The Green Bay Packers 2023 training camp opens this week, and the team has started preparations for the new season. This is a year full of questions for the team with Jordan Love taking over for Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback and a roster full of young players who are long on talent but short on experience. One position that is extremely short on experience is wide receiver. Although the Packers have 11 wide receivers on their current roster, none of them has more than one season of NFL experience.
Last year’s three draft picks, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure, have more experience than any other wide receiver on the roster.
GM Brian Gutekunst also drafted three more wide receivers this year with Jayden Reed from Michigan State being the earliest selection in the second round.
The Packers are presently planning to stick with this young group of receivers. The front office and coaching staff believe the team can learn and develop together. But is that necessarily wise?
It’s Not Just Wide Receiver
The Packers are not just young at wide receiver but at several other key positions on offense. While Love is a former first-round draft choice, he also has made only one NFL start in his career. Clearly, Love will experience some growing pains this season and having even one experienced receiver on the roster may be helpful to him as he experiences these inevitable bumps along the way.
The Packers are also lacking experience at tight end. Josiah Deguara is the only tight end on the roster with extended experience playing on offense in the NFL. The coaching staff utilizes Deguara more as a fullback or H-back than a traditional tight end. Tyler Davis has contributed mostly on special teams.
Having no experienced players at wide receiver or tight end could be costly for the Packers especially when the team lacks experience at quarterback.
Packers Seek Balance at Wide Receiver
The Packers have indicated they don’t want to have a veteran take away snaps from these young, talented players. The coaching staff seems ready to live with some of these mistakes. In the recent past, veterans like Sammy Watkins or Devin Funchess have not worked out and did not make major contributions to the team due to injuries and inconsistent play.
But even having a veteran wideout on the roster who may not play often could help mentor this young receiving corps and the inexperienced starting quarterback. Players who have been through the battles in the NFL can help those who haven’t and can speed up the development process.
The Packers will take a wait and see attitude as training camp and the preseason get under way. But if things are not working as well as they hoped, don’t be surprised to see a veteran receiver or tight end added to the roster before the start of the season.
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