Packers Roster Assessment, 2025 Off-Season

[Dantés]

One cheaper way to improve the roster is to improve from within. I think MLF needs to take a hint from Kevin O'Connell and start passing the ball more frequently to his better playmakers such as Kraft, Reed and Jacobs. All season long good things happened when they caught passes. Unfortunately, there were games when those guys saw far too few passes thrown their way. In fact, elevating Kraft and Reed next season to take a jump into pro bowl level play should be one of the biggest priorities of the offense.

All three of those players, at least for right now, are more manufactured touch guys in the passing game than they are guys who are going to consistently beat single coverage. It's hard to get them a lot of work because the various formations, looks, route combos that you use to get them open quickly become tells and defenses can snuff them out.

 

[McKnowledge]

Corners Currently Slated to Hit FA:

-D.J. Reed, NYJ
-Byron Murphy, MIN
-Paulson Adebo, NO
-Kristian Fulton, LAC
-Charvarius Ward, SF
-Asante Samuel Jr, LAC
-Nate Hobbs, LV
-Rasul Douglas, BUF
-Ja'Quan McMillian, DEN
-Carlton Davis, DET

They definitely need to sign capable corners to address the need, but I would sign a couple tier 2/3 guys rather than get in the D.J. Reed sweepstakes.

Like sign Paulson Adebo and, say, Nate Hobbs and then draft a corner in the first 2 rounds and another in the middle rounds and another in the late rounds. All told, you're adding two veterans and three rookies to a room with Valentine and Nixon.

I think Paulson Adebo would be a great signing like McKinney was last year. That kid made plays and plays hard.

There are some great CBs free agents hitting the market. I know he's getting older, but (personally) it would be great to see Rasul Douglas return.

Carlton Davis would be interesting.

 

[tynimiller]

The Packers are in great shape. Most of the positions of need are areas where they need depth and/or need to prepare for future losses moreso than need immediate help. Every team is going to have that every offseason. Cornerback is the only spot where they absolutely need new guys immediately. Here's the starting lineup, CB aside, going into next season with zero re-signings and no new additions.

QB: J. Love
RB: J. Jacobs
TE: T. Kraft
WR: R. Doubs
WR: J. Reed
WR: D. Wicks
LT: R. Walker
LG: J. Morgan
C: E. Jenkins
RG: S. Rhyan
RT: Z. Tom

DE: R. Gary
DT: K. Clark
DT: D. Wyatt
DE: K. Enagbare
LB: Q. Walker
LB: E. Cooper
S: X. McKinley
S: E. Williams

They can/should absolutely improve upon this, but if that's what you're starting with before you've re-signed anyone, spent a dollar of cap space, or used a single draft pick, you're doing well.

I wish more understood this, but many don’t even take time to know current contracts and who is up and who isn’t. (Ftr speaking in general and not just this forum, honestly less towards this forum but many other places)

 

[tynimiller]

All three of those players, at least for right now, are more manufactured touch guys in the passing game than they are guys who are going to consistently beat single coverage. It's hard to get them a lot of work because the various formations, looks, route combos that you use to get them open quickly become tells and defenses can snuff them out.

Yup, of the guys going into next season that you can ask to win one on ones is Wicks and Doubs. And neither are elite yet for sure

 

[Sanguine camper]

Despite his alarming drop rate, Wicks still gets consistently open by a large margin. That's why he saw the ball even though his drops would've warranted more time on the bench. If he continues to drop a lot of passes next season then maybe you can move on from him but he is still a very intriguing player. It's not an overstatement to say Wicks could develop into a Devonte Adams if he ever cleaned up his drops because his ability to cut on a dime and get open is elite to say the least.

 

[tynimiller]

Despite his alarming drop rate, Wicks still gets consistently open by a large margin. That's why he saw the ball even though his drops would've warranted more time on the bench. If he continues to drop a lot of passes next season then maybe you can move on from him but he is still a very intriguing player. It's not an overstatement to say Wicks could develop into a Devonte Adams if he ever cleaned up his drops because his ability to cut on a dime and get open is elite to say the least.

Wicks drops his drop rate down to three or four percent he can easily be a teams #1 with how much separation he gets continually regardless of whose on him, or how they’re aligned.

 

[Sanguine camper]

A drop rate of 3 to 4 percent is acceptable. It isn't elite but if Wicks can get it that low, his other skills will make him scary to other teams. I think drops are even worse than they appear because they frequently stop drives. Clean up drops and the offense stays on the field longer leading to more chances and points. Wicks and the team as a whole had an unacceptable drop rate this year. It's not as if the drops came mostly on diving attempts or a guy trying to wrestle the ball away from double coverage. Most of the drops were very catchable passes.

 

[tynimiller]

A drop rate of 3 to 4 percent is acceptable. It isn't elite but if Wicks can get it that low, his other skills will make him scary to other teams. I think drops are even worse than they appear because they frequently stop drives. Clean up drops and the offense stays on the field longer leading to more chances and points. Wicks and the team as a whole had an unacceptable drop rate this year. It's not as if the drops came mostly on diving attempts or a guy trying to wrestle the ball away from double coverage. Most of the drops were very catchable passes.

