Cory's Corner: Taking A Gamble At WR Depth
Wide receiver depth was something the Packers were always blessed with. Now they are only one injury away from biting their fingernails.
The Green Bay Packers are walking a dangerous tightrope with their wide receiver room as they head into Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this Tuesday. For years, general manager Brian Gutekunst earned praise for building one of the deepest, most dynamic young pass-catching corps in the NFL. It was a masterclass in roster construction: a collection of cheap, highly talented targets growing concurrently alongside franchise quarterback Jordan Love. But an aggressive, polarizing offseason has completely shattered that comfortable narrative, leaving Green Bay with a sudden depth crisis that threatens to destabilize the offense.
The cracks in the foundation formed rapidly over the spring through two major departures. First, steady chain-mover Romeo Doubs bolted for a lucrative free-agent deal with the New England Patriots. Then, in a move that blindsided fans, the front office traded away the highly efficient Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the span of a few weeks, Love lost two of his most reliable targets on third down and in the red zone. Combined, Doubs and Wicks accounted for a massive chunk of the team's offensive identity, leaving a production void that cannot simply be waved away with optimism.
Yet, despite these glaring losses, the front office chose not to heavily invest in the position during the draft. Instead, management is placing a massive bet on a select few: a healthy Christian Watson, a versatile Jayden Reed, and 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden. On paper, that trio possesses explosive, field-stretching potential. In reality, it leaves the Packers exactly one injury away from absolute disaster. If Watson’s historical hamstring issues resurface, or if Golden hits a sophomore slump, the offense will quickly find itself starved for answers.
This brings a heavy, regular-season level of pressure to the upcoming OTA sessions starting next week. Since the top remaining veteran wideouts opted to skip the earliest stretches of voluntary workouts, the field is wide open. These next three weeks serve as a high-stakes audition for the bottom half of the depth chart. The coaching staff will be watching closely to see if unproven, homegrown talent can step into the light, or if the drop-off behind the main trio is too steep to ignore.
Since the Packers salivate over versatility, my obvious first choice would be Deebo Samuel. He has proven what he can do as a receiver and as a running back. Then there are guys like Brandin Cooks, who can stretch the field at a moment’s notice and the 6-foot-2 Keenan Allen, who would be a perfect fit as the third wide receiver in Green Bay. Notice that I didn’t mention Stefon Diggs’ name. Granted, he is a very good receiver, but the swirl surrounding him is just too great.
The front office will use this OTA tape as a final diagnostic tool. If the young reserves look overwhelmed against Jonathan Gannon’s new-look defense, Gutekunst will be forced to swallow his pride and scour the veteran free-agent market before training camp begins in July. For a team with legitimate championship aspirations, hoping for internal development is a luxury they can no longer afford. The margin for error is gone, and the evaluation begins on May 26.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (35)
Turophile
May 23, 2026 at 07:00 am
So Savion Williams and Skyy Moore are nothingburgers now ? Kraft can catch a bit (sarcasm there) and Musgrave too. So can our RBs.
Let us not pretend there are no options if a WR goes down. Heck, there is even Bo Melton who played some WR last year, though he is listed as a CB. You can scheme around the loss of one WR.
If two of the top 3 WRs go down at the same time, yes there is a problem, but that would be the case on just about every single NFL team.....and even if there WAS a team out there who could comfortably manage the loss of two of their top three WRs, they would have equally bad or worse depth, elsewhere on their roster.
Coldworld
May 23, 2026 at 08:06 am
If all 3 starters got the flu and missed game one (Golden, Watson and Reed) then we’d be putting out something like
Shepherd, Moore, Williams or Willams, Melton, Neyor. That’s only using players who were with us last year or have played in the NFL previously—no rookies considered. I’m really not that worried even in this extreme circumstance.
I’d be far more uncomfortable about the TE group minus Kraft or the RB group minus Jacobs and relying on an untested Lloyd in game one.
golfpacker61
May 23, 2026 at 08:15 am
"I’d be far more uncomfortable about the TE group minus Kraft or the RB group minus Jacobs and relying on an untested Lloyd in game one."
