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Davante Adams Says 'Everyone' Expected Packers to Take WR in 2020 NFL Draft
August 4, 2020
The Green Bay Packers' draft came and went without general manager Brian Gutekunst choosing a wide receiver, a fact that surprised the Pack's No. 1 wideout, Davante Adams.
Zach Kruse of Packers Wire provided Adams' comments to reporters on Tuesday:
The Packers took nine players, led by quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick. They also took Boston College running back A.J. Dillon with their second-round selection before choosing three offensive linemen, a tight end, a defensive end, a linebacker and a safety.
Adams had more than twice as many targets (127) as the next-closest wide receiver (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, with 56) despite missing four games with a right turf toe injury. Running back Aaron Jones was second overall with 68 targets, and tight end Jimmy Graham, who is now a Chicago Bear, was third with 60.
In other words, the Packers heavily relied on Adams in their passing attack, to the point where adding a wideout this offseason to alleviate some pressure seemed like a formality.
That did not happen, however, as the Packers opted to fill out their roster elsewhere.
The Packers' pass-catching core certainly isn't bereft of talent and potential, and that's largely because of the impressive Allen Lazard, who had 35 catches for 477 yards and three touchdowns on just 52 targets.
Per Pro Football Focus, Lazard had the fourth-highest rating among wideouts when targeted on third down.
According to Peter Bukowski of Locked on Packers, Adams and head coach Matt LaFleur have both praised Lazard's work.
"Adams mentioned Allen Lazard as someone who is coming into his own," Bukowski tweeted Tuesday.
"Matt LaFleur has mentioned him a number of times this offseason. Lazard also has the confidence of his QB. Really feels like a breakout season is coming."
Lazard will be the Packers' No. 2 wide receiver, leaving a question mark at No. 3.
Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown are the likely candidates.
Valdes-Scantling has flashed potential but had just a 46.4 percent catch rate last season. St. Brown was more efficient in limited action (21 receptions for 328 yards on 36 targets), but it remains to be seen what he could do with a larger workload over a season.
The tight end lost its top pass-catching threat in Graham, and Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan figure to see the most snaps.
Green Bay opens its 2020 season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Minneapolis.