Packers: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver
General manager Ted Thompson got his first front office job in the NFL when Ron Wolf hired him in 1992 to join the Packers as an assistant director of pro personnel. Thompson learned a lot from his mentor, who was the general manager of the Packers from 1991 to 2000.
Wolf's tenure in Green Bay from 1992 to 2000 produced a record of 92-52, which included three NFC Central titles and a win in Super Bowl XXXI.
Wolf also hired head coach Mike Holmgren in 1992, traded for quarterback Brett Favre in 1992 and signed unrestricted free agent Reggie White in 1993.
Those three moves were the primary reasons the Packers did so well while Wolf was in Green Bay. But he had one regret: He felt he never brought in enough weapons at wide receiver for Favre.
Thompson has learned that lesson well. As general manager, he has always made sure that both the quarterback (whether Favre or Aaron Rodgers) has had an abundance of weapons at the wide receiver position.
Since he started running the front office of the Packers in 2005, Thompson has drafted 13 wide receivers, and seven of those picks have been in the second or third round of the draft.
Since 2006, the tenure of Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy has produced a 94-49-1 record, with five NFC North titles and a win in Super Bowl XLV.
That mark is similar to the Wolf's record as GM.
This season the depth chart is overflowing at wide receiver, with 12 players fighting for positions on the roster.
There is a good chance the Packers will keep six wide receivers this year, along with stashing a couple on the practice squad.
Let's take a look at the depth chart and see how each player stands in terms of his roster status.
Jordy Nelson
1 of 12
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 217 pounds
NFL Status: Seven-year veteran (Kansas State)
Jordy Nelson has been a money wide receiver for the Packers in his career, both in the regular season and the postseason.
In the regular season, No. 87 has 400 receptions for 6,109 yards and 49 touchdowns. In the postseason, Nelson has 47 catches for 588 yards and four scores.
He had his best season ever in 2014, with 98 receptions for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. That led to Nelson being named to his first Pro Bowl.
He had offseason hip surgery but should be ready to go for training camp and once again be the No. 1 target for Aaron Rodgers.
Randall Cobb
2 of 12
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 192 pounds
NFL Status: Four-year veteran (Kentucky)
Randall Cobb picked a great year to have his best season ever, as No. 18 turned a productive 2014 season into a lucrative contract extension worth $40 million over four years this offseason.
Last year, he had 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. Like Jordy Nelson, Cobb also made the Pro Bowl.
In his career in Green Bay, he has 227 catches for 3,049 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season, plus 26 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown in the postseason.
Cobb is also an accomplished return man, with three return touchdowns in his career. The Packers also have used him in the backfield at times as a running option, as he has rushed for 252 yards in his tenure in Green Bay.
Expect to see Cobb as the No. 2 option again for Aaron Rodgers this season.
Davante Adams
3 of 12
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 215 pounds
NFL Status: One-year veteran (Fresno State)
Davante Adams had a brilliant college career at Fresno State, where he had 233 receptions for 3,030 yards and 38 touchdowns in just two years.
His NFL career as a Packer rookie did not turn out too bad either, as he recorded 38 receptions for 446 yards and three touchdowns. In his biggest game in the regular season, No. 17 had six catches for 121 yards versus the New England Patriots, as the Packers won 26-21 at Lambeau Field.
Adams really made a name for himself in the postseason, as he tallied seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in a 26-21 win at Lambeau.
Look for him to build on his rookie year and to remain the No. 3 option for Aaron Rodgers to utilize in the dangerous Green Bay passing game.
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Jared Abbrederis
4 of 12
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 pounds
NFL Status: One-year veteran (Wisconsin)
Jared Abbrederis suffered a torn ACL early in training camp and went on injured reserve in his rookie season with the Packers.
He had a great career at Wisconsin, with 202 receptions for 3,140 yards and 23 touchdowns. No. 84 also rushed for 291 yards and two more scores as a Badger.
In addition, the former walk-on was a solid return man and had one return for a touchdown.
This is what NFL scout Chris Landry told me about Abbrederis before the 2014 NFL draft:
"Jared Abbrederis. I like him. I think he's a really good X-receiver. Can be a three or a four in the league. He's smart, and he runs good routes. He's got good quickness.
