Packers WR's vs Other Teams

[Packgator]

The Favre news has given the national media reason to talk about the Packers all week long. They (Dan Patrick on ESPN radio being one of the worst) make it sound like Brett has nothing but a bunch of CFL rejects to throw the ball to.

The Packers are one of four NFC teams to have a current all-pro at WR. They are also one of two teams in the entire league to have a WR named to the first team "all rookie team" last year. A lot of teams would love to have those "credentials" in their top two receivers.

But that's not the perception towards the Packers. And it's not just the national media. Even some Packer fans feel the same way towards the WR's. If the situation is so bad you would think the Packers would be glad to trade their top five WR's to most other teams for their top five. Yet, when you take a look it's hard to come up with many teams you would make that trade with.

So here's the questions........

What NFC teams would you make that deal with? (Packers top 5 WR's straight up for theirs with no salary cap considerations).

Why stop there.......

What teams in the entire league would you make that deal with?

This time of year you have to project the top five. But all the talk makes it sound like the Packers would love to have what most teams already have. The reality may actually be quite different.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Well, to be fair, none of the WRs after those two have shown they can even be a good #3 receiver yet. Also, Jennings got injured last year, so at this point we don't know if he's injury prone or it was a fluke thing. Also, the TEs stink and the RBs are a question mark. I can see why people think that the Packers are weak at the skill positions. They have one guy (Donald Driver) who is close to being a guaranteed stud. Still, there is talent at RB and WR, so not all hope is lost.

[retailguy]

Truthfully there are a LOT of team that are in better shape than the Packers.

Lions - Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Mike Furrey
Cardinals - Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson


Which would you rather have? Really, does the 4th & 5th WR make that much difference? Seems that the top 3 are really the ones that matter.

Packers have a "weakness" right now. Perhaps one of the young guys steps up and it becomes a strength. We'll see. There are sure enough young guys that ONE ought to be able to step up...

[PackerBlues]

I think you can also speculate, that when these people talk about Favre not having anyone to throw to, you can add TE and RB to the list. Bubba does not seem to have the ability to get open anymore, and even when he does, he does not have the hands he used to either. At running back, I think people got spoiled by Green's ability to catch the ball as well as run with it. In all honesty, you should not think of the loss of Green as simply losing a a running back that was getting old........he was made even more of a weapon by his ability to catch the ball. The same could actually be said about Henderson, as all of his yardage in the last few years came from receptions.

Look at what was lost here. David Martin signed with Miami for a heck of a lot more than Thompson was going to spend on him, and I can understand that. The same goes for Green. What you really need to look at here though, more than anything else, is the fact that Martin, Green, and Henderson knew our system, they had the timing down with Favre. Anyone brought in to replace these guys is going to have to learn the routes, the system, and get their timing down. That simply is not something that will come right away, mid season at best probably. Even then, there will be routes that are going to be ran wrong, and mistakes will be made now and then.

I cannot in all honesty say for a fact that our offense is going to be worse than last year, but you and I both know, it was going to take an aweful lot to make it better than last year, even before the loss of Martin, Green, and Henderson.
All any of us can do is kick back, relax and do our best to trust Thompson.

[Fritz]

It really hinges on how Jennings does this year, and whether Jones can learn enough to be an effective #3. If Jennings stays healthy and develops, and Jones can learn enough to play the #3 spot, then the Packers will be in reasonable shape. I wouldn't swap receivers with either the Queens or the Bears. But the Lions....well, I'd hate to give up DD, but Johnson and Williams, two young guys, would be tempting.

[The Leaper]

Well, what have we added in the offseason to an offense that only scored 16 TDs on 49 trips to the end zone last year?

That is PUTRID, no matter what "talent" you supposedly have or don't have. It was second worst in the NFL...so, yeah, almost CFL caliber.

And let's not forget we are one Donald Driver injury away from being WORSE than a CFL squad.

[PackerBlues]

And let's not forget we are one Donald Driver injury away from being WORSE than a CFL squad.

Owww!!! Knock on wood, knock on wood!!!!!!!!!

(we were also one FA away from having an "intimidating" WR core, if said FA has a kick ass year in NE, Ted may want to quietly pack his bags and leave town fast....... unless he likes Tar and Feathers.)

[The Leaper]

Re: Packers WR's vs Other Teams

What NFC teams would you make that deal with? (Packers top 5 WR's straight up for theirs with no salary cap considerations).

Why stop there.......

What teams in the entire league would you make that deal with?

This time of year you have to project the top five. But all the talk makes it sound like the Packers would love to have what most teams already have. The reality may actually be quite different.

I would trade top 5 WRs with nearly ANY team in the NFL.

Let's be real here. Driver is fabulous, but is getting to the point where age will have a negative effect. He has 2-3 good years left. Jennings is a solid prospect, but he's not a playmaker. No one else on the roster has proven anything on the field yet.

I don't have time to go 5 deep on every roster and break it down...but I would guess that there are at least 24 of 32 teams that I would trade straight up for, and the only reason the number isn't higher is Driver. Take the #1 WR out of the equation, and Green Bay may have the most unproven group of WRs in the NFL.

That doesn't mean they will turn out to be crap. I'm hoping Jones and Clowney become studs. I'm not going to bet on it though.

[Freak Out]

We have WRs playing other than DD? Thats a shocker. The Packers don't know what they have let alone posters on PackerRats. I"m crossing my fingers just like TT that someone else shows up this year.

[Packnut]

WR

Well, we have no TE. I hope Bubba makes me eat those words, but let's be honest. If it was'nt for the couple of good RZ seasons, Bubba is and has been a failure. He does'nt run down the middle and his YAC is disgusting. How many times have we seen a small DB take Bubba's legs out from under him?

