The Green Bay Packers are set to open training camp later this week. This is the last in a series of articles previewing the Packers position by position, analyzing the talent on the roster and discussing key questions that are facing the team as they begin preparation for the 2025 season. Today we will examine the wide receivers. We will look at another position each day until the start of training camp. To read our quarterbacks analysis, click here, for defensive tackles, click here and for running backs, click here. Click here for linebackers, here for tight ends, here for defensive ends, here for the offensive line, here for the secondary, and here for special teams. These are three big questions facing the Green Bay Packers wide receivers entering training camp in 2025:
The Projected Candidates: Starters: Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks; Backups: Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Christian Watson, Bo Melton, Malik Heath; Fighting for Roster Spots: Mecole Hardman, Cornelius Johnson, Julian Hicks, Sam Brown, Jr.
Three Big Questions Facing the Packers Wide Receivers, Number One: Who Will Be the Starters?
The Packers have plenty of talent at wide receiver, but the depth chart remains unclear. Jayden Reed has led the team in catches in each of the last two seasons and will likely remain the starting slot receiver.
Romeo Doubs remains the steadiest and most experienced boundary receiver although there have been trade rumors surrounding him over the offseason.
Dontayvion Wicks led the team in targets last year but also dropped too many passes. Drops were a concern up and down the lineup and need to be reduced.
Christian Watson will miss at least half the season as he rehabs from knee surgery. What impact he can have when he returns remains to be seen. When he’s healthy and in the lineup, his combination of size and speed makes him a deep threat. He also opens up space for teammates because defenses have to respect him.
What role will Watson take on when he returns? Will he displace any of the starters? If so, how long will that take?
The battle for the three starting spots may be an ongoing issue throughout the season with the best players getting the biggest number of reps.
Number Two: How Soon Will Matthew Golden Make an Impact?
The Packers hadn’t selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2002. That changed this year with the selection of Matthew Golden.
While rookie wideouts have been stepping in and doing more in their first NFL campaigns, there generally is a learning curve at the position.
Golden should take on a larger role in the offense as the season progresses and he’s more comfortable with the playbook. How big an impact he has and how quickly he can integrate into the lineup will be big factors in whether he helps to upgrade the receiving room this season.
The same can be said to a lesser extent to third-round pick Savion Williams. Expect head coach Matt LaFleur to design several plays and formations for Williams early before he learns the full offense.
Three Big Questions Facing the Packers Wide Receivers, Number Three: Will the Packers Cut Down on the Dropped Passes
The Packers were among the worst teams in the league when it came to dropped passes last season. Nearly every top receiver on the roster had too many dropped passes. This derailed drives and hurt the consistency of the offense.
The roster will be more or less the same at the top with the addition of Golden, Williams and possibly Mecole Hardman.
If the team doesn’t cut down on the drops, the offense will struggle to improve this season. The team will be counting on a better performance form their receivers for the offense to take a step forward in 2025.
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