The Packers know they'll go into the 2018 season with Davante Adams as their well-paid No. 1 wide receiver. As for the rest of the pecking order at the position, almost everything is up in the air.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' long-time No. 1, Jordy Nelson, was cut in March. Randall Cobb was retained with one year left on his contract to be the No. 2, but on top of a recent history of durability issues, he's now dealing with a right foot injury from the end of minicamp.
Also gone in Green Bay is Jeff Janis. After Adams and Cobb, the "veteran" holdovers are third-year undraftee Geronimo Allison and second-year fifth-rounder DeAngelo Yancey. Then there are the three rookies the Packers drafted — fourth-rounder J'Mon Moore, fifth-rounder Marquez Valdes-Scantling and sixth-rounder Equanimeous St. Brown.
There's one more player to consider in the mix: running back Ty Montgomery. With Montgomery healthy again, the Packers want to give him a key role in the passing game. That might mean the just-converted wide receiver will be deployed as a true hybrid player.
Between Adams scoring 10 touchdowns last season and new tight end Jimmy Graham matching that number while with Seattle, Green Bay is loaded with red-zone pop to aid Rodgers in finishing drives. But what about the other elements Rodgers expects from his receiving corps, from consistent slot production to legitimate deep threats? As Adams heads into what should be his best all-around season yet, here is what's behind him.
Cobb and Montgomery
Cobb has had two consecutive disappointing seasons. Before his current foot ailment, he had battled through back, hamstring, ankle, shoulder and chest injuries of late. When healthy in 2017, Cobb spent more than half of his snaps in the slot.
Montgomery also has struggled with durability, with wrist and rib injuries limiting his playing time since 2016. The goal with him, whether it's out of the backfield or from the slot, will be creating mismatches in the open field. Lining him up as a receiver more often will be the better way to get him touches while the rushing duo of Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones handles most of the carries.
A lack of quality depth at running back is what prompted the Packers to move Montgomery in the first place. With Williams' power and Jones' well-rounded skill set available, Montgomery can be used more as an inside, route-running option given the potentially continued ineffectiveness of Cobb.
For now, this role defaults to Cobb, assuming he's healthy. Regardless, the key is getting a solid outside threat to line up opposite Adams.
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Allison and Yancey
Allison is the best outside option by default as the next most experienced wideout, but his 343 snaps last season were fewer than half as many as Nelson, Adams and Cobb each played. Over two seasons, Allison has only 35 catches for 457 yards and 2 TDs. Yancey, after being waived from the roster before his rookie season, spent 2017 on the practice squad.
Allison has hinted at an ability to be a downfield playmaker with his size (6-3, 202 pounds) and speed. He also has shown a decent connection with Rodgers, including a six-catch, 122-yard game against the Bengals in Week 3 last year.
Even if Allison does not nail down the No. 3 receiver job, he will still make the team and be a factor when it spreads the field. Yancey, with limited standout skills, faces another uphill battle to avoid being cut as a higher-upside rookie trio works into the offense.
Moore, Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown
One thing all three rookies have in common is size. Moore (6-3, 205 pounds), Valdes-Scantling (6-4, 206 pounds) and Brown (6-5, 214 pounds) all add to the new land of giants in Green Bay with Adams and Graham.
Valdes-Scantling has the most speed, but he's raw as a vertical threat. St. Brown has the best pedigree, but he's inconsistent. Moore has had the most production, but he needs to work on being more physical as a pass-catcher and more smooth as a route-runner.
Any and all have the makeup to be special in time. But in order to contribute with a significant role soon, each will need to build immediate chemistry with Rodgers and provide consistency in an outside role. With Valdes-Scantling appearing to be more of a project, the battle will be between Allison, Moore and St. Brown for the fourth most offensive snaps after Adams, Cobb and Montgomery.
The Packers needed to reboot their size and speed after Nelson (6-3, 215 pounds) finally slowed down from the track star he once was. They have undergone this type of transition with Rodgers' receivers before, starting with Nelson and Cobb grabbing the torch from Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.
In 2014, the Packers drafted Adams early and then Janis and Jared Abbrederis late. In 2015, it was Montgomery as the lone selection at the position. In 2016, they took a shot on Trevor Davis and signed Allison. Last year, Yancey and Malcahi Dupre were the Day 3 flyers.
Adams was a big hit, and Montgomery is on the verge of becoming another success in a different way. Between Allison and the talented rookies, the Packers have given themselves what they usually give themselves: viable options.
The Packers will settle on the most impactful group for 2018 with major input from Rodgers. The potential versatility and home-run ability should please the QB as he spreads the ball efficiently across the field better than he could early last season.
