The addition of veteran Devin Funchess is one reason why Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers aren’t concerned about the state of their wide receiver position entering the 2020 season.
Following last month’s draft, LaFleur expressed excitement about getting a chance to work with Funchess, the former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts receiver with a 6-4, 225-pound frame and 164 career catches.
“You add a guy like Devin Funchess, who I can’t wait to start to work with, because here’s a big, physical receiver that’s extremely talented and a good veteran presence,” LaFleur said.
Funchess, who played in just one game for the Colts after breaking his collarbone in Week 1 last season, signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Packers.
LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t add a receiver in the draft and are instead banking on Funchess to help improve a receiver group that struggled to find consistency behind Davante Adams in 2019. Both LaFleur and Gutekunst insisted they are confident in the current group of players, especially after signing Funchess as a low-cost addition in free agency.
Funchess certainly isn’t light on experience. The 2015 second-round pick played in 60 games over four seasons with the Panthers. Over his last two seasons in Carolina, Funchess caught 107 passes for 1,389 yards and 12 touchdowns. Overall, he scored 21 times with the Panthers, ranking him fifth in team history in receiving touchdowns.
He also isn’t lacking size. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Funchess is one of the biggest receivers in football. He also has 33.5″ arms and a vertical leap of 38.5″, giving him a tremendous physical advantage over most NFL defensive backs.
The Packers have trended toward big, physical receivers in recent years. Funchess, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Jake Kumerow and Equanimeous St. Brown are all 6-4 or taller.
Advantages of Funchess’ size could be a higher batting average on back-shoulder throws from Aaron Rodgers and a more intimidating presence in the run game. LaFleur didn’t hesitate to use receivers as key blockers in the run game during his first season as the playcaller in 2019. Funchess’ size and strength (17 reps of 225 pounds at the combine) could make him especially effective in this area.
It’s possible Funchess could take over a big chunk of the role vacated by Geronimo Allison, who was one of the least efficient receivers in football last season. It’s also possible Funchess could assume some of the targets given to tight end Jimmy Graham, who was released after two disappointing seasons with the Packers. A mix of the two roles makes sense for a big, physical player who can work the middle of the field and possibly operate as a big slot receiver.
Competition for snaps at receiver will come from Lazard, Valdes-Scantling, St. Brown and Kumerow, although the Packers could be preparing to carve out specific roles for each receiver. If it all blends together right, the whole could be greater than the sum of the parts.
In Funchess, LaFleur and the Packers believe they’ve found a contributor at receiver who has a mix of both physical traits and experience, giving him the potential to create immediate value for the offense in 2020.
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