100% right CW. We have some real talent in the wings @ WR right now. On paper probably the best group, potentially, we have had in GB. No one should be worried.
TE & RB are a completely different story. We really don't have solid #2 backups to either position tight now. I feel worse about those 2 positions and Edge than I do about WR.
Turophile
May 23, 2026 at 11:35 am
Exactly, Coldworld.
@Golfpacker61. I'm not too worried about RB at this time. if Jacobs goes down Lloyd is a backup with plenty of talent (we just haven't seen it yet). Than there is Brooks who isn't great at anything but is competent at EVERYTHING. After that there is Martinez, who is better than many fans might imagine.....and even after THAT you could, in a pinch, use Savion Williams as an emergency RB.
I'd be more worried if one of our OTs went down. Kinnard and Glover don't exactly inspire, though I'd guess Belton might shift over to tackle and maybe Burton goes to guard ?
golfpacker61
May 23, 2026 at 08:09 am
"The cracks in the foundation formed rapidly over the spring through two major departures. First, steady chain-mover Romeo Doubs bolted for a lucrative free-agent deal with the New England Patriots. Then, in a move that blindsided fans, the front office traded away the highly efficient Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles."
Wow Cory, that's really dramatic. So we lost 2 guys that caught 80-90 passes between them, mainly because Watson and Reed missed time, big deal. How many did they drop 2 years ago? And no fans were "blindsided" by the trade of Wicks either. It was only an everyday topic since the season ended. Doubs, before the season started, was constantly the subject of medical concerns with his concussions.
We lost 2 decent WRs and we have 6 waiting to step in. Next guy up, business as usual.
Starrbrite
May 23, 2026 at 05:25 pm
Yep—business as usual.
dblbogey
May 23, 2026 at 10:23 pm
"Gutekunst will be forced to swallow his pride" WTF does that mean? Yes, we've lost superstar Wicks and his 35 catches a year. LOL. I used to skip Cory, but his articles make me laugh so I read them.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 24, 2026 at 07:04 pm
Cory tries to conjure angst, but I disagree with the premise of the article. Our biggest "weakness" at WR is 4 players who are the type MLF doesn't prefer. #9 is irreplaceable, but Sheppard Neyor and Sturdivant (not necessarily in that order) all have size and speed, and Savion Williams is almost as big as many modern linebackers.
Our depth at WR is enviable and I'm not sure any other team goes 9 deep this well. This room is set for years!
Guam
May 23, 2026 at 07:10 am
So Savion Williams (third round draft choice) and Skyy Moore (second round pick) get completely ignored by this article as well as existing reserves Melton, Sturdivant, Neyor and Shepard. Which means the Packers should immediately run out and spend limited cap space on a fading veteran name like Deebo Samuels. And by using valuable cap space on Samuels, the Packers likely will not have enough left to address real needs like a blocking TE, reserve OL and maybe a veteran Edge. All perfectly logical according to Cory......
Just to flesh out the cap issue, according to Spotrac the Packers have about $18MM in cap space right now (other sources have it as low as $7MM or as much as $22MM) for their top 51 players. Subtract the $5MM they will need to sign their draft class; the $2MM to sign the 52nd and 53rd players on the roster; and the $5MM they will need for injury replacement signees during the playing season and the Packers really only have about $6MM in available cap space to sign veterans now. If the Packers sign Samuels, that leaves very little left to sign a blocking TE, a reserve OL or a veteran Edge. Hard No.
Edit: The $18MM in cap space is after the 2026 rookie class is signed. That leaves the Packers with about $11MM in cap space .
dobber
May 23, 2026 at 07:53 am
I think the draft class is fully signed. That should be reflected on sites with up-to-date cap numbers.
Coldworld
May 23, 2026 at 07:56 am
Agreed, but that still doesn’t leave us with much wiggle room to deal with the exigencies of a season and contract extensions.
Guam
May 23, 2026 at 08:24 am
Yup, missed that one Dobber. Should have looked at the names on the Spotrac list as the rooks are all listed as signed. So the Packers have a bit more cap room thankfully. Still don't think we should be signing a veteran WR given the other needs.
