The Green Bay Packers have an elite route runner waiting to be unleashed.
Green Bay drafted seven wide receivers from 2021 to 2023. Although early, the results have been a mixed bag. Second-round draft selections Jayden Reed and Christian Watson have shown flashes of brilliance, while 2023 third-round pick Armani Rogers did not play in the NFL last year. As for 2023 third-round pick Dontayvion Wicks, he has spent the past two years playing in a reserve role and occasionally making spot starts.
Wicks has been at the center of trade talks this offseason as a complimentary piece that could net the Packers an elite pass catcher. Late last month, reports surfaced linking Green Bay to a trade for Seattle Seahawks All-Pro wide receiver DK Metcalf, which would require the team to part ways with a young offensive weapon, potentially Wicks. With a Metcalf deal gaining steam on Thursday amid the disgruntled receiver’s official trade request, one Green Bay Packers writer went viral for sharing data supporting a breakout season in the works for Wicks.
Green Bay Packers WR Dontayvion Wicks Among Elite NFL Route Runners
According to Felipe Reis Aceti of CheeseheadTV:
https://twitter.com/Aceti_Felipe/status/1897712940775882907
Dontayvion Wicks has just four career games of at least 50 yards receiving. A third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Virginia Cavaliers, Wicks had a breakout 2021 campaign, recording 57 receptions for 1,203 yards and nine touchdowns. However, his final college season was met with injury, tallying just 30 catches for 430 yards before turning pro.
Although in a limited capacity, Wicks has flashed his elite playmaking ability during his two-year NFL career. Felipe Reis Aceti of CheeseheadTV shares that Wicks finished fourth last season in the NFL among qualifiers regarding air yards per route run. He was also in the top half regarding targets per route run, meaning quarterback Jordan Love consistently targeted Wicks on plays down the field when the 23-year-old was on the field.
Wicks has played in 32 regular season games across two years, posting 78 receptions for 996 yards and nine touchdowns. He recorded at least four catches in all but one of his four starts last year and finished the regular season with at least four catches or a receiving touchdown in the team’s final three games. Wicks is not the only young wide receiver on the Green Bay Packers roster. In the past four seasons, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson have been high-end draft picks. Amid trade rumors, the Packers will have options regarding which young wide receiver to shop when and if it is necessary.
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2 Comments
According to Jason Wilde, two sources within the Packer organization told him that a trade offer for DK Metcalf was never made. Moreover the Packers did not make any contact with Davante Adams after his release by the Jets. This notion that Dontayvion Wicks or Romeo Doubs was somehow on the trading block for veteran WR help clearly doesn’t understand how Brian Gutekunst operates. Gutekunst released Jordy Nelson at 32 and has been successful drafting WR’s, signing them as FA, and even finding them off other teams practice squads. Giving up draft capital and spending big money isn’t the way the Packer GM does business.
Yes, Gute has been successful drafting wr’s, signing free agent wr’s.
Lets see….
Since 2018: Gute has drafted MVS, J’mon Moore, ESB, Amari Rodgers.
Since 2022: Toure, Doubs, Watson, Wicks, Reed.
An improvement for sure, yet no #1 from that group.
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Gute free agent wr signings: Sammy Watkins, Devin Funchess, and now, ALL-World Mecole Hardman, who hasn’t caught for more than 300 yards since 2021, and hasn’t caught a TD pass since 2022.
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Don’t even get me started about tight ends, Sternberger, Dequara, Musgrave, or 10 million dollar/year problem child Martellus Bennett.
Tucker Kraft being the lone exception of a tight end showing potential.
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Personally, i think WR D. Adams could have been a good signing for 10 mill/year.
To be fair, there may have been more behind the scenes relationship issues that precluded that signing between him and the Packers.
Much like the pattern of problems the Packers have had with other high profile players over the years.