How would you rank the Packers' skill position players?

If you have read it once, you have read it a thousand times at this time – the Green Bay Packers are a young football team at certain positions that is either rebuilding, retooling, or simply entering a new era, depending on who you talk to. Regardless, how will that translate onto the field in terms of production once training camp gets underway later this month and once real games start? There will likely be growing pains, particularly among the wide receivers and tight ends, but it is unknown exactly how high the ceiling is. How does the media think the offensive skill players will fare in the 2023 season?

theScore highlighted the wide receivers and tight ends in one breakdown and running backs in another. They ranked the team’s wide receivers and tight ends at No.31, one of the six units in the “Bottom tier.” The outlet wrote, in part, that “despite the potential this group has, we need to see them put it all together before they're ranked any higher.” 

However, theScore believes that the Packers’ running back unit is “elite,” opining that “Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are set to be the main attractions in Green Bay’s offense.” The unit debuted at No. 4. Jones and Dillon finished last season first and second on the team, respectively, in yards from scrimmage. (Jones tallied 1,516 yards while Dillon added 976 yards.) 

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, on the contrary, was much more critical of the team’s skill position players. Taking the running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends together, Barnwell ranked the collective unit at No. 28 in the NFL, a one-spot improvement from his 2022 rankings. “There are reasons to be optimistic, but everyone is a work in progress,” he wrote in regard to the team’s wide receivers and tight ends. 

That assessment makes sense, given how young the players are at those positions, but just how young are they in terms of a historical perspective? They’re in the record books. Barnwell pointed out that the average age of a wide receiver or tight end that is projected to receive a target for the team in 2023 is 23.4 years old. That age is the second-youngest since 1990, trailing only the 2017 Cleveland Browns, a team that went winless. The average age for the Browns’ top-five leading receivers that year, with 21-year-old quarterback DeShone Kizer under center for 15 games, was 23.6. Running back Duke Johnson led the way with 693 yards. 

ESPN projects that Christian Watson (age 24), Romeo Doubs (23), Jayden Reed (23), Jones (28), and Dontayvion Wicks (22) will be the team’s top-five leading receivers. Their average age is 24, which is the youngest average age in franchise history for the team’s top-five leading receivers since 1980. (If you replace Reed with Samori Toure (25) and replace Wicks with Luke Musgrave (22), the average age is 24.4.) The next youngest average age over that span for the Packers’ top-five leading receivers came in 1980 (24.3). 

The team’s running back duo is much more seasoned and experienced than the wide receivers and tight ends, but Barnwell is still not sold on the duo heading into their fourth season together. 

“The saving grace for the Packers in previous years might have been their running back rotation, but they underwhelmed last season. Aaron Jones averaged 5.3 yards per carry, but the veteran fumbled five times on 272 touches, leading the team to push through a pay cut. AJ Dillon's yards per carry and yards per catch dropped for the second consecutive season, and he generated minus-35 rushing yards over expected to Jones' 88. … A Packers team hoping to take the pressure off Love will need the former second-round pick to have a breakout season in 2023.”

While I think that the Packers’ weapons – specifically the wide receivers and tight ends – are slightly better than given credit for and Barnwell undersold the value of Jones and Dillon, it is difficult to ignite the tiki torches and get the pitchforks out of storage to proclaim that those writers, and anyone else that doubts the Packers’ skill position players, are dead wrong and will look like fools at the end of the season. 

Look, there’s plenty of oozing potential among the wide receivers and tight ends. But those players have to be judged by their results on the field, and the fact of the matter is that there is only one year of results for Watson, Doubs, and Toure. Meanwhile, Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, and Reed all have a blank slate as they prepare for a whole new world. 

Jones has proven, through his first six seasons, that he can is one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL, but he must correct the fumbling issues that plagued him in 2022. His five fumbles were tied for second-most among qualified running backs. For the defacto mayor of Door County, you can argue that he has not exactly played up to his second-round draft status, but his 2021 season proved he can be an effective, bruising running back. 

Altogether, having youth at skill position players can be equal parts exhilarating and aggravating. Don’t be surprised if there’s a healthy dose of each throughout the season. 

 

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Rex is a lifelong Packers fan but was sick of the cold, so he moved to the heart of Cowboys country. Follow him on Twitter (@Sheild92) and Instagram (@rex.sheild). 

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Comments (37)

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splitpea1's picture

July 03, 2023 at 12:29 pm

I think we're about 17 games too early, maybe even 34; all we have is that blank state with a couple of doodles here--with the exception of the RBs, who will be fine.

