2020 Wide Receivers

[run pMc]

I'd expect Gut will wait to see what they actually have and if any players have made the proverbial leap before adding anyone. Don't think that happens until they can have an actual camp.
There will be cuts to accommodate the 35+ drafted WRs also. In other words, hang tight until August/September.

Personally, I'm not sure what a diminutive WR who is nearing age 30 with an injury history will give you. They let Cobb go for the same reason, and we know he can play off-script with Rodgers and has his trust.

Trying to remember - Did Gabriel ever really burn the GB secondary in any of the Bears games?

[Joemailman]

I'd expect Gut will wait to see what they actually have and if any players have made the proverbial leap before adding anyone. Don't think that happens until they can have an actual camp.
There will be cuts to accommodate the 35+ drafted WRs also. In other words, hang tight until August/September.

Personally, I'm not sure what a diminutive WR who is nearing age 30 with an injury history will give you. They let Cobb go for the same reason, and we know he can play off-script with Rodgers and has his trust.

Trying to remember - Did Gabriel ever really burn the GB secondary in any of the Bears games?

No. In 3 games he had 7 catches for 79 yards. He did score a 47 yard TD against Pack in 2016 as Falcons beat Packers 33-32.

The other question is whether LaFleur, given his insistence on WR's blocking, would have much interest in a WR listed at 5-7, 168. All of the Packers WR's, with the exception of Shepherd, weigh in a 200+.

[GB-Brandon]

I'd expect Gut will wait to see what they actually have and if any players have made the proverbial leap before adding anyone. Don't think that happens until they can have an actual camp.
There will be cuts to accommodate the 35+ drafted WRs also. In other words, hang tight until August/September.

Personally, I'm not sure what a diminutive WR who is nearing age 30 with an injury history will give you. They let Cobb go for the same reason, and we know he can play off-script with Rodgers and has his trust.

Trying to remember - Did Gabriel ever really burn the GB secondary in any of the Bears games?

Like I’ve said he isn’t my first choice or second or third choice for that matter. To me it’s more we’re running out of choices and IMO we need more competition at the receiver position other then being that hopefully EQ is recovered from a pretty bad injury who was basically a long shot even before the injury. On top of this someone will probably go down with a new injury this camp. Maybe by some divine intervention some of our guys make a huge jump but for that to be the only hope on a team so close to winning it all is reckless. It reminds me of how Thompson ignored the safety position for years other then hoping mediocre talents got better. We need to safeguard the position.

I do agree with everything is so up in the air that we need to wait for a move to be potentially made. Right now there is no guarantee there will even be a season and with all the uncertainty I can understand Gute not wanting to make a big move right now.

Gabriel made some catches against the Packers while with the Bears. Nothing mind blowing but I’m not sure Mitchell Trubisky served Gabriel well. Nagy came over from the Chiefs so it’s pretty easy to see the plan was for Tyler Gabriel to be his form of Tyreek Hill too some degree.

[pbmax]

Of all the traits I think might be important for a WR, blocking is perhaps #10 on the list. I get it, it helps, but it can't decide each WR roster slot.

He played OK with the Falcons in this offense, he'd be OK for Flower Power.

[texaspackerbacker]

I suspect Packers see ESB as a potential deep threat. Not a burner, but his 4.48 at the combine is Greg Jennings-like. You don't need to be a 4.3 guy to be a downfield threat if you have reach and ball skills.

I agree with this to some extent, along with MVS outside if he can get back to some semblance of his rookie season.

Stretching the field doesn't necessarily mean throwing a lot of bombs to the outside WRs. It is more about occupying Safetys and loosening coverage for others on shorter routes. I think St. Brown is more suited for that than slants and shallow crossing routes. I have a sick sad memory of how he got wiped out going over the middle and injured for the season.

[RashanGary]

Lazard and Adams both ran 4.55

Just fast enough. MVS, if healthy, with a little bit of development, might be a nice between the 20s piece to stretch the field, with funchess more of a goal line piece. And EQ a bonus.

Using less 3 and 4 we sets, we could be set this year.

[GB-Brandon]

Of all the traits I think might be important for a WR, blocking is perhaps #10 on the list. I get it, it helps, but it can't decide each WR roster slot.

He played OK with the Falcons in this offense, he'd be OK for Flower Power.

Yeah, yet it gets brought up with every receiver prospect that gets thrown around here. You’d think we are attempting to run the Barry Switzer playbook and the Wishbone of the 80’s at OU.

Just because the Packers “Can’t Stop the Run” most teams can and will by committing and stacking boxes. Against better teams with better secondaries we need guys that can take advantage of this. I’m not convinced we currently have that.

