might help determine playing time at the top of the depth and roster spots at the bottom. I'll somewhat exclude the gadget role, because Matt LaFleur doesn't use this as much, it's much more of a situational circumstance than a defined role.

The X receivers are Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath, and Julian Hicks. It's a tough role to fit, and probably the biggest need (before the offseason and now). The Z receivers are Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Christian Watson, Bo Melton, and Cornelius Johnson, and it's where the Packers have the best situation. It's also good in the slot too with Jayden Reed, Savion Williams, Mecole Hardman, and Jadon Janke.

Doubs will still be a big part of the offense, because he's the most natural X of the group, even if sometimes it's a performative role. At the same time and for the same reason, Malik Heath has an advantage over Bo Melton and Mecole Hardman to make the roster.

I certainly expect Golden to play right away . I don't think he will be a starter, because Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks will have the first chances, unless Golden goes crazy in training camp and preseason.

However, the Packers haven't had problems under Matt LaFleur using rookies and young players in skill positions. All of these receivers had significant impact as rookies, and general manager Brian Gutekunst even mentioned how better prepared the pass-catchers are when they get to the NFL these days.

In a league where top receivers are now making $35 million-$40 million, having a cheap and talented offensive weapon is just too big of an advantage to pass up.

Theoretically, the immediate backup center is Jacob Monk, but I don't expect him to have a big role after he was behind Travis Glover and Kadeem Telfort last season to be activated. I don't expect Zach Tom to be moved from right tackle either.

Therefore, the most likely scenario if Elgton Jenkins doesn't show up is to move Sean Rhyan from right guard to center and utilize one of the young players, Jordan Morgan or Anthony Belton, at right guard. The other one would compete directly with Rasheed Walker for the left tackle spot.

Sean Rhyan did have four snaps at center last season in emergency situations, and he practiced a lot at the position last training camp, so he's probably ready to handle snaps and protections.

I liked how they operated last season. The main starters played a series or two each game, other starters competing for jobs played a little bit more, and there was enough time for the backups and third-stringers to add tape to their résumés.

By doing that, the Packers protected their top players as much as possible without compromising the quality of the product early in the season. Sure, they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, but not because the players were rusty.

I'm intrigued to see what they will do at quarterback, because the Packers had been keeping three QBs on the 90-man roster, and now they have four. Maybe it means Love will have fewer reps in training camp.

I'm not totally convinced the Packers want him back, especially after Matt LaFleur was super hesitant to talk about what he could bring to the table in an interview with Kay Adams last week. Maybe, they are keeping him to force an interested team to make a trade. Who knows.

But if Jaire stays on the Packers, I wouldn't count on him as much as the Packers did in the past few years. Expect to start Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine or Javon Bullard, and what you get from Alexander is a bonus. He is still a great player when he's available, but maybe limiting his role is the only viable way to get him on the field at the most important moments.