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PhantomII's picture

July 03, 2023 at 12:55 pm

WR1 Watson. WR 2 possession guy Doubs. WR 3 I'm going to say Reed, but could easily be Toure as well. TE 1 Kraft will be on the field a lot blocking and hopefully releasing for a big target who is tougher to bring down than Musgrave. What we do have is a huge amount of flexibility at every position, including RB with good players waiting in the wings who have not had to play as of yet. The OL should be healthy and offense starts there in pass and run. Hopefully Love has his timing dialed in early in the season so he can hit his targets and pull back that 8 man front we are going to have to try and run thru...at least sometimes. I'm still waiting on the RB pass option that will do wonders for the 8 man front when the defense gets burned by it a time or two. No really high hopes this season and really last season with DA leaving. It's JL team this season...I think he's ready and last QB1 did not do much last season so it will not be hard to achieve more than that. We need to see 2023 QB1 improve week to week, and I think he will. I will give them an overall mid grade 15.

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GregC's picture

July 03, 2023 at 01:07 pm

Can't argue with the low ranking considering the lack of experience. The good news is that in this case, the rankings are almost meaningless. That's one reason why I'm looking forward to this season so much. We don't know what's going to happen on the field until the games begin, and the offense will hopefully evolve as the season progresses. The potential is sky high.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 03, 2023 at 07:29 pm

Absolutely agree!

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jont's picture

July 03, 2023 at 01:18 pm

I'm not sure Barnwell is correct in saying Aaron Jones' fumbles led to his pay cut, and he's off target in saying he and AJ Dillon are 'works in progress'. Reads like something from a guy who reads stats and watches a little tape more than a guy who knows the roster as well as he pretends to.

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GregC's picture

July 03, 2023 at 02:52 pm

I thought that was odd too, about the pay cut being the result of the fumbles. I don't think that was the case at all. Honestly, I had forgotten about the fumbles.

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SoCalJim's picture

July 03, 2023 at 08:59 pm

The Packers asked Jones to take a pay cut because the team was extremely cap-strapped with the trade of Rodgers and the release of other players whose void years-dead cap money accelerated into 2023. Barnwell gets an F- in Connecting-the-Dots.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 03, 2023 at 10:58 pm

I'm sure #33's contract wasn't boosted by his fumbles, but I do think those are largely a function of the O line and the contract is based on need.

I'm really glad he was willing to take a pay cut for the team.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 05, 2023 at 02:19 am

Jones was scheduled to earn $16M in cash for 2023. That's an overpay. RBs of Jones' ability are in the $10M to $12M area. Jones agreed to $11M. I suspect that when the contract was written both sides thought some alteration would happen in 2023 unless Jones became a top 3 RB.

I expect Dalvin Cook as an unrestricted free agent to sign for $10M to $12M, AAV. It will be interesting to see what he gets.

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croatpackfan's picture

July 03, 2023 at 02:19 pm

I do not understand that enchantment with veterans. Packers have enough veterans. David Bakhtiari, Preston Smith, Elgton Jenkins, Aaron Jones, Rudy Ford, Jaire Alexander, Kenny Clark. Why will Packers need Sammy Watkins, Graham, Bennet or pensioners with more years playing football to spare their bodies and became slow and injury prone.

Every sport is young man activity. Yes, you need some experience, but if you are good, you are good.

Only problem with young team is coordination between parts of team (players) and knowledge how to use those parts to their strenght and cover for their shortages. But that are on Coaches.

Also, indulgence to senior player by signing and preffering spared veterans to plsy over refreshing team with youth brought us here. Packers had to close the book of playing old players over young one, players who can not run faster of snail (Lewis). I believe that using Nijman over Lewis will be more efficient in blocking part and not much worse in catching the ball part.

So, of course that there will be mistakes and failed tries, but when we put at comparation Brett Favre and FPQB what come as intetesting in that comparison. The fact that Favre has much more TO than FPQB, but still was SB Champion and year after that he brought team (or team brought him) to another SB, what Mr Perfect never did. And have more passing yards than FPQB despite he was playing at time when WR were not protected that well as today.

So, our believes and hopes and expectation from some here that Packers will be failed team, or that Packers will win all this season are just that. Believes.. hopes and expectation.

What I find most exciting is that we are finally facing unknown outcome. It is thrilling. There is so much that can go wrong and so much that can go right. Those reporters covers their "butts" by lowering Packers chances. Nothing else.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 03, 2023 at 02:27 pm

Our top 3 weapons (Jones, Dillon, Watson) are 2/3 of our offense, and they’re pretty good, certainly good enough to win with. The next group of 3 would probably be Doubs, Musgrave, and maybe Reed, and if they can provide even 1/3 of the offense amongst them (100 receiving yards) then we’re going to roll.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 03, 2023 at 11:04 pm

TE might surprise everyone with production. I hope we see 4 RBs, at least in preseason games.

Regardless of roster and starters, it'll be interesting to see ball distribution. They could stick with the hot hand, rotate through a lot of options to keep defenses guessing, or who knows what MLF might scheme up week to week ...

