The Green Bay Packers are undergoing a changing of the guard at wide receiver, with a new wave of talent set to take over from the previous group. Jayden Reed is assured of his spot, but both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are out of contract in 2026 and have both had health concerns.
Ready to take the place of Watson and Doubs are 2025 rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, who were drafted in the first and third rounds, respectively, in April. But who will emerge as the team’s No. 1 pass catcher?
Packers’ Receiver Room Set for Minicamp Battle
In a recent article for PFSN, Jacob Infante listed the most notable 2025 offseason storyline for all 32 NFL teams. When it came to Green Bay, Infante pointed to the team’s lack of a clear alpha receiver and the opportunity it created for somebody to step up.
“The Green Bay Packers have a deep receiver group but no clear WR1 since trading away Davante Adams. They hope first-round pick Matthew Golden can become that guy, but there’s plenty of competition.
“Whoever steps up could give Green Bay the spark it needs to take the next step in the playoffs.”
Having been taken in the first round, Golden would be the obvious candidate to be the main man in the Packers’ receiver room. Reed would also be in with a shot, but he has failed to break away from the likes of Doubs, Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks in his two years in the league.
Surprisingly, it was actually Wicks who led the team in targets last season, despite starting just five games. Still, no alpha receiver emerged, as Wicks, Reed, Doubs, and tight end Tucker Kraft all finished with between 70 and 76 targets on the year.
The Packers don’t necessarily need a dominant WR…but they do need a WR with dominant *traits.*
On the pod, @acosta32_jp and I talked about why Matthew Golden matters so much and the role he could play in the offense.
📺: https://t.co/J1IWHzOFZ7 pic.twitter.com/Evsg00eRxU
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 4, 2025
Do the Packers Need a WR1?
Contrary to popular belief, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur doesn’t believe that the team needs one particular wide receiver to break out from the crowd. Asked about the idea of a No. 1 receiver last August, LaFleur said that the idea makes him “want to vomit.”
“I want to vomit every time I hear ‘No. 1 receiver,’ to be honest with you,” he said. “It drives me crazy. That’s something that you guys talk about. I feel like we’ve got a bunch of ’em.”
Not many plays in the NFL where all five eligible receivers are open, but the Packers might have come pretty close on Christian Watson’s TD catch yesterday. pic.twitter.com/G0RP2yjzPW
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 14, 2024
Since Adams’ departure in 2022, the Packers’ offense has been built around variety, with several potential targets in play on every down. The team has two solid receiving tight ends, a multitude of capable receivers, and a top playmaker at running back.
While getting the ball to your best players is an easy concept to understand and get behind, being unpredictable is the aim of any offensive play-caller. LaFleur has done an outstanding job of keeping the Packers fresh, and it’s unlikely that the team looks to get more one-dimensional any time soon.