What Are Samori Toure’s Chances Of Making the Packers’ Final 53-Man Roster?

Expectations are high for the Green Bay Packers' young offense. They will enter next season looking to show that it was not a fluke that it became one of the league's most dangerous units to close the 2023 season. Green Bay's talented receiving corps will try to take a leap forward and show the league they're a force to be reckoned with, even after not making multiple “Under 25” lists.

Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft all have the potential to be in the league's next group of young superstars, and even Bo Melton is better than any team's WR5 has any right to be.

But beyond their ascending stars, there are players on the outside looking in, like Samori Toure. The 2022 seventh-rounder is on the fringe, hoping to keep up with his draftmates Watson and Doubs. He’ll need an impressive training camp and preseason to stick with the team.

Whether you believe Green Bay's lack of a WR1 is a good or bad thing, it's clear they have a talented group of players they really like. After investing heavily in WR the past two years and in tight ends last year, the team is willing to see what that group can do, not adding anyone this off-season.

Watson, Doubs, Reed, Wicks, and Melton are locks at wide receiver. Each player offers something different and has proven himself to Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur, carrying the offense at times.

That means there are only one to two roster spots left at wide receiver — and one seems the more realistic number. In the Matt LaFleur era, the Packers have had seven wide receivers on the opening 53-man roster just once, in 2022. That season was the first without Davante Adams, and Green Bay had just drafted three wide receivers. Keeping a crowded WR room while they evaluated the talent made sense.

Toure was part of that group and made the initial roster as a rookie in 2023. As much as the Packers prefer to keep their draft picks on the roster, it's not guaranteed. Last year’s seventh-round receiver, Grant DuBose, spent his rookie season on the practice squad.

It's impressive that Toure made the initial roster in his first two seasons. However, it's an uphill battle for him to make it a three-peat.

After being inactive his first six games, Toure caught his first NFL pass in Week 7 and scored his first (and only) NFL touchdown the following week. He finished his rookie season catching five of his 10 targets for 82 yards and one touchdown.

In 2023, he saw more offensive snaps (139 compared to 2022's 112) but had a fairly pedestrian stat line of eight receptions on 18 targets for 78 yards. Love looked his way in critical moments in Week 13's loss to the New York Giants, catching two of his four targets for 22 yards.

Even with the wide receiving corps looking fairly beat up by season's end, Toure couldn't demand more targets because Melton overshadowed him. Toure's limited targets weren't efficient; he had a 34 passer rating when targeted. He finished his season on IR, missing the season's finale and playoff run.

Toure finds himself in a precarious position. Melton has emerged as a game-changing threat at the end of the season, and the coaching staff loves Malik Heath's efforts. Melton has almost certainly earned a roster spot. Heath is currently the most likely receiver to earn the WR6 spot. Not only did he have a better stat line in 2023 (15/24 receptions for 125 yards and a TD), but he played a significant role on special teams (with 16.55% of snaps).

It's not easy being a fringe wide receiver who doesn't play a special teams role.

Right now, I'd expect Heath to win the sixth WR spot thanks to his special teams role and seemingly higher upside. Even then, we'll get a chance to see what DuBose learned on the practice squad last season and whether he can push for a roster spot this year. And it's never uncommon in Green Bay to see a name we aren't overly familiar with make eye-popping plays in preseason. It's going to be tough for Toure to stand out, even if the Packers do end up keeping seven wideouts.

But that's why we have training camp and preseason. Toure needs the offseason of his life to make a spot, but he'll get his fair chance. The third-year receiver already drew some praise when he caught a 60-yard bomb from Jordan Love in May.

But with Melton making plenty of big plays of his own and Heath playing a more well-rounded role, it's highly likely Toure doesn't make the roster, whether that means another chance on the practice squad or a change of scenery on another team. Toure will need an impactful summer to stay on Green Bay's roster another season.