Packers were eyeing a trade for a veteran who now has a significant new deal, and it highlights what team was truly trying to fix
The Green Bay Packers were truly trying to upgrade their wide receiver core. After rumors about DK Metcalf in the offseason, before he was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN's NFL insider Jeremy Fowler just reported that the Packers were also interested in Baltimore Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman."He went to the […]
The Green Bay Packers were truly trying to upgrade their wide receiver core. After rumors about DK Metcalf in the offseason, before he was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN's NFL insider Jeremy Fowler just reported that the Packers were also interested in Baltimore Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman.
"He went to the Ravens, wanted a new deal," Fowler said. "They essentially said no, but they gave him permission to seek a trade. So he went out on the open market and talked with teams. And I was told there were several teams involved or had interest. Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers. So he saw he had a market, the Ravens saw that. So they said 'Ok, we'll just pay you instead, we won't trade you'".
Back in 2021, Fowler himself and Dan Graziano reported on ESPN that the Packers had done a lot of pre-draft work on Bateman. However, the Ravens took him with the 27th overall pick, two choices ahead of Green Bay. General manager Brian Gutekunst ended up taking cornerback Eric Stokes.
Rashod Bateman has had an underwhelming body of work in the NFL. He had 515, 285, and 367 receiving yards in his first three seasons. But he did have a stronger season last year, with 45 receptions for 756 yards and nine touchdown catches. The production in yards per season and total touchdowns is still smaller than the Packers have had from Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, whom the Packers selected a year later.
Bateman signed a three-year, $36.75 million extension in the offseason after signing another two-year deal. Now, he's under contract with the Ravens through 2029.
Packers' approach
After a tough season for the Packers wide receivers in 2024, upgrading the position was a priority. They evaluated the veteran market, but the investment was always too high. The free agent market didn't have great options.
So, the Packers ended up taking two wide receivers in the first three rounds for the first time ever in Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. Golden was the first first-round receiver selected by Green Bay since 2002.
Even though actions speak louder than words, Gutekunst said after taking Golden that wide receiver wasn't exactly a need for the team.
"I really didn't think we needed to at all," the GM said. "Certainly it's nice when you add as much talent and competition to that room as we can. I felt really good about our room prior, and if we would've gone in a different direction, I would've had no problem doing that. We had a couple guys on the board that we really, really liked, and (Matthew Golden) won us over. Not only because of his play on the field, but who he was."
So far, the outcome has looked as good as it possibly could so early in the process. Golden practiced with the ones even in 12 personnel opposite Romeo Doubs, and he has impressed because of how polished and smooth he is.
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