The Green Bay Packers gambled in 2023 and featured a wide receiver corps with no players possessing more than one year of NFL experience. Despite the lack of veterans, the group did remarkably well by season’s end. The Packers accomplished that without a traditional number one receiver. They did not feature one go-to receiver who quarterback Jordan Love looked for in key situations. That changed from game-to-game or even from play-to-play. But who is most likely to become the Packers number one receiver in 2024? Here are the top three Packers receivers who could become the team’s number one receiver and why they may be the best fit for the position.

Potential Packers Number One Receivers in 2024: Number Three Dontayvion Wicks

Dontayvion Wicks may have been the biggest surprise of any of the Packers wideouts in 2023. The fifth-round pick out of Virginia played in 15 games in his rookie year, starting six. He caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns.

At 6’1” and 206 pounds, Wicks has a good combination of size and speed. He also showed the ability to get deep downfield and to make short and intermediate plays as well.

Head coach Matt LaFleur has confidence in Wicks’ abilities. “He’s physical, he’s smart, he’s a really good route-runner, he’s got really strong hands and he’s fearless. He’s a guy we’ve got a lot of confidence in, and we’ve got to try to find different ways to integrate him more into our offense because he’s a productive player.”

Lafleur even compared Wicks’ footwork to that of Davante Adams, the Packers last bona fide number one receiver. “I just think it’s that short-area quickness,” LaFleur said in December. “What I like to compare it to is crossing somebody over on the basketball court. He’s got that ability to play on his insteps. He’s got a ways to go before he gets to that level, but I do think as far as the skillset and all that, that you look for in a guy, I think the sky’s the limit for him, quite frankly.”

Potential Number One Receivers, Number 2: Jayden Reed

Jayden Reed had an outstanding rookie season. The second round pick out of Michigan State earned the starting slot receiver job out of training camp. All he did in his first NFL season was lead the team in catches with 64, yards with 793 and tied for the team lead with eight touchdown catches.

This performance broke the Packers single-season record for catches by a rookie set by Sterling Sharpe back in 1988.

Reed accomplished all this despite missing one game and playing just 56 percent of the Packers offensive snaps.

Early in the season, Reed excelled at the up and out pass pattern, but he expanded his repertoire as the season progressed. He dropped only three passes all season. Reed was also a threat on the end around or jet sweep, rushing 11 times for 119 yards and two more touchdowns.

LaFleur was impressed by the effort Reed gave the team. “He’s a dog. He’s a war daddy,” LaFleur said after the Packers win over the Chargers.

Potential Packers Number One Receivers in 2024, Number One: Christian Watson

Of all the players in the Packers receiving room, Christian Watson has the most potential. His combination of size at 6’4” and 208 pounds, and elite speed makes the former North Dakota State star a unique weapon for any offense.

The biggest challenge for Watson has been staying healthy. In 2023, he was limited to nine games, and he was on a play count in roughly half of them due to recurring hamstring injuries.

Watson still caught 28 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He is a big play threat any time he catches the ball.

“His play has really taken off, and I think that’s been a big catalyst for our offense,” LaFleur said when Watson was briefly healthy this season. He also added, “He’s a dynamic player. Once he gets going, you guys see the results.”

Watson has three things he needs to take to be an elite number one wide receiver. He needs to refine his pass patterns which are not always precise. He needs to improve his hands a bit as they are not always consistent, and he needs to stay healthy. The Packers are having him see a hamstring specialist this offseason to see if that can help.

If Watson can fix these issues, he can develop into an elite NFL receiver.

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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