Packers by position: Receivers 


Once again this April, the Press-Gazette will provide a pre-draft breakdown of the Packers roster at each position by beat writer Rob Demovsky. This will lead up to the start of Pete Doughertys annual position-by-position draft series on April 21.

Today: Receiver

What they have

Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones*, Brett Swain, Chastin West

* Could be an unrestricted free agent depending on a new CBA

Position analysis

Jennings was nearly forgotten early last season, when the offense was centered around tight end Jermichael Finely, but was rediscovered after Finley was lost for the season because of a Week 5 knee injury. In the last 11 games of the regular season, Jennings was nearly unstoppable but for a few drops. He had 62 of his team-high 72 catches and 1,082 of his 1,265 yards and nine of his 12 touchdowns (which matched a career high) during that 11-game stretch. His average of 98.4 yards per game led the league in that span. Though he had just four drops, one cost the Packers a touchdown (and possibly the game) at Detroit. Still, Jennings made his first career Pro Bowl and even when Finley returns this season, Jennings should remain a big part of the offense. The seemingly ageless Driver, 36, couldnt finish the Super Bowl because of an ankle injury and was bothered by a quad injury during the regular season. Still, he continues to be a productive No. 2. Jordy Nelson had a monster Super Bowl, catching nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown but dropped three passes in that game alone. Was that his breakout or just a one-game wonder? The inconsistent Jones has been maddening for the coaches, who love his ability to make tough plays but are frustrated by his inability to make routine ones. Swains roster spot is more because of special teams. West spent the entire season on the practice squad.

The future

As good as Jennings is, this is still a position of need both because of Drivers age and the fact that Jones probably will sign elsewhere if hes an unrestricted free agent. GM Ted Thompson has taken receivers early in the draft before. Terrence Murphy (2005), Jennings (2006) and Nelson (2008) were all second-round picks and Jones (2007) was a third. He hasnt picked a receiver at all in the last two drafts, and almost certainly will do so this time around. There are probably only a couple of first-round receivers Georgias A.J. Green and Alabamas Julio Jones and theyll be gone long before the Packers pick at 32. Theres a decent sized group of receivers pegged for rounds 2-3.

This is the fourth in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Need level: Moderate

On the roster: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Brett Swain, Antonio Robinson and Chastin West.

Free agent: James Jones.

Outlook: The future is cloudy at the position due to Drivers advanced age and Jones possible departure. Barring a sudden end to the lockout, GM Ted Thompson wont know for sure if hell have Jones this season. Whats more, Nelson will be a free agent after this year and Jennings will be the year after that. So its time to start addressing this position. After his terrific Super Bowl performance and strong showing in the post-season (tied with Jennings for team lead with 21 receptions and second in yards per catch at 13.6) the No. 2 position in his sights. He needs to cut down on his drops, but hes a capable blocker and needs to be on the field on running and passing downs. The indefatigable Driver hasnt had a 100-yard game in forever and will have to give way to the others more next season. If the Packers had their druthers, theyd take Jones back. They probably value him more than other teams around the league and dont seem put off by his adrenaline-draining drops. So, its very possible hell be back. But it takes just one team to create an inflated market and the Packers would drop out at a certain level. Swain may have to fight off Robinson and West, two competitive practice-squad players, in camp.

Eye-opening stat: The Packers have only taken two wide receivers in the first round over the past 31 years (Sterling Sharpe, 88 and Javon Walker, 02).

Whats available: The Packers have no shot at the top two candidates, Alabamas Julio Jones and Georgias A.J. Green. As a result, its unlikely theyll take anyone early. However, one intriguing prospect is Kentuckys Randall Cobb, a do-everything prospect along the lines of Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle-El. Cobb is raw, but he could fill a return role until his receiving comes around. Its likely the Packers would have to take him with their first pick because he wont be around in the second. There are a number of other receivers with return ability such as Marylands Torrey Smith and East Carolinas Dwayne Harris, both of whom will go somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. There arent a lot of classic West Coast, run-after-catch receivers in this draft, and depth overall isnt very good. So, if Thompson doesnt go for someone in the first three or four rounds, he might be forced to go with a rawer talent like Boise States Austin Pettis, who doesnt test well, but is fast enough.

Bottom line: Thompson did a good job finding Jones in the third round and Nelson in the second, but he hasnt found much in the later rounds and probably will have to use one of his top three picks to snare someone this year. Its unlikely hed move up for anyone other than maybe Cobb and with the last pick in the first round he wouldnt have to. Its more likely hell take a shot later, but the competition for good receivers will be strong because the class is not very good.