Coldworld
May 23, 2026 at 07:54 am
A very acute riposte. Not much left to say.
I for one am looking forward to watching the WR depth this summer and think it’s actually got a lot more raw potential than we’ve had in years. Not all of that will blossom, not all that does will do so fully this year, but behind Watson, Reed and Golden we have plenty of options who have the potential. to be more than just make-weights and don’t need them all to break through. WR might be the one group outside S that I see the least to worry about in.
Savage57
May 23, 2026 at 07:42 am
Watson, Reed, Golden, Williams, Moore, Sheppard, Neyor, JMS, maybe even Melton.
There's a six man group in there somewhere without adding a FA.
If calamity strikes, then go FA dumpster diving.
golfpacker61
May 23, 2026 at 08:20 am
Samuels, Cooks, and Melton are all overpriced has beens. There are always a million of these types out there. I will take the group we have and run with it.
What we need is a Y TE and a veteran "bridge" Edge to keep us afloat until Parsons is 100%.
Starrbrite
May 23, 2026 at 05:26 pm
100%
Oppy
May 23, 2026 at 07:43 am
Capable WR's are as close to "a dime a dozen" as anything you're going to find in the NFL.
I do think we're going to miss Doubs and I'd like to have retained Wicks, but the WR room is in good shape and if need be, there's always WRs who can step in and help you move the sticks available around the league.
HawkPacker
May 25, 2026 at 08:55 am
Because of the Cap, you just can't keep everyone. So at least these two departed were from the strongest group on the packers. They should be just fine as the young guys are hungry.
Now the TE group? Thant worries me a bit with minimal depth.
PhantomII
May 25, 2026 at 02:37 pm
LOL...NO...Capable of what...dropping the ball...AR had a strong team around him with DA....AND NO CAPABLE WR's after that....which is why we did not move-on. In JL case, we do currently have 3 Capable WR's , one Capable RB1 and a Capable TE1...Is the QB Capable of throwing to Golden when he needs to...is ML Capable of consistently drawing up a good game plan and have wrinkles in it for when the Defense adjusts to it....?????
Oppy
May 26, 2026 at 06:24 pm
WRs weren't the problem for AR.
Done with that very popular, and very wrong, narrative.
WD
May 23, 2026 at 07:49 am
Like all teams if a major starter goes down at any position it becomes cause for alarm. We keep the next man up strategy for all positions. I like our depth at WR. I consider WR a strength.
What if Josh Jacobs is out for the season?
Last season we lost two of our best players in Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons, I daresay that loss was too much to overcome. . Nothing can destroy playoff hopes like injuries, That is a harsh reality in the NFL
Overall I am cautiously optimistic. . With minimal injuries we will definitely compete for the Superbowl.
Turophile
May 23, 2026 at 11:57 am
Love, Parsons, Kraft, Watson, McKinney, Cooper, Tom and possibly Morgan are the 7-8 guys you really want to stay on their feet. Other starters going out injured will still cause problems, but less serious ones. Losing a kicker could also mess things up, especially at playoff time when the margin between winning and losing is razor thin.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 24, 2026 at 07:10 pm
I'd add more to that list. X. Linemen (on either side) #8
I don't dare mention Marshawn Lloyd ...
Zapato
May 23, 2026 at 08:21 am
I want some of what you're smoking! :-)
golfpacker61
May 23, 2026 at 08:26 am
When Doubs and Wicks were drafted in the later rounds, neither was thought of as a potential WR1, 2, or 3. They were guys GB identified has having some talent & potential. Just like Williams, Moore, Neyor, Shepard, Sturdivant, and Melton. Golden was picked with very high expectation, Watson & Reed were too. We have a very solid group behind our 3 starters, this year they will start to contribute and I think in a big way.
Guam
May 23, 2026 at 08:39 am
I like the WR room too. The author could have written about the TE's or OL and had a more insightful article as both of those rooms have legitimate question marks.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 24, 2026 at 07:13 pm
Savion picked in the third? I'd argue he's separate from the "just a developmental player" group.
