Packers free agency needs: Quiet first day for WR position

Well over 50 free agents reportedly agreed to contracts once the NFL’s legal tampering period opened on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s official start of free agency. However, none of those signings were at wide receiver, a position where the Green Bay Packers could really use a veteran presence.

There are two primary reasons why the receiver position was left untouched on Monday. One is that this isn’t a very strong free-agent class. And two, the wide receiver market really exploded last offseason. In total, there were 14 receivers in 2022, making at least $20 million per year. Another 10 were in the $15 million to $19.9 million range.

Add it all up, and you have a scenario where no team wants to be the first to make a deal, potentially setting the wide receiver market this offseason with a free agent class lacking star power.

For the Packers, they have a very young wide receiver room, hence why they could use a veteran. The team leader at the position in snap counts is Romeo Doubs, with 529 over his career per PFF. He’s followed by Christian Watson with 507 and Samori Toure with 112. Bo Melton, another 2022 rookie, has none, while Jeff Cotton has one in his three-year career.

This is a position where the Packers could use more playmaking, but chances are they aren’t going to find that consistent ability in free agency, given Green Bay’s salary cap situation.

Prior to re-signing Keisean Nixon, the Packers had $24.04 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. That figure will then shrink by at least $8.7 million if Aaron Rodgers is traded due to dead cap. Although there are still a few contract restructure candidates remaining to free up additional cap space, Green Bay is out of significant cap-saving moves. Again, this is going to be an offseason where the Packers are limited in free agency.

So instead, the purpose of a veteran signing would be to hopefully provide some stability to the position. While Watson looks like a true No. 1 target and Doubs has upside as well, there still very well will be ups and downs in Year 2 for each player. As far as the other three receivers go, they are wildcards. There is also something to be said about having experience in the film room and on the practice field with such a young room overall.

On PFF’s top-100 free agent rankings, seven receivers made the list, but only one, Parris Campbell, is projected to come with a reasonable cap hit for the Packers. The other six, including Allen Lazard, are projected to earn at least $11 million per year as free agents.

Other receivers, who aren’t in PFF’s top 100 but are projected to earn less than $5 million per year on their next contract, according to Spotrac, include Marvin Jones, Darius Slayton, and Mack Hollins. Randall Cobb could be an option that makes sense as well– that is if he doesn’t follow Aaron Rodgers to New York.

Of course, there are more options than the five players mentioned, but these are the most notable.

A veteran free agent addition should in no way impact how the Packers go about the NFL Draft, with receiver still being a need that they should address come April. However, a free agent signing could alleviate some of that burden, and this also isn’t a draft class with as much high-end talent at the position as we’ve seen in previous years.

Other positions that should be on Green Bay’s radar in free agency include tight end, safety, interior defensive lineman, and a backup quarterback if Jordan Love is the starter.