When the Green Bay Packers started their offseason following their Wild Card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, it was painfully clear that the team needed to address the wide receiver position. At one time, the Packers preached, and many fans thought, that they had an embarrassment of riches at the position. Their wide receiver room was said to have been so deep that they had multiple players who could be either a first or second top target on any other NFL team.
But the 2024 season, and their loss to Philadelphia, proved that was not the case. Green Bay wide receivers were the second-worst in the NFL in terms of drop percentage with 6.9%. Jayden Reed (12.0%), Dontayvion Wicks (11.8%), and Romeo Doubs (9.7%) were all among the league leaders in dropped passes.
Despite their drop issues, though, Green Bay won 11 games and went to the playoffs for the second year in a row. In that game, though, the Packers found themselves without Christian Watson, who tore his ACL in Week 18. Doubs and Reed also left the game early with injuries.
And the rest of the Packers’ receivers could not pick up the slack.
The Green Bay Packers Have Added Multiple Wide Receivers This Offseason
With Watson (probably) out for the start of the season, the drop issues that plagued the other wide receivers, and the fact that all of their pass catchers are entering or soon will be entering contract years, the Packers decided to make wide receiver a major priority this offseason.
But instead of landing a marquee free agent or acquiring a big-name on the trade market, the Packers addressed their need the way they have usually done so under Brian Gutekunst: with low-profile signings and the NFL Draft.
Matthew Golden (first round) and Savion Williams (third round) were selected by the Packers at the draft in Green Bay. Sam Brown Jr. was recently signed as an undrafted free agent, joining a room that consists of all the players listed previously as well as Malik Heath, Cornelius Johnson, Jadon Janke, and Julian Hicks.
What is more, none of these include the two wide receivers Green Bay signed this offseason, the incumbent Bo Melton and three-time Super Bowl Champion Mecole Hardman.
The Green Bay Packers Are Predicted to Cut Mecole Hardman
As one can see above, Green Bay certainly is going to have some tough decisions to make when they trim their roster to 53 at the end of training camp. Typically, the Packers carry six wide receivers, though they have had as many as seven on their initial roster before.
Even if they keep seven, though, playing time and targets are going to be hard to come by for those that are not among the top three or four on the depth chart. One should assume that Doubs, Wicks, and Reed will all make the roster, as will Golden and Williams.
That means that five spots are already spoken for, and Watson will return at some point as well.
Without Watson, Melton and Heath, who have been on the roster for the past two years, will be competing with Hardman, Brown, Hicks, Johnson, and Janke for one (maybe two) spot.
Due to this fierce competition, Jordan Wilson of Heavy just does not see Hardman making the roster:
“The Packers signed Hardman to a one-year contract in free agency, but that was before they added two draft picks to the mix. Hardman could solidify his spot on the roster if he can win the Packers’ return specialist job in camp, but the team could just as easily cut him if they have other returner options and feel the upside is stronger with Heath or Melton.”
Of course, Keisean Nixon is a two-time All-Pro as a kick returner, and while he said at the end of the year that he does not want to do that anymore, he has walked those comments back.
The fact of the matter is that Hardman was not used as a wide receiver much with the Kansas City Chiefs, with whom he won three titles. And, despite their success, Kansas City was not known for having the best wide receivers to begin with.
Additionally, the $150,000 Hardman received as a signing bonus was the only money guaranteed in his contract with the Packers. They would not be doing themselves any cap harm by releasing him.