Reed had a worse season for drops to me than even Wicks but FAR too many fans are enamored with him to admit it. His drops were often inside his frame even at times, where Wicks I can think of a few that were VERY catchable but were extension catches.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Reed had a worse season for drops to me than even Wicks but FAR too many fans are enamored with him to admit it. His drops were often inside his frame even at times, where Wicks I can think of a few that were VERY catchable but were extension catches.

Reed had too many drops for sure but even with his drops, his percentage catch rate and ypc are very good. The ypc is towards to top end for WR'ers. He also has a high rate of big plays over 15 yards. I think Reed is the best candidate for a WR1 on the team since Watson is out for next season. Reed has high production with relatively few targets while Wicks didn't even though both players dropped too many passes. I'm not counting Wicks out, I just think MLF and Love by extention need to get the ball more often to the playmakers. On this team, more often its Reed, Jacobs and Kraft. Those three guys have also shown better durability so I'd rather structure the offense around them.

 

[Magooch]

Reed had a worse season for drops to me than even Wicks but FAR too many fans are enamored with him to admit it. His drops were often inside his frame even at times, where Wicks I can think of a few that were VERY catchable but were extension catches.

I would agree with that for sure. Doubly frustrating is that IMO Reed's 2024/25 started off SO promising and then just kinda fizzled out in a lot of ways. He and Wicks actually finished with the same number of drops, and almost an identical number of targets (9 drops on 75 targets for Reed/76 for Wicks) while Wicks had almost 2 yards deeper ADOT.

What's a real bummer and seems to have largely gone under-the-radar (IMO) is that from what I can tell Watson was only credited with *two* drops this past season on 53 targets, and a crazy 21.4 yards per rec. He was really starting to get on a good track.

 

[tynimiller]

Reed had too many drops for sure but even with his drops, his percentage catch rate and ypc are very good. The ypc is towards to top end for WR'ers. He also has a high rate of big plays over 15 yards. I think Reed is the best candidate for a WR1 on the team since Watson is out for next season. Reed has high production with relatively few targets while Wicks didn't even though both players dropped too many passes. I'm not counting Wicks out, I just think MLF and Love by extention need to get the ball more often to the playmakers. On this team, more often its Reed, Jacobs and Kraft. Those three guys have also shown better durability so I'd rather structure the offense around them.

Reed has proven defenses have figured out how to erase him from a game. He's a much easier guard than others, but he is for sure very very good when you can manufacture some touches to him.

 

[tynimiller]

What's a real bummer and seems to have largely gone under-the-radar (IMO) is that from what I can tell Watson was only credited with *two* drops this past season on 53 targets, and a crazy 21.4 yards per rec. He was really starting to get on a good track.

Folks overlook that Watson had come back from his leg issues, balanced his hamstrings and was playing awesome.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Reed has proven defenses have figured out how to erase him from a game. He's a much easier guard than others, but he is for sure very very good when you can manufacture some touches to him.

Reed was 9th in the league in ypc, 3rd in the league in yac per reception and near the top of the league in 20+ catches (19) in only 75 targets. Only Alec Pierce and Jamison Williams were similar in explosive plays per target.
Reed is putting up elite numbers per target and that includes his bone headed drops. I find it hard to figure out how one of the most explosive players in the NFL can't get open to the point he gets "erased" in a game. With Reed it's not just long passes, he makes guys miss and turns short passes into big plays. Not getting to ball to him enough was a big mistake. He can't separate like Wicks or is as fast as Watson but over 2 seasons he's shown that he's a big play waiting to happen.

 

[McKnowledge]

My list of top 5 offseason ideas for the 2025 Green Bay Packers

1) Time to get a veteran WR 1, Garrett Wilson would be brilliant
2) Fortify the O-Line, go young, not dumb, do not overpay for injury prone vets
3) Revamp the D-Line, Kenny Clark is a dog, but either get some improved help alongside
him or trade him for draft capital.
4) Prioritize a few pass rushers. Free agency and draft should produce at least 3 playmakers on the edge. Not real high on LVN. Gary has been hyped up a little, hedge any bets on his potential.
5) Stockpile the secondary. The quality of WRs has exploded over the last 10 years and most teams have deep talented WR depth.
Already with a great secondary, I think Gute should target a young ascending CB like Paulson Adebo.

 

[tynimiller]

Reed was 9th in the league in ypc, 3rd in the league in yac per reception and near the top of the league in 20+ catches (19) in only 75 targets. Only Alec Pierce and Jamison Williams were similar in explosive plays per target.
Reed is putting up elite numbers per target and that includes his bone headed drops. I find it hard to figure out how one of the most explosive players in the NFL can't get open to the point he gets "erased" in a game. With Reed it's not just long passes, he makes guys miss and turns short passes into big plays. Not getting to ball to him enough was a big mistake. He can't separate like Wicks or is as fast as Watson but over 2 seasons he's shown that he's a big play waiting to happen.

When I say that, you have to look at the tales of the two halves of the season and then also compare the DCs we saw second half.

Reed is not a guy that builds out separation one on one like wicks, which is fine he’s a much more dynamic guy with the ball in his hands than Wicks is.

Teams illustrated what they can do to shut him out and it worked constantly of late in second half. Now I personally think the X factor is Loves health and that Reed is much more of value to this offense when Watson and Doubs are both taking the attention they need…but again that plays to how nasty good Reed is within the manufactured touches you gotta get the man.

None of this is saying Reed isn’t good, I actually feel he is quite good, but it just is the type of WR or weapon he is within our offense.