Does Green Bay Now Have A Depth Problem At Wide Receiver?

Depth hasn't been an issue at wide receiver in Green Bay for quite some time. Even with a strong core four of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks entering last year, the Green Bay Packers still drafted wide receivers in the first and third rounds.

Fast forward one year, and Doubs and Wicks are both gone, leaving questions.

The main one: Does Green Bay have a depth problem at wide receiver?

With Doubs off to New England and Wicks traded to Philadelphia, Green Bay has moved the puzzle pieces around a bit, but the top three is very clear.

Watson and last year's first-round pick, Matthew Golden, will start on the outside. Reed will be the starting slot receiver. On the surface, it's a really strong trio, especially if Golden takes the leap that damn near everyone expects him to.

Behind those three, though, there's a lot of uncertainty.

Savion Williams, their third-round pick a year ago, had just 10 receptions in 12 games last year and was seldom used. Williams logged just 91 snaps for the season, good for just 12%. With Doubs and Wicks gone, Williams has skyrocketed up the depth chart, and as a third-round pick just one year ago, clearly, there's plenty Green Bay must be enamored with. Still, we haven't seen it. Williams was buried on the depth chart a year ago and dealt with injuries that kept him on the shelf to the end of the year.

The Packers brought Skyy Moore over in the offseason on a one-year deal, but let's call a spade a spade: They signed Moore as a returner. Yes, Moore is listed as a wide receiver, but in the last two years -- one with the Kansas City Chiefs and one with the San Francisco 49ers -- Moore has five total receptions in 23 games.

Green Bay had issues in both punt and kick return last year, and that's why they brought in Moore. Anything he can provide at wide receiver is a bonus, but relying on heavy contributions would be silly.

Bo Melton is also back, but what's he going to spend more time on between cornerback and wide receiver? The plan last year was to have him make the full-time switch to cornerback, but head coach Matt LaFleur couldn't resist the urge to sprinkle Melton in at wide receiver here and there later in the season. Like Moore, it would be reckless for the Packers to expect Melton to make a heavy contribution at wide receiver.

All of it leaves Green Bay in a spot where the Packers are expecting a lot from Watson, Golden, and Reed. For Golden, that has to be music to his ears after he voiced some frustrations with not being used nearly as much as he thought he would be as a rookie.

There's a small risk in relying on these three, stemming from their past injury history. Watson dealt with hamstring injuries in his first two seasons, although that hasn’t been a problem of late. A torn ACL in the regular season finale in 2024 cost Watson the beginning of last year. A shoulder and chest injury suffered on the same play in Denver was thankfully not as serious as initially feared.

Reed was hit with a two-for-one last year when he suffered a broken collarbone in Week 2 and underwent surgery for that and a Jones fracture in his foot. He missed 10 games in total.

There's injury risk with everyone in the NFL, but some have shown to be more susceptible than others. With Watson healthy and in the lineup, he's more than just another difference-maker at the position. He's a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver who constantly stresses a defense. Without Watson for any period of time in 2026, the wide receiver room could be in trouble.

In past years, Green Bay has been able to weather the storm when injuries have occurred at wide receiver; that’s because they had the necessary depth. With Doubs and Wicks gone, the Packers won't have that same luxury in 2026 unless Williams develops into a viable option, or Moore or Melton shows their ceiling is much higher than the sample size has indicated.

All of it leads into a draft where the Packers may end up selecting another wide receiver. It'd be surprising if it came with one of their first two picks in Rounds 2 or 3. However, it's all fair game after that.

Don't get it twisted. The top three at wide receiver for the Packers are strong, assuming Golden ascends as expected. But the Packers are on the short end of any proven depth at wide receiver after the first three, and because of that, Brian Gutekunst may need to address the issue sooner rather than later.