Why a strong summer from veteran WR Devin Funchess could be a win-win for the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers might be five players deep in terms of roster locks at the wide receiver position, complicating the path ahead for Devin Funchess, who is returning to the field after missing the better part of two seasons. But a strong summer from the veteran receiver could still be a win-win situation for the Packers.
First, let’s run down the situation at receiver to start training camp:
– Davante Adams, arguably the best receiver in football, is a lock.
– Marquez Valdes-Scantling, one of the best deep threats in football, is a lock.
– Allen Lazard, one of the best run-blocking receivers in football, is a lock.
– Randall Cobb, one of the most productive slot receivers in football over the last 10 years, is a lock.
– Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick who should contribute on offense and special teams as a rookie, is a lock.
Where does Funchess fit in here?
A few scenarios could play out over the next few weeks.
Funchess, who has played in one game over the last two seasons, could struggle upon returning to the playing field and become an easy cut. He’s still only 27 years old, but two years off is a long time in football time. There’s no guarantee he can still play. The Packers have a deep and competitive roster. They don’t need to waste a spot waiting for Funchess to get back into the groove.
But there’s also a chance he can still play, and he’s going to get every opportunity to prove it this summer. Preseason games will be especially important. There’s a chance he could dominate a bunch of young defensive backs during the three exhibition games. Not many second-round picks with 62 games of NFL experience will be playing in the second halves of these games. Funchess could.
So, if Funchess looks great during the rest of camp and the preseason, the Packers could:
– keep him, and find ways of getting his skill set on the field as a complementary player.
– trade him to an interested team, and potentially get a draft pick back in return.
The first scenario isn’t totally out of the question. The Packers could keep as many as seven receivers, with Funchess as the sixth, and the seventh adding special teams value. It’s not a great way to compose a roster, but it’s possible. The key here would be keeping Funchess involved somehow. At this point in his career, he’ll want to play. And the Packers wouldn’t keep a veteran like him without a plan for getting him on the field. Doing so might be tough with five others ahead of him, but it might be nice to have a veteran like Funchess who can play all three receiver spots and provide valuable insurance at a key position. Once again, it’s all about finding a specific role.
The second scenario might be the best-case scenario. If Funchess looks like a player but the Packers can’t find enough snaps for him, some team might be willing to give up a late-round or conditional draft pick to get him during final cuts. The Packers dealt a sixth-round pick for Randall Cobb to start camp, so getting a late Day 3 pick back for Funchess could all but eliminate that cost. There’s no guarantee here, but teams do trade for veteran players around cutdown time every year. The preseason is the perfect audition opportunity for Funchess.
Either way, a strong summer from Funchess is good for the Packers. They’ll either have another veteran receiver (on a cheap salary) to keep on the roster, bolstering what looks like a strong and experienced position group, or they’ll (potentially) have an opportunity to get something back for a player they don’t need.
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