The Athletic predicts Packers will do something this month they've never done before under Matt LaFleur
The Athletic predicted this week that the Green Bay Packers will do something this month that they've never done before under head coach Matt LaFleur. Matt Schneidman, who covers the Packers for The Athletic, made his 53-man roster projection for Green Bay this week. Schneidman has the Packers keeping seven wide receivers: Allen LazardRomeo DoubsChristian […]
The Athletic predicted this week that the Green Bay Packers will do something this month that they've never done before under head coach Matt LaFleur.
Matt Schneidman, who covers the Packers for The Athletic, made his 53-man roster projection for Green Bay this week.
Schneidman has the Packers keeping seven wide receivers:
- Allen Lazard
- Romeo Doubs
- Christian Watson
- Randall Cobb
- Sammy Watkins
- Amari Rodgers
- Juwan Winfree
If the prediction from Schneidman proves to be accurate, it will be the first time that Green Bay has kept seven wide receiversunder LaFleur.
From The Athletic:
Winfree seems more like a lock to me the more I watch him. Aaron Rodgers has singled him out because of his impressive summer multiple times, which might be enough to secure his spot. That likely pushes the Packers to keep seven wideouts instead of six, with Winfree being the last man in. That’s not because he’s the seventh-most-talented — Amari Rodgers likely holds that title — but I can’t imagine Gutekunst cuts a guy he traded up for in the third round just last year. If tight end Jace Sternberger stayed around as long as he did after floundering as a 2019 third-round pick, then Amari Rodgers ain’t going anywhere at this point.
Schneidman's comments indicate that Rodgers, the Packers' third-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, is the wide receiver that's on the roster bubble — not Winfree.
Green Bay, however, has too much invested in Rodgers to release him. And he's looked good at times during training camp. Rodgers is still just 22 (he turns 23 in September). If the Packers give up on him already, there's a really good chance another team scoops him up and stashes him on their roster.
I don't think Rodgers is going to be a perennial Pro-Bowler. But I think he has the talent to be a reliable NFL wide receiver.
If Green Bay keeps him as their seventh wide receiver, it'll be abundantly clear that they feel the same way.
Featured image via Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
