Catching up after being far behind
Much work remains despite improvement
Third in a 2020 Packers positionanalysis series with grades and biggest needs.
Davante Adams became a superstar in 2020. Even if the Green Bay Packers receiver lifted his game to an unprecedented level, his rise was hardly surprising.
What the Packers' receiving depth chart behind Adams achieved had to be one of the more pleasing developments on the roster.
General manager Brian Gutekunst gambled on internal improvement when he chose not to draft a receiver last spring. With Devin Funchess becoming the lone Packers player to accept the COVID-19 opt out, the offense returned its same cast from an underwhelming 2019. That cast became the first Packers team in a 16-game season to have only one receiver with more than 500 yards, historically thin depth.
Because of a bounce-back season from Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a steady resurgence from a surgery-recovered Allen Lazard, the Packers' passing game was much improved in 2020. They solidified the passing game behind Adams, joining tight end Robert Tonyan and running back Aaron Jones as viable threats for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling had an especially promising year.
“I talked to him right before he left,” coach Matt LaFleur said, “and said, ‘Hey man, that's the standard,' and I thought he had so many great moments throughout the course of the year. He really brings something to this football team in terms of his ability to stretch a field vertically. I think he can run by anybody in this league, and were there some tough moments of adversity for him? Absolutely, there were, and we talked about that. But the one thing that I love about him, and about I would say all our guys, is their ability to respond and overcome adversity. He had some tough moments this year, and for him to stay persistent and be tough-minded, it's so awesome to watch a guy fight through some tough moments and come out on top.
“I'm excited about his future. I really am. I think we all have a lot more confidence in him. I think he's got more confidence in himself, and so
the key for him is he’s gonna have to go back and hit that reset button like we all do, and really attack this offseason and make sure that he’s working on ball drills every day. Make sure he’s coming back in the best shape possible. Make sure he’s getting, whether it’s his leg strength or whatever it may be, he gets stronger because there is a expectation for him. I think he set the standard for himself, which is pretty high, which is awesome for this football team.”
Ultimately, Gutekunst’s gamble paid off. The Packers enter this spring with receiver much less of a dire need than it seemed to be a year ago.
The good
To label Adams’ season as good would be a disservice. Adams was great in 2020, putting forth a historic season that might be the finest for any Packers receiver ever. He did everything in the Packers’ offense, lining up on the perimeter and the slot, beating press coverage and off, catching passes on deep routes and short. The only way to limit his production was with blatant double teams, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did by stacking a safety over Adams throughout the NFC championship game. Nobody in the NFL averaged more catches, yards or touchdown grabs, helping Adams become the first Packers receiver to be selected first-team All-Pro since Antonio Freeman in 1998. Overall, it was a breathtaking year.
The bad
While the group as a whole was better, it remained inconsistent. ValdesScantling emerged as a serviceable No. 2, but he would disappear for entire games. Valdes-Scantling was held without a catch in three games and held to one catch in two more. Lazard flashed playmaking ability occasionally, but the strength of his game continues to be his ability as a run blocker. And there’s a significant drop-off from Valdes-Scantling and Lazard to anyone else at the receiver position. It turned out all the draft prognosticators were wrong last spring. The Packers’ offense didn’t need to significantly add receiving talent from the outside to lead the NFL in scoring. Still, the Packers at the least need Valdes-Scantling and Lazard to continue their development, and this is a position that still could benefit from a talent infusion.
Biggest need
For all the free-agent decisions that need to be made this offseason, Adams’ future is inexplicably ignored. Adams enters the final year of his contract in 2021, his age-29 season. With the year Adams put together in 2020, there’s no way the Packers should want their star receiver to get anywhere close to the open market. For the Packers, extending Adams this offseason should be a nobrainer. They could significantly reduce his $16.7 million cap hit this season, shoveling prorated money onto future years. Such a move would benefit the Packers’ salary-cap situation, with the team trying to get under the declining salary cap. While it’s rare for a Packers receiver to get a third contract, Adams is the type of player this team could make an exception for. Adams, adamant he has 4.4 speed now, ran a 4.5 at the NFL scouting combine in 2014 and has never blown defenses away vertically. He was targeted more than 20 yards downfield just 21 times in the regular season. Adams beats defensive backs with unnatural quickness, but mostly because he outthinks and outworks anyone in his way. Those are qualities that will age well past 30.