"He's sneaky vertical. Listen, he's one of the many guys, maybe as many as 16, 17 or 18 wide receivers that I think can be starters eventually in this league out of this draft class."
Expect to see Abbrederis battle Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery for the fourth wide receiver spot on the depth chart. No matter what, No. 84 will see the field this season in some capacity.
Jeff Janis
5 of 12
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 219 pounds
NFL Status: One-year veteran (Saginaw Valley State)
Jeff Janis had a nice preseason for the Packers last summer but rarely played in the regular season. The rookie had just two receptions for 16 yards in three games.
He tore up his level of football in college, as he had 246 catches for 4,305 yards and 46 touchdowns for Saginaw Valley State.
Janis has the size and speed to compete for the fourth wide receiver spot and is a good bet to make the final roster overall.
Ty Montgomery
6 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 216 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Stanford)
Green Bay drafted Ty Montgomery in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. He had a nice career at Stanford, where he had 172 receptions for 2,125 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also a consensus All-American in 2013.
Montgomery showed off other skills as well, as he rushed for 334 yards and four more scores, returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and also returned two punts for scores.
Expect to see Montgomery as the primary kickoff returner for the Packers, and he may also get a shot to return punts as well to save players like defensive back Micah Hyde and wide receiver Randall Cobb to perform their primary duties at their respective positions.
In a recent story I did about No. 88, Sam Seale, the West Coast scout for the Packers, gave his take on Montgomery.
“He’s a bigger Cobb,” Seale said. “I think he’s a bigger Randall. That’s what I see in the kid.”
Montgomery should battle both Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis for the No. 4 spot on the wide receiver depth chart and win a roster spot one way or another.
Myles White
7 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190 pounds
NFL Status: Two-year veteran (Louisiana Tech)
Myles White was an undrafted rookie in 2013 who made the practice squad. He later was upgraded to the roster that year and had nine receptions for 66 yards before going on injured reserve late in the season.
No. 19 was on the practice squad again in 2014.
If there is an injury to any of the top six wide receivers on the roster, White would have a chance to make the final roster, depending on how he performs in training camp. Otherwise, he will have a tough battle to remain on the practice squad with all the young talent Ted Thompson has brought in to compete.
Adrian Coxson
8 of 12
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 209 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Stony Brook)
Adrian Coxson was signed as an undrafted rookie. In college, he began his career at Maryland before moving to Stony Brook.
At Stony Brook, he had 82 receptions for 1,335 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote a nice story about Coxson and his heartfelt relationship with his father last month.
Depending on his performance in training camp and in preseason games, Coxson has a chance to make the practice squad.
Javess Blue
9 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 188 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Kentucky)
Javess Blue was signed as an undrafted rookie. He started out at Butler Community College before moving on to Kentucky for two seasons.
As a Wildcat, he had 72 catches for 1,111 yards and nine touchdowns.
Blue has a chance to join the practice squad depending on how he performs this summer.
Larry Pinkard
10 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 196 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Old Dominion)
Larry Pinkard was signed as an undrafted rookie. While at Old Dominion, he had 160 receptions for 2,338 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Pinkard has the ability to make the practice squad, but it all depends on how he fares against all of the young competition at wide receiver.
Jimmie Hunt
11 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 208 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Missouri)
Jimmie Hunt was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent. He played four years at Missouri and had 74 receptions for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He also returned kickoffs at times for the Tigers, bringing one back for a touchdown.
Like the other undrafted rookie wide receivers, Hunt has a chance to make the practice squad, especially if he can make some big plays, both at wide receiver and on special teams.
Ricky Collins
12 of 12
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 198 pounds
NFL Status: Rookie (Texas A&M-Commerce)
Ricky Collins was signed as an undrafted rookie. He first played for Kilgore Junior College (Texas), then for Midwestern State (Texas) and finally at Texas A&M-Commerce.
In 2014, he had 64 receptions for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Collins will have a lot of competition at wide receiver, but he has the talent to earn a place on the practice squad, where the Packers will likely keep two spots for that position.
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