Green Bay Packers: What About Jake Kumerow?

Where does fan-favorite Jake Kumerow fit into the Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver picture this season?

Everyone loves an underdog story, especially in sports. And for Jake Kumerow, who played DIII football at the Wisconsin based UW-Whitewater, he is the ultimate fan favorite for the Green Bay Packers’ faithful. Not only did he defy the odds and make it to the NFL, but he played college ball at a school that many of us root for.

The 2020 season is now going to be Kumerow’s third with the team, and during his first two seasons, he has flashed that big-play ability with a career average of 16.1 yards per catch and two touchdowns. In fact, five of his 20 receptions have gone for at least 20 yards. Yes, a small sample size, but certainly not bad at all, either.

But perhaps the biggest thing that Kumerow has going for him is that he has Aaron Rodgers in his corner. Since joining the team in 2018, Kumerow has proven to be a reliable receiver – just one drop in regular-season action – he knows what his job is on each play, and he’s going to be in the right spots.

This is precisely how you go about earning QB1’s trust, and last summer Rodgers would rave about Kumerow when he was asked about him (via Packers Wire):

"“You know the guy is going to do it right, he’ll always be in the right spot, he knows what he’s doing all the time and what the other guys are doing,” Rodgers said. “And when he gets a chance to make plays, he makes plays. And he does it in a super classy, understated way. Obviously, I’m a big fan of him. I don’t need to keep going on that.”"

However, despite the big plays and kind words from Rodgers, consistent playing time still alludes Kumerow.

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), through the first four weeks in 2019, he saw just six total snaps on offense. Then he would see an uptick from weeks five through eight that included a season-high of 65 snaps in Week 6. But ultimately, from Week 8 through the end of the regular-season, Kumerow would average just over 16 offensive snaps per game.

And keep in mind that this was with all of the issues that the Green Bay Packers had at the receiver position in 2019. Yet Kumerow still didn’t see a lot of regular playing time.

So as we look ahead to the 2020 season, what’s in store for Kumerow, and where does he fit in?

Well, as has been the case during his first two seasons in Green Bay, he’s going to be battling for a final roster spot.

At this point, I would call Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown locks to make the roster. So there are five receivers right there, and truthfully, I wouldn’t be shocked if that is how many the Packers keep on the 53-man.

Those five “true” receivers coupled with Aaron Jones, Josiah Deguara, A.J. Dillon, Jamaal Williams, Robert Tonyan, Tyler Ervin, and Jace Sternberger gives this offense 12 pass-catchers who are going to see regular playing time in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Now remember, the days of four and five wide for a majority of the game are gone, and LaFleur keeping seven or eight receivers on the roster just isn’t in play anymore.

With that said, if the Green Bay Packers do end up keeping six receivers, you have to think Kumerow is the favorite for that final spot. And quarterback Tim Boyle agrees as he picked out Kumerow as the offensive player that he sees making the biggest jump in 2020 during his interview with Jimmy Christensen of Packer Report:

"“He knows where to go. Some routes you have to take a little speed off, know the timing, and he is never too early or too late. He is always in the right spot, doing the right thing, and is super reliable. I think Jake’s going to have a big year for us.”"

But before that breakout can potentially take place, Kumerow will be competing against a few others for that sixth receiver spot on the depth chart; if there is one.

His competition will include Darrius Shepherd, who saw some playing time in 2019 but struggled. Reggie Begelton who put together a monster season in the CFL, but we have no idea how he will translate to the NFL level. Then there is second-year player Malik Taylor and undrafted free agent, Darrell Stewart.

While Kumerow certainly has a leg up on this group, it’s also worth pointing out that at 28-years-old, he is the oldest receiver on this Green Bay Packers’ roster. And considering that he is yet to truly establish himself in the NFL, if it’s a close call for a final roster spot, age could absolutely play a factor, and it often does in this league.

As is usually the case, it’s going to come down to what happens on the practice field this summer, and considering the unusual circumstances of this offseason, that is another factor – knowing the offense – that’s in Kumerow’s favor along with the trust he has established with Rodgers.

Yet keep in mind that there’s a reason Kumerow didn’t see regular playing time in 2019. He is, once again, the oldest receiver on the roster while largely being unproven, and there’s no guarantee that the Packers even keep more than five receivers this season.

So I’ve said all of that to say this, Kumerow is far from a lock to make the roster and fans shouldn’t be all that surprised if he’s gone in 2020.