Need for more speed is evident
Another playmaker needed at receiver spot
Third in a 10-part Packers positionanalysis series with grades and biggest needs.
GREEN BAY - In training camp, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur often raved about the depth of the wide receiving corps — so much so that the eventual second-leading receiver was cut, the team didn't try to get Equanimeous St. Brown onto the original 53-man roster after an injury, and then traded Trevor Davis to Oakland. At the end of the year, however, Gutekunst admitted he tried to trade for a playmaker and said he'd add to the room this offseason.
The Packers made do at the position with the group, as a collective, making more of a difference through run blocking than receiving. Outside of Davante Adams, Packers wide receivers caught a combined 109 passes for 1,464 yards and just eight touchdowns. For context, two individuals had more catches than that this season and 15 individuals had at least eight scores.
The good
Adams followed up a breakout season in 2018 with a remarkable campaign in 2019, even though he missed four games. He caught the second-most balls and had the second-most receiving yards in his career and proved he can fit in at any receiver position.
The Packers found something in second-year man Allen Lazard, too, as he proved to be a reliable option. When things were going right, Marquez Valdes-Scantling offered a big-play threat option downfield as well. As a group, they all bought into selfless roles that often saw them making more of an impact in the run game. They also deserve credit for playing well when Adams missed four games — the receivers had 33% of their season total in catches and 40% of their season total in yards in those games.
The bad
There was a clear lack of a trusted playmaker outside of Adams. The group as a whole had drops all year but in the case of the receivers outside of Adams, a drop was sometimes one of only a couple of targets they received in the game. With limited chances, plays had a small margin for error and too often they weren’t able to avoid them.
There was also a lack of explosiveness.
Of the Packers’ 99 pass plays of 15 yards or more, Adams had 28 while Lazard (13), Valdes-Scantling (9), Allison (7), Jake Kumerow (5) and Davis (1) combined for 35.
Biggest need
Speed. It doesn’t matter where it comes from (free agency or the draft) but it became clear that the offense lacked not just top-end, breakaway speed but also the short-area burst to get out into routes or even run-aftercatch ability.
Grades
Davante Adams: Despite a slow start and a turf-toe injury that forced him to miss four games, Adams caught 83 passes for 997 yards and five scores. He maintained his place among the game’s best and was a true difference maker. Grade: A
Geronimo Allison: Expected to be a key contributor out of the slot, Allison struggled holding onto the ball. He averaged just 8.4 yards per reception on a career-high 34 catches. Strong blocking and a couple of key third-down receptions didn’t make up for a lack of production. Grade: D-minus
Marquez Valdes-Scanting: Had one of the more confounding seasons of any player, going from starting and playing nearly 90% of snaps to seeing just one snap in the NFC title game. Was a bigplay threat through the first seven games (21 catches, 416 yards, 19.8 avg., 2 TD) but was invisible over his final 11 (5 catches, 36 yards). Grade: D
Jake Kumerow: Making a 53-man roster for the first time, the WisconsinWhitewater alumnus played 30.4% of the offensive snaps but was more often used as a blocker. He caught just 12 passes for 219 yards and led the team with 18.3 yards per reception. He was also an effective blocker and core special teamer. Grade: C-minus
Allen Lazard: After not making the original 53-man roster, he played in all 16 games but did not become a part of the offense until Week 6. After that he caught 35 passes for 477 yards and three scores while also remaining a core special teamer. Grade: B
Darrius Shepherd: One of training camp’s best stories, the undrafted rookie tryout made the original 53-man roster. But he caught one pass in six games, had negative punt return yardage and a lost fumble before being released. He finished the year on the practice squad. Grade: F
Ryan Grant: Signed on Oct. 16 to provide some depth but he never got off the practice field and was inactive for every game. Grade: Incomplete
Equanimeous St. Brown: The second-year player injured an ankle in the preseason and was placed on seasonending injured reserve before Week 1. Grade: Incomplete