I agree with the other comments about Jennings. He is the whole key to our passing offense. Jones and Clowney should contribute a little to the #3 spot. Jackson has good hands out of the backfield and should at least be a 3rd down back.

It's not as bad as the national media states and not as good as the TT crowd says. Based on what we have right now and what we've seen, as a whole our receiving corps is below avg. However, it does have potential.

Still, let's say Jennings plays like he did the first 6 or 7 games and DD is is usual brilliant self. That still means someone has to step up to #3 for us to improve. We have no TE and that is gonna hurt............

[4and12to12and4]

Re: Packers WR's vs Other Teams

What NFC teams would you make that deal with? (Packers top 5 WR's straight up for theirs with no salary cap considerations).

Why stop there.......

What teams in the entire league would you make that deal with?

This time of year you have to project the top five. But all the talk makes it sound like the Packers would love to have what most teams already have. The reality may actually be quite different.

I would trade top 5 WRs with nearly ANY team in the NFL.

Let's be real here. Driver is fabulous, but is getting to the point where age will have a negative effect. He has 2-3 good years left. Jennings is a solid prospect, but he's not a playmaker. No one else on the roster has proven anything on the field yet.

I don't have time to go 5 deep on every roster and break it down...but I would guess that there are at least 24 of 32 teams that I would trade straight up for, and the only reason the number isn't higher is Driver. Take the #1 WR out of the equation, and Green Bay may have the most unproven group of WRs in the NFL.

That doesn't mean they will turn out to be crap. I'm hoping Jones and Clowney become studs. I'm not going to bet on it though.

You had time to read this thread and many others, and you had time to post a reply to this thread, so to say you don't have time to give details on which 24 teams have better receivers is a cop out. Teh Cardinals, Lions, maybe Patriots now, Colts are about the only SURE teams with bwtter talent at that position. This is a great thread, and this is what I've been saying since the offseason began. We are not as weak as most here think we are. Holiday and Ruvell are as good as almost every 2nd WR on all the other teams I didn't mention. And they are our 3rd and 4th, maybe, right now. Jennings ISNT prone to injury, check his collegiate career. NONE. So, it probably was a fluke. His toughness and lack of injuries as a college player were the strengths we all liked about him before he did get injured. He could've been in the running for rookie of the year before that happened, plus the NFL season is much longer and harder than what he ever had to face in his career, so he probably ran out of gas, but now he has a year under his belt, and Favre should be more comfortable with him timing wise, he obviously has trust in him, he threw to him a lot, before the injury. Morency has good enough hands and quickness to replace Green IF given the chance. The only thing I agree with most here on is our TE situation. We need an upgrade there. But as far as receivers go, we will be fine. Not to mention if KRob gets into the picture. He has probowl type talent, speed, quickness, great hands, etc..

[The Leaper]

Re: Packers WR's vs Other Teams

You had time to read this thread and many others, and you had time to post a reply to this thread, so to say you don't have time to give details on which 24 teams have better receivers is a cop out.

You tell me that the Cardinals, Lions, Colts and Pats are the only SURE TEAMS with better talent at WR...but feel free to chide me for not taking an hour to give an in depth analysis on every NFL team?

What evidence do you have that Holiday and Ruvell are as good as the #2 WR on just about any NFL team? Let's see some stats, Mr Cop Out.

What evidence do you have that Jennings will ever be a consistent, reliable starting WR in the NFL? He played OK as a rookie on a team that had no other options at WR...and did not hold up the entire year. His college career has no validity in regard to how he'll hold up in the NFL...the game is vastly different between those two levels. Besides, even you claim it "probably" was a fluke. Exactly my point. No one knows...which is the truth about nearly everyone on this offensive roster at present.

IF all of your IFS become reality, Green Bay will be in great shape. Of course, you can throw out a bunch of IFS for all 32 NFL teams and the same scenario would apply. So your point means jack schnit.

[The Leaper]

Re: WR

Still, let's say Jennings plays like he did the first 6 or 7 games and DD is is usual brilliant self. That still means someone has to step up to #3 for us to improve. We have no TE and that is gonna hurt............

We would still suck even in that scenario IMO.

Neither Driver or Jennings is much of a factor in the red zone. Driver did play great all of last year...and Jennings played his best for about half. We still went 16-for-49 in the red zone.

It makes zero sense for Thompson to just sit on his ass and hope that some rookie suddenly develops out of thin air. He needed to make something happen in terms of a reliable veteran via trade or something.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Packers WR's vs Other Teams

Holiday and Ruvell are as good as almost every 2nd WR on all the other teams I didn't mention.

You REALLY lost me here.

[Joemailman]

What happened to Jennings last year is typical of rookie WR's in the NFL. His body didn't hold up to the rigors of the NFL schedule. The Packers have had him on an off-season conditioning program to correct that. When Jennings was healthy however, he was quite good, and more of a playmaker than most of us thought. There is little reason to think he can't manage 55-70 catches this season, which would put him in solid #2 territory.

Most of the #3 WR's in the league caught somewhere between 20-35 passes last season. Martin's 21 were 3rd on the Packers last year, but he was not the #3 guy for much of the season. Most of his catches came in December, so there is some reason to hope he is still progressing. For all practical purposes, he was a rookie last year too. Add in Carlyle Holiday, who Favre had some good comments about, plus the 2 rookies, and this has a chance to be a pretty good group. I think the Packers have far greater concerns other than the situation at Wide Receiver.