Jordan Love is comfortable without a true number one wide receiver on the Packers
Since trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders two years ago, the Green Bay Packers haven't tried to replace him. At least, not one for one. After Aaron Rodgers said 80% of the plays were designed to have Adams as the first read, building a more varied offense became a priority — and something […]
Since trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders two years ago, the Green Bay Packers haven't tried to replace him. At least, not one for one. After Aaron Rodgers said 80% of the plays were designed to have Adams as the first read, building a more varied offense became a priority — and something new starting quarterback Jordan Love is willing to develop.
"You don't have to have a No. 1 receiver," Love told Packers.com. "I think it works out well when you can spread the ball out and you got different guys making different plays and you can put 'em in different areas. It puts a lot more stress on the defense and the calls that they can get in, so I think in the long run it helps us not having a No. 1 guy, a true No. 1 guy, but I think all those guys can step up and be the one any given day."
Last season, with a room full of first- and second-year players, the Packers had four wide receivers with something between 400 and 800 yards. Nobody exceeded that, though. Rookie Jayden Reed led the team in receiving yards, with 793. Romeo Doubs led them in targets, with 96. And Christian Watson led the team in touchdowns per game, with 0.55.
All of them, plus Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton, had games as the leading receiver last season. It might not be great for your fantasy team, but it helps Matt LaFleur to scheme the offense.
"You can plug any of these guys at any position and they'll go out there and make plays," Love said. "A little of that was proven last year. We had different guys injured throughout the season and guys had to move around a little bit, play some different spots that they might not have been used to, so I definitely think that is the case."
Depending on the opposing defense and what it does well, the Packers' offensive gameplan can dictate a different central option.
"You look at these guys, each person has their own skill set and what they do great. That's the key, is trying to find that and put them in the best position to be successful."
Last year, the Packers finished the year with nine players with at least 200 receiving yards — Jayden Reed (793), Romeo Doubs (674), Dontayvion Wicks (581), Christian Watson (422), Tucker Kraft (355), Luke Musgrave (352), Aaron Jones (233), AJ Dillon (223), and Bo Melton (218). Of them, Jones is the only one who's not on the roster anymore. Continuity is a big part of what the Packers want to build.
"Now we're at the level where we can change the plays at the line of scrimmage," Love added. "They know the signals, so we can get to different plays if there's not a perfect concept called. That's a huge plus and bonus where we can take those steps forward this year."
In 2023, the Packers didn't have a 1,000-yard receiver. They wouldn't mind having a great receiver out of this group, but the days of centralizing the structure of the offense in one weapon are most likely over. And Jordan Love is ready to capitalize on that approach.
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