PFF ranks Packers' receiving corps 21st overall heading into 2025—fair or foul?
PFF ranks Packers' receiving corps 21st overall heading into 2025—fair or foul?
There's no denying the potential inside the Green Bay Packers' receiver room. But with all that potential comes a lot of uncertainty about how the group will perform on game day this season.
On paper, the Packers have surrounded quarterback Jordan Love with enough weapons to field a top-ranked passing attack next season. However, until Green Bay's receivers live up to their perceived talent, the room will continue to carry plenty of question marks heading into 2025.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 receiving corps ahead of the 2025 season, placing the Packers at an unremarkable 21st overall.
Sikkema wrote:
'Running back Josh Jacobs led the Packers in PFF receiving grade (89.2). It was a career-high mark, but the rest of the pass-catching unit left something to be desired. The team's 8.1% drop rate was the fourth highest in the league, and only Jayden Reed surpassed 800 receiving yards.
Still, Tucker Kraft emerged as Green Bay's go-to tight end with a 71.0 PFF receiving grade, and Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson all recorded PFF receiving grades between 71.0 and 73.0. First-round draft pick Matthew Golden should help the cause. There are a lot of names to consider in the Packers' receiving corps, but none truly strike fear into defenses right now.'
Overall, Sikkema's reasoning is sound. None of the Packers' pass catchers kept opposing defenses up at night last season. They also had glaring issues holding onto the football, finishing tied for the third-most drops in the league.
Individually, Reed got off to a blazing hot start but struggled with drops and saw his production dip drastically in the second half of the season.
After a rookie season containing flashes, Dontayvion Wicks was a breakout candidate entering 2024. But he caught only 52.7% of his targets, which ranked dead last among receivers with at least 70 targets, per PFF.
Meanwhile, Doubs had become one of Love's most trusted targets but missed four games last season due to a suspension, injuries, and an illness. Matt LaFleur has spoken highly of Doubs' offseason performance, and the team has no concerns about his health moving forward despite two concussions last season. Now entering his fourth NFL season, Doubs has yet to eclipse 700 receiving yards. He may need to have his best year yet if he hopes to stick around beyond his rookie deal.
One of the offense's biggest X-factors since joining the team in 2022, Christian Watson, could miss most of next season after suffering an ACL tear in the regular season finale against Chicago. While Watson's size, athleticism, and talent are unmatched in Green Bay, injuries have kept him from becoming a dominant, game-changing receiver. Unless something changes, he could also be nearing the end of his time with the Packers.
The biggest thing holding back all of the aforementioned receivers is consistency. All four have looked like high-level playmakers at different points in their careers, but no defense is overly worried about any of them.
That could change with the addition of Golden, the team's first first-round pick at receiver in over two decades. Golden—and even third-rounder Savion Williams—appear to be positive additions, but expecting rookies to transform an offense overnight is foolishly optimistic.
On a positive note, Sikkema highlighted Jacobs and Kraft as bright spots in last year's passing game. With Jacobs' well-rounded skill set and Kraft's continued development, the team doesn't have to worry about its running back or tight end if both stay healthy.
At the end of the day, rankings are offseason busy work. That said, the urgency inside Green Bay's receiver room is very real. Even if no true No. 1 option emerges for Love, it would still be a victory if the group collectively starts to strike fear into opposing defenses.
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