
As Matt LaFleur set out to annoy fantasy GMs with his wide receiver setup over the past two years, the Packers have seen some growth from their array of young talent. Jayden Reed and tight end Tucker Kraft have emerged as quality targets, with the likes of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs showing flashes as […]
Speaking Wednesday on PFT Live, Jacobs laid out what he believed to be the primary needs for the Packers this offseason. Receiver wasn't the only position he mentioned, as an upgrade at defensive back and defensive end were also mentioned, but it was his comments about the team's receiver room that has turned some heads. Jacobs isn't exactly wrong in his assessment. In fact, the Packers have appeared to pride themselves on not having "a true No. 1" while spinning it as a plus that allows them to "spread the ball out." Jayden Reed, who is arguably their most talented receiver, led the team with 55 receptions for 857 yards last season, but he was also one of four receivers to see 70-plus targets last season. His 75 targets were second only to Dontayvion Wicks (76), who caught just 39 passes for 415 yards in his second season. The Packers finished last season ranked 12th in passing yards per game and third in yards per attempt, but there's no denying what a legitimate WR1 would bring to the Packers. There's a handful of "proven" WR1s set to hit free agency this off-season, but Tee Higgins is the only receiver under 30 -- and that's assuming the Bengals allow Higgins to test the open market. The devastating knee injury Christian Watson suffered late in the season only amplifies the Packers' need to upgrade at the position, but it's clear, at least to Jacobs, that a top-tier receiver would elevate the offense to new heights in 2025.
Tucker Kraft definitely showed flashes of star-level talent in his 2024 season, so we can understand wanting him to have a more featured role in a Packers offense. Green Bay arguably doesn't have another star-caliber receiver on the field every down -- at least unless they let Jayden Reed out of the slot-only receiver box -- and Kraft would offer some physicality at the catch point. But for every 20 of these types of quotes, maybe one or two actually happen. Kraft isn't going to start getting a Trey McBride level of targets just because LaFleur said this ... but perhaps it is the start of some momentum towards that kind of role.