Packers Prepare for WR Upgrade: Three Elite Options in Play for Free Agency
The Green Bay Packers face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, they will do so without wide receiver Christian Watson, who tore his ACL in the team’s Week 18 loss to the Chicago Bears.
In 15 games played this season, Watson had 29 receptions for a career-high 620 yards and two touchdowns.
While his numbers may not scream “No. 1 wide receiver,” Watson’s impact on the offense is severely underappreciated by many fans. Not only does his speed stretch the field and open up opportunities for other pass-catchers, but his downfield blocking is important to both the run and pass games.
As Packers fans are all too well aware, recovery time from a torn ACL is hard to predict. Elgton Jenkins recovered in less than a year while David Bakhtiari never fully recovered.
The Green Bay Packers Need to Address the Wide Receiver Position This Offseason
Without Watson out for the foreseeable future, the Packers will need current wide receivers to step up if they are to make a deep run in the NFL playoffs. Romeo Doubs had a monster game (six receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown) against the Dallas Cowboys in the postseason last year and could do so again versus the Eagles.
Jayden Reed had a massive performance in Green Bay’s Week 1 loss to Philadelphia (171 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns), but has a 12.0 percent drop percentage this year. Dontayvion Wicks, too, has struggled with corralling the ball and has an 11.8 percent drop percentage. Watson, by the way, only dropped one pass all year.
With their biggest deep threat presumably unavailable for the start of the 2025 season and with plenty of salary-cap space available, the Packers could look into signing any of the three following soon-to-be free-agent wide receivers on a short-term contract.
1. Davante Adams
In a recent interview with Kay Adams, former Packers All-Pro Davante Adams stated he would never rule out the possibility of returning to Green Bay, or any of the teams he has played for. While he is still under contract with the New York Jets, he is expected to be released this offseason.
Spotrac currently has Adams’ market value at two years and $27.16 million a year, or roughly $13.6 million a year. That is certainly a price that the Packers could pay, especially for a pass-catcher who knows their offense and had 85 receptions for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
2. Keenan Allen
The Packers got an up-close and personal look at Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen this year. Amid Chicago’s disappointing season, he was vocally frustrated with his situation and may be looking for a new home in free agency.
Spotrac has his market value at two years and just under $32 million, or $16 million a year. He had 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns but will be 33 years old next season. If the Packers want a veteran to provide leadership to that position, Allen could be a good choice; but his age may take him out of their considerations.
Still, he is a productive wide receiver and should not command a great deal of money. Allen certainly should not be ruled out as a potential replacement.
3. Amari Cooper
Like the other two wide receivers on this list, Cooper is in his 30s and far older than the rest of Green Bay’s pass-catchers. Still, he is an effective wide receiver who could provide the team with a deep threat that it will be missing without Watson.
In 2024, Cooper had 44 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns playing for the Buffalo Bills.
Spotrac has his market value set at two years and $28.4 million, or $14.2 million a season.
Of course, it is entirely possible that the Packers choose to just address the position via the NFL Draft and not in free agency at all.