Since'61
May 23, 2026 at 09:13 am
I''m more concerned about the RB, TE, OL and CB position groups than I am about the WR room. The Packers top three WRs are solid players and the depth looks pretty strong as well. We need a blocking TE, at least one more vet OL for depth and a vet Edge to get up through the period that Parsons will be out.
With Kraft returning our top three WRs plus Kraft make a formidable receiving corps. Add in Savion Williams, Skyy Moore and Musgrave and the receiving corps looks solid to me. Yes we can always improve a position group but no roster is perfect. The differentiators as the season goes on are injuries and coaching.
It's up to the coaches to get all of the players ready to step in and step up. Injuries are a huge variable that every team must live with and adapt to as they occur.
Thanks, Since '61
dobber
May 23, 2026 at 01:39 pm
"The front office will use this OTA tape as a final diagnostic tool. "
They're going to use OTAs, where guys play in shorts and T-shirts and many starters sit as their final diagnostic?
"For a team with legitimate championship aspirations, hoping for internal development is a luxury they can no longer afford. "
So the Packers should be spending their cap and limited draft resources to make sure they have a starter quality 4th and 5th WR? You're going to have to tell me how many teams out there can go 4 and 5 WR deep without seeing a drop-off in play. It's how the cap works.
Just like the "first round picks" article, the point is that at some point you need to lean into the personnel you've accumulated and count on your coaches to make it go so you can put your draft and cap resources toward positions that really need help....imagine if the Packers took a WR and TE in rounds 2-4 and left CB and DT until day 3 of the draft.
These must really be the doldrums of the off-season.
Alberta_Packer
May 23, 2026 at 03:28 pm
Gamble - "No." Uncertainty - "Yes."
A gamble is a voluntary risk taken in a game of chance. Whereas uncertainty is a broader, uncontrollable state of incomplete knowledge.
So headline more provocative than informative - a.k.a. click bait
LeotisHarris
May 23, 2026 at 03:51 pm
A dangerous tightrope. A masterclass in roster construction. A collection of cheap, highly talented targets growing concurrently alongside Jordan Love. A massive chunk of the teams' offensive identity. A production void that cannot simply be waved away. Since the Packers salivate over versatility, hoping for internal development is a luxury they can no longer afford. Moving forward with the work with due diligence to create game-winning deliverables along with results that endure. It all begins on May 26. Or does it?
stockholder
May 23, 2026 at 06:28 pm
I don't care how versatile these guys are.
It's about a deep threat and elite route running.
When you put two WRs on the block..
you must have change in mind.
I keep thinking whatever pops in Gute's mind.
We must praise him.
Since'75
May 25, 2026 at 08:19 pm
SH....In Guter we Trust.
If Guter doesn't win anything by year 10. I might stop supporting him 😏
*********
I know, i know.
Never give up Champ
CanPackFan
May 25, 2026 at 11:32 am
I too wonder about the reliability of this remaining WR room. The consistency of Doubs and the clutch play of Wicks will be missed. With the injuries of Watson and Reed in recent season(s), it is a cause for concern. Let's see who is available after Jun 1st...
Since'75
May 25, 2026 at 12:05 pm
"Brian Gutekunst earned praise for building one of the deepest, most dynamic young pass-catching corps in the NFL. It was a masterclass in roster construction....."
Well.....Still searching for that elusive 1,000 yard plus wr.
'25...Doubs 724 yards...6 TD's
'24...Reed 857 yards....6 TD's
'23....Reed 793 yards....8 TD's
'22....Lazard 788 yards...6 TD's...Ted's acquisitions below
'21....Adams...1,553 yards...11 TD's
'20...Adams...1,883 yards...18 TD's
'19...Adams ....997 yards...5 TD's (Injured)
'18...Adams....1,386 yards...18 TD's
'17.... Brett Hundley
'16....Jordy Nelson....1,257 yards...14 TD's (coming off ACL surgery)
Master class?...Well, ok, but....
In 8 years of player acquisition, Guter has yet to acquire a 1,000 yard receiver in 8 years.
Not for the lack of trying mind you.....including 12 draft picks, plus free agent signings (who all failed miserably).
See the likes of Sammy Watkins.