The Green Bay Packers gambled at receiver in 2019, banking on the confidence that three second-year Day 3 picks and a hoard of undrafted free agents would collectively provide the offense with enough firepower behind Davante Adams in the passing game.
Don’t expect Brian Gutekunst to commit to the same gamble in 2020.
His shaky plan busted this season. And it began to crumble in August.
The Packers got little from their three 2018 draft picks. Fourth-rounder J’Mon Moore didn’t make it out of training camp, fifth-rounder Marquez Valdes-Scantling had an underwhelming summer and disappeared down the stretch and sixth-rounder Equanimeous St. Brown hurt his ankle during the preseason and spent the entire season on injured reserve.
Gutekunst and the Packers needed the trio to take the second-year jump and stabilize the position. The opposite occurred. Moore couldn’t get out of his own head, struggled all summer and never had a chance to make the final roster. He didn’t play a single snap in the NFL in 2019. St. Brown suffered an unfortunate injury. Valdes-Scantling never got on the same page as Aaron Rodgers and caught just six passes over the final 11 games. A starter to begin the season, Valdes-Scantling played just six total snaps over the Packers’ two playoff games.
As rookies, Valdes-Scantling, St. Brown and Moore combined to catch 61 passes for 924 yards. This season, the trio caught 26 passes for 452 yards – all from Valdes-Scantling.
With the draft picks unavailable or failing, the receiver position was left in the hands of several undrafted free agents, and only one of them really delivered.
Geronimo Allison returned on a one-year, $2.8 million deal. There was optimism that Allison, who came firing out of gates before a season-ending injury in 2018, could be productive as a slot receiver in Matt LaFleur’s offense. It didn’t happen. Allison averaged 8.4 yards per catch and 5.2 yards per target, dropped five passes and fumbled twice. He was one of the least efficient receivers in the NFL in 2019. The Packers played him over 600 snaps.
Jake Kumerow had as good of a season as anyone could have reasonably expected. He caught 12 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown while playing 30 percent of the offense’s snaps. Although he emerged as a great blocker, his impact in the passing game was minimal.
Rookie Darrius Shepherd, who had a great summer, struggled early and was eventually released and signed back to the practice squad.
Only Allen Lazard stepped to the plate and made it happen. Released in favor of Shepherd at final cuts, Lazard returned and eventually emerged as the offense’s second-best receiver behind Adams. He caught 35 passes, finished second on the team in receiving yards (477) and delivered important touchdown catches in both comeback wins over the Detroit Lions. Lazard might be the only receiver on the roster with a spot secured behind Adams for 2020. He’s a part of the solution. But only a part.
GM Brian Gutekunst admitted he searched for an “explosive offensive player” during the trade deadline. He understood the need. He just couldn’t find the right value.
The Packers still won 13 games and advanced to the NFC Championship Game despite the inefficiencies in the passing game. It’s difficult to know if adding a quality receiver at the trade deadline would have sparked the Packers’ offense to life down the stretch or made a legitimate difference to the end of the playoff run. There’s a good chance nothing would have changed. One thing is for sure: the move certainly would have cost the team a couple of valuable draft picks.
Now, Gutekunst is ready to reinvest at receiver. He said the Packers will be looking to add to the position this offseason, and considering the talent available in free agency and especially the draft, it’s a great year to need a receiver.
The next several months could be – and should be – dedicated to improving the weapons in the passing game.
Gutekunst’s gamble at receiver in 2019 was big but understandable. He had major issues to fix on defense and along the offensive line. There was comfort in relying on the experience of Rodgers, the potential of a new offense developed by Matt LaFleur and the starpower of Adams and running back Aaron Jones to get it done on offense, even if the ancillary weapons in the passing game underwhelmed.
The Packers finished 15th in points scored and Rodgers wasn’t statistically dominant, but the offense avoided big mistakes and made enough clutch plays late in games. It’s hard to argue with the end results of an enthralling season that featured 13 regular-season wins, an NFC North title and a home playoff win.
The patch job at receiver was good enough. Now, it’s time to seal the roster hole.
With the defense fortified at most key positions, Gutekunst is now free to spend money and draft capital on the offense. He has an opportunity to acquire new weapons and power the final stage of Rodgers’ career as a passer. It’s no time for another gamble. The Packers need help at receiver, and Gutekunst is prepared to find it.