The Green Bay Packers have their top-2 receiving options set in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Both players are primarily outside receivers, as well, which is a nice situation to be in.

However, the slot position is still up for grabs.

It's an important position in the Packers offense, as well. Per Sports Info Solutions, Packers running backs, wideouts, and tight ends ran a combined 259 routes out of the slot in 2022, which ranked 10th in the NFL. Those routes received a combined 255 targets, which ranked ninth. The offense also averaged 0.17 EPA/tgt, 8.0 yards per route run, and a 52.5% positive play rate when targeting the position last year. All three numbers sat in the upper-half of the league.

Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb did the bulk of the work out of the slot in 2022. Per Pro Football Focus, those two combined for 82 of the team's 128 slot targets (64%) and they racked up 701 of the team's 1,104 receiving yards and five of the eight receiving touchdowns. 

Those two are obviously no longer on the team, but the Packers have plenty of capable options to man the position. Christian Watson, Aaron Jones, even Luke Musgrave can all line up inside (or outside in Musgrave's situation) and do some damage. 

The question heading into training camp is will the position by a committee-type, kind of like it was last year? Or will one guy run the show, so to speak?

Jayden Reed and Samori Toure are 2023's Cobb and Lazard

The Packers offense has the potential to be very versatile in 2023. Therefore, the team should play into that as much as possible and use as many players in the slot, as possible. 

They still need a main option, however. Even with last year's duo, Cobb was more of "the guy", as he received 75% of his overall targets from the slot compared to Lazard's 46%. 

Toure, a seventh-round pick from the 2022 draft, is expected to contend for the bulk of slot targets, but the rookie Reed is also in the mix. 

"I'm primarily in the slot, now," Reed told reporters during OTAs. "So, it's a little different. I like working in space and I think I'll fit in in the NFL playing in the slot and rotating outside."

Toure has a leg up on Reed because he has a year in Matt LaFleur's system under his belt. He managed to get on the field for 112 offensive snaps last year, and flashed at times, finishing with five receptions for 82-yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. 

And guess what? All of that production came out of the slot.

Reed's advantage is the fact that he has speed and explosiveness working in his favor. He can also stretch the field horizontally, whether it be via jet sweeps, end-arounds, etc. His versatility will add an exciting layer to an already-versatile offense.

Last year, Reed was targeted 17 times in the slot and turned that into 16 receptions for 187-yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers resulted in a team-leading 2.37 yards per route run and also ranked 53rd among 198 qualifying receivers (minimum 17 slot targets).

Reed worked primarily with the 1s during offseason workouts, so it'll be interesting to see how that holds up through camp. Right now, he should be viewed as the favorite to win the job. 

Either way, the Packers are going to be in pretty good shape, regardless of who wins the job. The offensive scheme, along with the skill sets of the players on the roster, will allow LaFleur and co. to find plenty of matchups that work in their favor.

Packers receivers have a great shot at making some big waves in 2023

With Jayden Reed now in the mix, the Packers receivers have a versatile bunch that should become an effective bunch, as well.

Featured image via Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports