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Free agent wide receivers

Rapoport thinks Packers will be players

There's not a lot going on in the NFL these days, so media types that need to say things speculate about what might happen. If you can throw in a few big, easily recognizable names, all the better. That's how Ian Rapoport generates a story about the Packers maybe signing one of the top free agent wideouts still floating around.

The biggest name wideouts still looking for jobs -- hmm, wonder why -- include Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham and Julio Jones. Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee show that he thinks Green Bay will be involved, because of how many times they get really close to almost getting to the Super Bowl. "You know you've got a chance to make the Super Bowl, that is attractive," he said.

Thing is, as Rapoport well knows, veteran free agents available in mid-May are available for a reason.

Jones is 33 years old. He appeared in 10 games last year; he played more than half the snaps in only five contests. Landry appeared in 12 games and turns 30 during the season. Beckham also turns 30 during the season, but more importantly he's torn his ACL twice in the last 18 months. The most recent occurrence was in the Super Bowl, which was 90 days ago.

If you can promise these three will all stay on the field (and certainly Landry has a relatively promising track record) they can be solid contributors. There were 64 wide receivers last year who played in at least 10 games and averaged at least 4.5 targets per game, including all three of these guys. But why would anyone promise they can stay on the field?

WIDE RECEIVER TARGETS PER GAME, 2021
PlayerGTgtNoYdsTDTgt/G
Cooper Kupp, LAR1719114519471611.2
Davante Adams, G.B.1616912315531110.6
Diontae Johnson, Pitt.161691071161810.6
Justin Jefferson, Min.171671081616109.8
Keenan Allen, LAC16157106113869.8
Stefon Diggs, Buff.171641031225109.6
DJ Moore, Car.1716393115749.6
Tyreek Hill, K.C.17159111123999.4
Marquise Brown, Balt.1614691100869.1
Chris Godwin, T.B.1412798110359.1
Jaylen Waddle, Mia.16140104101568.8
Brandin Cooks, Hou.1613490103768.4
Darnell Mooney, Chi.1714081105548.2
A.J. Brown, Ten.131056386958.1
Mike Williams, LAC1612976114698.1
Tee Higgins, Cin.1411074109167.9
Terry McLaurin, Was.1713077105357.6
DK Metcalf, Sea.1712975967127.6
Michael Pittman, Ind.1712988108267.6
Deebo Samuel, S.F.1612177140567.6
JaMarr Chase, Cin.17128811455137.5
Hunter Renfrow, L.V.17128103103897.5
CeeDee Lamb, Dall.1612079110267.5
Jakobi Meyers, N.E.171268386627.4
Adam Thielen, Min.139567726107.3
DeVante Parker, Mia.10734051527.3
Jarvis Landry, Cle.12875257027.3
Mike Evans, T.B.16114741035147.1
Marvin Jones, Jac.171207383247.1
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.171199091257.0
Chase Claypool, Pitt.151055986027.0
Cole Beasley, Buff.161128269317.0
Elijah Moore, NYJ11774353857.0
Amari Cooper, Dall.151046886586.9
Russell Gage, Atl.14946677046.7
Tyler Lockett, Sea.1610773117586.7
Robby Anderson, Car.171105351956.5
DeAndre Hopkins, Ariz.10644257286.4
Laviska Shenault, Jac.161006361906.3
DeVonta Smith, Phil.171046491656.1
Christian Kirk, Ariz.171037798256.1
Jamison Crowder, NYJ12715144725.9
Tyler Boyd, Cin.16946782855.9
Odell Beckham, 2TM14824453755.9
Courtland Sutton, Den.17985877625.8
A.J. Green, Ariz.16925484835.8
Kadarius Toney, NYG10573942005.7
Rashod Bateman, Balt.12684651515.7
Jerry Jeudy, Den.10563846705.6
Allen Robinson, Chi.12663841015.5
Kenny Golladay, NYG14763752105.4
Tim Patrick, Den.16855373455.3
Van Jefferson, LAR17895080265.2
Emmanuel Sanders, Buff.14724262645.1
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.11552643035.0
Brandon Aiyuk, S.F.17845682654.9
Marquez Callaway, N.O.17844669864.9
Mecole Hardman, K.C.17835969324.9
K.J. Osborn, Min.17825065574.8
Julio Jones, Ten.10483143414.8
Rondale Moore, Ariz.14645443514.6
TreQuan Smith, N.O.11503237734.5
Deonte Harris, N.O.13593657034.5
Darius Slayton, NYG13582633924.5

Landry might make some sense in Green Bay; better track record for health, and a reliable target. But Green Bay still has Rodgers' buddy Randall Cobb playing the slot, they've drafted a couple of Day 2 wideouts the last two years, and they signed a veteran wideout already in Sammy Watkins. It feels like they may have already filled their quota for injury-prone veteran wideouts, which would seem to exclude them from adding Jones. If Beckham steps on a field before November it will be a surprise, so I'm not sure why the Packers would be allotting money there.

Maybe Landry, but we hear about a different team maybe signing Landry pretty much every other day. For now, I'm thinking Watkins, Allen Lazard, Cobb, and their various youngsters -- that's the Green Bay wide receiver corps. If and when those guys don't work out or get injured, maybe that's when we'll see the Packers looking at veterans. For now, I'm going with this report just being Rapoport filling dead air in a slow news period.

--Andy Richardson

12 Reader Comments:

Jim Kontopoulos

Northbrook, IL
2022-05-11T14:25:05Z
With his current receiver corps - Can't wait to hear the decibel level of Rodgers' squawking.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2022-05-11T14:36:05Z
I suspect he'll be fine, and the Packers are probably running away with the North regardless.

But he definitely won't be getting any sympathy this year. Chose to sign a new deal. By all accounts knew that Adams wasn't coming back. Can't be surprised the team didn't make a big splash in free agency or whatnot.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2022-05-11T15:12:01Z
With no Woods and O Beckham I have some interest in Alan Robinson this year.I think the Rams agree with me.

Ian Allan

Redmond, WA
2022-05-11T15:23:06Z
Metcalf, McLaurin and Deebo haven't signed their extensions, so I guess those names can be left in the margins. Maybe the Waller talks get re-ignited (he also needs a new contract). But those would all be mega-deals, and it doesn't really fit Green Bay's MO. Packers might be comfortable with what they have, figuring their defense is improved and they're going to run the ball more.

Dennis Salisbury

Cranston, RI
2022-05-11T15:39:33Z
Thinking Julio...worth the dart throw if parties agree? Obviously, Landry has been barking for a lot more $$$ than he is worth at this point, no way for Green Bay. Green Bay has been so stubborn and content on this WR issue...so good luck!

Ian Allan

Redmond, WA
2022-05-11T15:56:11Z
Packers already have Randall Cobb. The velocity-challenged older slot receiver spot is already filled.

Bill Rehor

Culver City, CA
2022-05-11T18:17:17Z
I’d take Will Fuller over any of those guys.

Drew Paterson

Ferndale, WA
2022-05-11T18:42:04Z
Given what's happened to the rest of the Wide Receiver market, I think you could make a strong case that Cooper Kupp should be a top-5 overall selection in most fantasy formats.

Ian Allan

Redmond, WA
2022-05-11T20:10:28Z
Good observation by Bill. Fuller was having a really good season in 2020, when he was elevated into a larger role (with Hopkins traded). Injuries sidelined him for almost all of last year, but I would think he'll be a top-3 receiver for some team. Given his history and playing style, I would expect he'll have some huge games (and a bunch of quiet ones). Based on what current depth charts look like, I think Fuller will sign with Green Bay or Chicago.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2022-05-11T20:34:19Z
Fuller’s lack of a market makes me wonder if there’s a suspension on the horizon or unreported injury setback. Pure speculation on my part. But there hasn’t even been a report of a visit.

Ian Allan

Redmond, WA
2022-05-11T21:38:32Z
Have no idea if there's some kind of issue with him or whether he's holding out hope of getting more money than what teams are offering, but he was good when last we saw him at 100 percent and dialed in. In the 2020 season, he led the entire league in average yards per pass play.

Cliff Neville

Somerset, TX
2022-05-12T19:39:34Z
the packers may be cheapskates who feel smug about their defense, but they can't be blind to the fact they're wasting a lot of rodgers' potential simply through neglect (plus, the little diva might act up anyway if things go wrong, forewarned or not). fuller needs to show the league something today, not later, or risk becoming even less desirable to potential suitors. sounds like a match made in heaven.
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