All of the attention being given to the Green Bay Packers has revolved around the future of Aaron Rodgers. Will he return to the only team he has known as a professional, help facilitate a trade to a new team or ride off into retirement?
Regardless of what happens with Rodgers and who is under center for the Packers in 2023, this is a team that needs to make some upgrades at wide receiver. It was a huge risk trading away Davante Adams and not re-signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the move backfired in a major way as the passing offense was toothless in 2022.
There is some long-term optimism with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs showing flashes as rookies, but this group needs more beyond those two. Bringing in some veterans with varying skill sets would certainly help elevate the offense.
Who could the Packers look into acquiring? Here are three wide receivers that Green Bay should pursue in NFL free agency.
3. Darius Slayton
The Packers were missing a down-the-field threat last season with Valdes-Scantling moving on. Watson came on at the end of the season as a big play threat given his elite speed and athleticism, but adding another deep threat to the mix would certainly help open this offense up.
Darius Slayton would make for an ideal target. While he has struggled with drops at times in his career he has still been a steady producer in four seasons with the New York Giants. He has surpassed the 700-yard plateau in three out of four seasons despite underwhelming quarterback play and inept coaching.
Slayton showed a lot of perseverance leading the Giants in receiving yardage in 2023 despite nearly being cut before the season and not getting on the field until Week 4 when injuries arose. Not being held to No. 1 receiver standards would also help appreciate just how good Slayton has been as a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2019.
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Packers are preparing for more defections from the wide receiver spot this offseason. Allen Lazard is all but gone, strongly hinting that he won’t be returning to Green Bay this offseason. That leaves a huge void in their depth chart.
Lazard was a good fit for the Packers as an elite run blocker. He stepped up and had a career season in 2023 with his role in the passing game expanding as well. Luckily for Green Bay, there is another wide receiver available that brings a lot of the same qualities to the field in JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith-Schuster will likely be in high demand. He had a nice bounceback season with 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns and is in line to cash in on a multi-year deal.
His abilities as a run blocker and willingness to work in the middle of the field are ideal fits in Green Bay. He can replace all of the intangibles that Lazard did with a little more juice as a playmaker in the passing game.
1. Michael Thomas
If the Packers want to take a swing for a true No. 1 wide receiver the options are limited. They can try and acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Arizona Cardinals via trade but that would cost them assets and a big contract. In free agency the options are limited, but Michael Thomas could be worth a risk.
Thomas’ career has been derailed by injuries the last three seasons as he has appeared in only 10 games during that span. Before that, he was arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL. He took home the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019 when he set an NFL record with 149 receptions, gaining 1,725 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.
There is certainly a risk to bringing in Thomas given his inability to stay on the field. But if he is healthy, it would be a home run signing and give the Packers a player capable of replicating Adams’ production.
