Packers final wide receiver battle could come down to difficult choice between offensive upside and all-around reliability
Bo Melton and undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant are the early favorites to make the 53-man roster, but that’s if the Packers decide to keep six WRs.
Over the past few years, the Green Bay Packers had a surplus of wide receivers. Regularly, the discussion would be if the team would keep six or seven receivers on the 53-man roster. Those days are gone. With Romeo Doubs leaving in free agency and Dontayvion Wicks traded away, the discussion now is if the Packers will keep five or six.
Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Skyy Moore, and Savion Williams are essentially roster locks. The sixth spot, though, is wide open. And that’s if it will exist at all.
Upside vs. immediate role
Usually, the final few spots on the roster go to special teamers, especially in a situation like the Packers’, who already have developmental prospects in Golden and Williams. In that case, Bo Melton has an advantage for the sixth spot.
Yes, Melton is back to the WR room. It’s official, as the Packers are listing him on offense again. His ability to help on special teams (he played 44% of the special teams snaps in 2025) is a major factor. Jakobie Keeney-James, who had a few special teams snaps last year and practiced as a returner early in OTAS, has a shot as well.
But the Packers are already spending a special teams spot in the wide receiver room with Skyy Moore, who was signed primarily because of his returning abilities. In this case, the front office could decide to go with offensive upside instead. Undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant, who has $200k in salary guarantees, could battle for that spot.
Other guys like Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor, and recently-signed Brenden Rice are also on the 90-man roster.
It will depend on individual performances, with competition along multiple positions to decide special teamers, valuable bets, and players with more chances to clear waivers and return to the practice squad. Sometimes, injuries play a factor on those calls as well.
OTAs are the first big step in that process, with training camp and preseason soon ahead. Ultimately, it’s a matter of how the Packers want to build the group.