Jones gave this team productivity it would not otherwise have had with Jordy being out for the season. But he's likely not the player who was expected to step-up at WR. The much ballyhooed "MVP" of OTAs was to be the cream that rose to the top. Instead, he sunk like a rock. He failed despite being given loads of opportunity to prove himself worthy, pretty much two seasons worth. Two or three good games over two seasons is not much to shout about. Jones had far more productivity than that last season alone. If Adams had actually lived-up to the coach's and QB's lofty hype his talent should have drawn some attention away from the other receivers AND he should have been modestly productive despite the extra attention that would have come his way. Capable #1 receivers should at least be able to deliver that, and then some.
Jones was the best receiver the Packers put on the field last season and he had never been asked to be the Packers #1 in seasons past. He's not the one who disappeared as much as a certain somebody else who had disappeared all season long, whether healthy or not. Adams was not the best WR on the team and he may actually have been the worst, all things considered, i.e., productivity versus opportunity. Adams and Abbrederis had very few opportunities to show what they were capable of doing. Montgomery the same, regardless that the reason for his limited opportunities was injury rather than bench-warming. At worst, all three grade-out at "incomplete" for last season.
Should Jones be back? IMO that should be a "yes." Theoretically, he won't need to be the #1 in 2016, although he's already proved that he can be highly productive if so required, regardless of his age. The real question mark is whether Adams is deserving enough to earn another roster spot, let alone to be anointed as a starter once again. Draft status, youth, and being the MVP of OTA's does not seem to have counted for very much based upon last season's conclusive results.
Adams is likely to be highly scrutinized and he's reaped being on a very short leash because that's what his performances of last season deservedly have sown for him. But that's also going to put a lot of added pressure on him to perform much better this time around. Based upon how he performed in 2015 he may not be capable of holding-up very well under pressure, making him the WR who deserves to be the most at risk. It does not help his cause one little bit that he's not a contributor on STs like the other younger players that he'll most likely be competing against.
When the best rationale to retain a player is that he was a high draft pick (while game after game he continues to rack-up failures to the contrary of what he needs to produce for the team), if I were his GM I would be losing confidence in him turning into anything special. And I also doubt the team is willing to waste much more time waiting for Adams' light to go on. Adams has his work cut-out for him.
I would prefer Jones of the two, age notwithstanding.