Grades
Adams: Selected first-team All-Pro after career year in age-28 season. Voted to Pro Bowl for fourth straight year. Set franchise record with 115 catches. Tied another franchise record with 18 touchdown grabs. His 1,386 receiving yards were sixth most in a single season. Led NFL in touchdown catches while finishing second in receptions and tied for fifth in yards, despite missing 21⁄2 games with low-grade hamstring injury. Opened season tying Don Hutson’s single-game team record with 14 catches, adding 156 yards and two touchdowns in Minnesota. Returned from injury in October to catch 13 passes for season-high 196 yards and two touchdowns against Houston Texans, one of five games with double-digit catches and at least 100 yards. Started streak of eight straight games with a touchdown catch, longest in team history. Dropped a key touchdown pass in NFC championship game, one of few blemishes on his season. Grade: A.
Valdes-Scantling: Might be most improved player on the team, following an awful 2019 season with a big rebound in 2020. Established himself as one of the NFL’s best deep threats, leading the league with 20.9 yards per catch. Caught 33 passes for career-high 690 yards and six touchdowns. Became first Packers receiver since Walter Stanley in 1986 to average at least 20 yards per catch with a minimum of 30 receptions in a season. Caught a pass of at least 40 yards in seven of 18 games. Inconsistent hands will be biggest obstacle to overcome in his development. Nine drops on the season amplified because they came in big moments, including four potential touchdowns, three third-down conversions and a 54-yard deep shot against Philadelphia. Fumbled in overtime at Indianapolis to set up Colts’ game-winning field goal. Ended season on a high note with four catches for 115 yards against Buccaneers in NFC championship game, including 50-yard touchdown. Grade: B-minus.
Lazard: Caught 33 passes for 451 yards and three touchdowns, almost identical production from 2019 despite playing only 10 games. Broke out with six catches, 146 yards and a touchdown Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints but suffered a core muscle injury that required surgery. Didn’t play again until late November, missing six games. Modest production after returning, catching just 20 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown in final seven regularseason games. Made biggest play of divisional-round win against Los Angeles Rams, a 58-yard touchdown catch in fourth quarter. Finished with four catches, 96 yards versus Rams. Established toughness in run game with his 6-5, 227-pound frame and tenacity, saying during season he wants to be considered the NFL’s best blocking receiver. Grade: C.
Tyler Ervin: Key special teamer who built a role as a versatile receiver/running back combo in Packers’ offense, only to see injuries limit his contributions. Transitioned to receiver during offseason and was used as primary jet motion player before the snap. Played only eight games because of an assortment of injuries. Caught 11 of 15 targets for 84 yards. Rushed 13 times for 67 yards. Did not score a touchdown. Used as primary punt and kick returner when healthy. Averaged only 4 yards on 11 punt returns, a big drop from 9.6-yard average on 18 returns with Packers in 2019. Also saw decline with 19.4-yard average on 34 kick returns, down from 26.7-yard average on 45 returns with Packers in 2019. Grade: D-plus.
Equanimeous St. Brown: Returned from lost second season in 2019 (ankle injury) to play 12 games in 2020. Started season on temporary injured reserve because of knee injury that cost him four games. Caught seven of 13 passes for 117 yards. First career touchdown came on a 21-yard grab against the Tennessee Titans. Got open in middle of the field for 27-yard catch in playoffs against Rams. Dropped crucial 2-point conversion in NFC championship game. Limited special teams presence with just 41 snaps. Talented, tall receiver has missed a lot of football in first three seasons, and it shows with inconsistency. Grade: D-plus.
Malik Taylor: Won roster spot after spending 2019 season on Packers’ practice squad. Caught five of six targets for 66 yards in 15 games. First career touchdown came on a 1-yard reception against Houston. Significant specialteams contributor with 181 snaps. Little production as a kickoff returner, averaging 18.6 yards on nine returns. Grade: Dminus.
Darrius Shepherd: Started season on practice squad but was promoted to active roster at end of October. Caught five of eight targets for 46 yards and no touchdowns in eight games. Averaged 20.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns. Added one punt return for 6 yards. Released at start of December to clear roster spot for Tavon Austin. Played 139 snaps on offense, 45 on special teams. Grade: F.
Tavon Austin: Veteran signed with Packers at start of December. Immediately inserted as primary punt returner, gaining 14 yards on three returns in four games. Fumbled punt return in Week 17 at Chicago. Played 30 snaps on offense in regular season. Caught five passes for 20 yards. Credited with locker room leadership in the season’s stretch run. Grade: Incomplete.
Reggie Begelton: Signed to practice squad after training camp and appeared in one game as a call up. Played two snaps on offense and two on special teams against the Atlanta Falcons. Grade: Incomplete.
Juwann Winfree: Signed to Packers’ practice squad at start of October. Originally a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 by Denver Broncos, where he played three games as rookie. Appeared in two games with Packers, playing seven snaps against Jacksonville and one at Detroit. Grade: Incomplete.