Top draft analyst shares perception that sounds exactly like what the Packers want to hear before making early-round decisions
The Green Bay Packers haven't drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002. Brian Gutekunst follows Ted Thompson, who follows Ron Wolf, and all of them passed on every opportunity to pull this trigger—Javon Walker was selected during a brief period where Mike Sherman was a head coach and general manager, deviating from […]
The Green Bay Packers haven't drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002. Brian Gutekunst follows Ted Thompson, who follows Ron Wolf, and all of them passed on every opportunity to pull this trigger—Javon Walker was selected during a brief period where Mike Sherman was a head coach and general manager, deviating from Wolf's scouting tree process.
That doesn't mean the Packers will never do it. Recently, Gutekunst himself said that it's not against his process to take receivers in the first round. But the reality is that there usually are different priorities, and they end up taking pass-catchers on Day 2.
"We've had a lot of second-round receivers that have been pretty good players for us," Gutekunst mentioned at the NFL Combine. "So, again, I do think the immediate impact of wide receivers is changing because the way these guys are coming out of school, where they can be more impactful quicker, but it's never been a philosophical thing for us. Just really more kind of how it shook out."
Good news for the Packers: This draft class is perfectly aligned with these principles. Daniel Jeremiah, the leading NFL Draft analyst for NFL Network, mentioned how strong this group of Day 2 wide receivers is.
Between numbers 33 and 102 (second- and third-round range), the consensus big board has 11 wide receivers: Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden, Jayden Higgins, Tre Harris, Jaylin Noel, Jack Bech, Elic Ayomanor, Isaiah Bond, Jalen Royals, Savion Williams, and Kyle Williams.
Of these, two would be particularly good fits for what Green Bay wants and needs right now. Jayden Higgins and Tre Harris.
Profile the Packers will look for
Jayden Higgins is a classic X receiver, and that's what the Packers might be looking for. The team has a group of role players, and Romeo Doubs has been the X over the past few seasons֫—which is probably not Doubs' ideal role within the offense.
Higgins is a professional receiver. Last season, he was excellent in yards per route run (2.66), drop rate (2.2%), contested catch rate (58.3%), and according to PFF, had a high grade versus man coverage (87.8).
He's not exactly a great separator, but the Packers already have that in Dontayvion Wicks. He's not exactly good in yards after the catch, but Green Bay has that in Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft. Higgins would offer what the offense doesn't have.
Tre Harris is another version of that profile. His sample size is smaller, but the production is impressive in what was possible to show. He had 5.12 yards per route run, 61.5% contested catch rate, 95.0 grade versus man coverage, even though his drop rate is a bit higher (7.7%).
Depth situation
The Packers only have two wide receivers under contract beyond 2025 (Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks). Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson will be unrestricted free agents, and Watson is expected to miss significant time this season with a knee injury. Reed and Wicks are also under contract only through 2026.
Under these circumstances, it's clear that the Packers need to add young and cheap talent to the room—don't be surprised if they draft multiple ones. The Day 2 options are exactly what the team is looking for.
Packers’ best WR targets in the draft who could make Jordan Love’s life easier and add playmaking ability to the passing game
There are options for each of the three draft days