[GB-Brandon]

Someone please show me where we got better at stopping the run or getting better on the perimeter Where we can separate? The Packers two biggest problems last year on a 13-3 team.

Back to the drawing board.

[RashanGary]

Davante is an all around #1 WR. He can play well outside or in the slot. If we don't have a good slot option, Adams will play inside.

Lazard showed the talent and competitiveness to be a legit #2 WR last year. He's an upgrade over himself last year due to growth. He was young and new to the offense, but you saw a guy who thrives on catching contested footballs and enough physical talent to expect a big leap in production.

MVS has had 9 catches of 40 or more yards in his first two years. That's legitimate top 20 big play production in the NFL. He's an upgrade to himself last year due to growth. He adjusts well to deep passes and catches them too. He struggles in traffic and struggles adjusting his routes to 12s liking. But between the 20s, he opens the offense up for big plays down the field.

Funchess might be used as more of a hybrid TE. Similar size to Lazard, but Lazard is a 4.55 guy and Funchess a 4.7 guy. I see him as our #4 and an upgrade to Allison last year.

EQ is an upgrade to kumerow.


So, due.to growth from within, I see our #2-#4 wr positions better than 2019

[RashanGary]

I think there is like 90% chance Lazard, MVS and EQ are better than the younger/injured versions of themselves. And a 100% chance Funchess is better than Allison. So we got better. Period.

[RashanGary]

Not EXPECTING growth from young players doesn't match up with history.

A list of guys who for a year or two were backups and didn't do much, or starters who didn't do much for their first year or two in the league.

Brett Favre
Aaron Rodgers
Jordy Nelson
Nick Collins
Kenny Clark
Davante Adams
Aaron Jones
Lane Taylor
David Bahktiari
Mike Daniels
Zadarius Smith
Preston Smith
Adrian Amos


Most players aren't very good for their first year or two.

Truly, not being a homer or Kool aid drinker, EXPECTING the Packers to be better at WR in 2020 than 2019 based on how young they've been the last two years and how they're just getting to the solid parts of their careers.... It's more realistic to think there will be growth than to expect them to stay the same. It's not even unrealistic to think a guy like Lazard could be a 1000 yard per season type receiving talent

[Bretsky]

I think there is like 90% chance Lazard, MVS and EQ are better than the younger/injured versions of themselves. And a 100% chance Funchess is better than Allison. So we got better. Period.

We have a 1 and a bunch of 4's that are upgrading over themselves. It's a tough sell at WR
It's hard to find a group that's worse from 1-4. There are some, I maybe think, but it's a challenge. I do agree our RB's are definitely better. So the solution would be dominate the game with the run, and surprise people with occasional passes. Besides our RB's, I'm not sure we're built do that that though. Time will tell

[Bretsky]

Not EXPECTING growth from young players doesn't match up with history.

A list of guys who for a year or two were backups and didn't do much, or starters who didn't do much for their first year or two in the league.

Brett Favre
Aaron Rodgers
Jordy Nelson
Nick Collins
Kenny Clark
Davante Adams
Aaron Jones
Lane Taylor
David Bahktiari
Mike Daniels
Zadarius Smith
Preston Smith
Adrian Amos


Most players aren't very good for their first year or two.

Truly, not being a homer or Kool aid drinker, EXPECTING the Packers to be better at WR in 2020 than 2019 based on how young they've been the last two years and how they're just getting to the solid parts of their careers.... It's more realistic to think there will be growth than to expect them to stay the same. It's not even unrealistic to think a guy like Lazard could be a 1000 yard per season type receiving talent

Agree on the Lizard somewhat. All 32 teams in the NFL can make the improvement from within argunment. Let's hope our coaching staff is elite and maybe our argument is stronger than the other 31 teams

[RashanGary]

Lizard is a really good bet to improve

1. He's young at at an age where improvement is likely

2. He showed skill and made big plays in his first year in the offense

3. His speed is 4.54. fast enough at his height, he does have athletic upside


Young, showed signs, has athletic upside. 2nd year in offense. He's the perfect candidate for a big stride.


After that, we just need a bunch of guys to be a #3 in an offense that doesn't play as often with 3 receivers.

I like our chances, with the running backs and high energy tight ends, to be better.

[RashanGary]

Obviously you don't expect kumerow to be much better, or Darius Shepherd. Physical limitations, same reason you never expected Allison to get better last year.

Even MVS and EQ, we haven't see enough big plays to really expect big things.

Not every young player gets better or should be expected to. But Lizard hits all the targets of a guy who's gonna take a big step forward.