Packers’ Critical Position Battle Could Have Roster Spot at Stake

How the Green Bay Packers’ wide receivers room takes shape will likely determine how effective Jordan Love and the offense have the potential to be this season, and one battle for a starting job might send the loser packing, entirely.

Suddenly, the Packers have youthful depth with uside at receiver, especially after selecting Matthew Golden and the former Texas standout’s 4.29 speed in the first round and rounding back to take Savion Williams in Round 3.

As training camp approaches, the clock might already be ticking on some veterans and unerachievers at the position.

Could the Packers’ No. 3 WR Battle Also Be for a Roster Spot?

Green Bay signed Mecole Hardman this offseason, but after Golden and Williams’ arrivials during the draft, the 27-year-old may need to win a starting job alongside Romeo Doubs or Jayden Reed, and Golden, if he’s going to win a roster spot at all.

Over at Pro Football Focus, analyst Mason Cameron put together a list of the top training camp battles to watch across the summer, including at receiver for the Packers.

“Drafting Matthew Golden in the first round sent a clear message to the Packers’ receiver room,” Cameron writes for PFF. “With trade rumors swirling around Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, opportunities could open up for other players to earn significant roles during training camp.

“Young talents like Dontayvion Wicks and third-round rookie Savion Williams are well-positioned to make an impact in Matt LaFleur’s system, but it’s Mecole Hardman who’s turning heads in minicamp. While he never fully emerged in Kansas City, Hardman has consistently shown elite separation skills, ranking in the 93rd percentile in separation rate over the past three seasons.”

If Hardman’s strong spring translates into a dominant summer during training camp and the preseason, he could conceivably climb the depth chart and become a favorite target of Jordan Love, who isn’t afraid to air it out.

However, given how much more the Packers have invested in Wicks and Williams, the pressure might be on Hardman to win the job by leaps and bounds. If he does, it could create some fascinating potential trade scenarios around Green Bay’s other young receivers.