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LeotisHarris's picture

July 03, 2023 at 02:31 pm

I'd make some sort of numbered list, I guess. I might use pen and paper rather than making the list on my phone. That may seem old-fashioned to some here, but I don't care. I'd keep the list in a safe place once my ranking was complete, and only look at it when no one else was home.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 03, 2023 at 07:31 pm

Stealth and sophistication, my brother.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 03, 2023 at 11:05 pm

He's makin' a list

checkin' it twice

It's Christmas in July!

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Bearmeat's picture

July 03, 2023 at 04:45 pm

The talking heads, and rival NFCN fanbases, are going to be eating a WHOLE lot of crow by the end of this year. I'm not saying our offense is going to be a top 5 offense, but I do believe it will be a top 15, with potential for top 10. I'm actually far more concerned with the defense, considering the trash fire of a coaching staff we have on that side of the ball...

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 03, 2023 at 11:07 pm

C'mon, we GOTTA have a top 5 defense?

Yeah, JB jeopardizes that I'm afraid. Here's hoping RB prevents that as assistant HC ...

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Leatherhead's picture

July 03, 2023 at 06:44 pm

Bearmeat.....if we have a trashfire of a coaching staff on defense, and guys like Stokes and Savage and Lowry are no good, then how did we manage to give up fewer points on defense than a team like KC? How did we hold so many opponents under 28? Under 20? How were we one of the top pass defenses in the NFC? How did we hold the Vikings and Lions....two top ten offenses.....to 23, 16, zilch (until garbage time), and 20? How did we go on the road to Miami and hold the #11 offense to 20?

Magic? Luck? Here's my theory....

The coaching staff is competent, the personnel is pretty good. The whole bit about 7 > 5 is just a little too counterintuitive for many people, , and they're frustrated that we don't stop the run better, because if we did that, then our opponent would run less....at 5.0 yards per attempt....and throw more, at 7.0 yards/attempt.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 03, 2023 at 11:10 pm

The players are more than "pretty good." I can't help but think they underachieved due to coaching. Many people didn't give 190% effort on many plays, and I can't say how much coaches contributed to that or what.

Fix just that one thing and the team improves greatly, IMHO.

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Ferrari-Driver's picture

July 04, 2023 at 12:18 pm

A point to consider is that over the last decade the Packers have spent an enormous amount of draft capital in terms of our number one choices being dedicated to defense which "should" or tend to make a defensive coaching staff's job easier and a better chance to look good. Not saying I totally disagree with your point, but this is another factor to consider.

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Bure9620's picture

July 03, 2023 at 07:05 pm

I have eluded to this several times but this offense is going to go through Aaron Jones and Christian Watson. There are only so many targets/touches to go around and Watson is going to see double digit targets/touches many games including screens and jet sweep runs, etc.

It will look something like this
1a) Aaron Jones
1b) Christian Watson

3) AJ Dillon
4) Doubs
5) Musgrave/Reed/Deguara/Kraft and those guys will be game plan or opponent dependent.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 03, 2023 at 07:32 pm

As Aaron Jones has eluded many a would-be tackler.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2023 at 09:02 am

I was hoping you would've used "alluded" there.

**shakes head sadly at missed opportunity**

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T7Steve's picture

July 05, 2023 at 02:42 pm

Your point alludes me. LOL

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2023 at 07:26 pm

THAT'S the stuff!

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Leatherhead's picture

July 03, 2023 at 08:33 pm

Bure, that's essentially what I said. Jones, Dillon, Watson are our top 3 weapons and over 60% of our plays go to them.

That next group is probably Doubs, Musgrave, and Reed. I think we got Kraft primarily to help with the blocking, because we like having a TE that's like a 6th offensive lineman, and I don't really expect him to be a big part of the passing game this year.

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cdoemel's picture

July 03, 2023 at 10:43 pm

Like ‘Cedes was a sixth OLine man and wasn’t expected to do much else? I’ll take that!!

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Tundraboy's picture

July 03, 2023 at 09:37 pm

Don't forget Toure!

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Leatherhead's picture

July 05, 2023 at 08:58 am

Unless Watson, Doubs, and Reed are injured or played poorly, Toure isn't going to get many targets.

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Tundraboy's picture

July 07, 2023 at 08:28 pm

Reed hasnt done anything to displace Toure as far as I can see.

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TxFred's picture

July 04, 2023 at 07:29 am

This year's team needs no outside distractions. The coastal elitists bobbleheads & self serving know-it-alls can chase & follow other teams. The word will get out soon enough on this team. Now, team work, confidence & expections need nurturing. Develop together as a team, is the most important goal. Team & individual expecting & goals. Once that foundation is in place this team will be as good as it wants to be.

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PatrickGB's picture

July 04, 2023 at 08:48 am

Wow, another “sports expert” says we are crappy. It will be so fun when we prove them wrong!

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mnbadger's picture

July 04, 2023 at 09:39 am

Looking for a FRESH start, steady improvement in execution offensively, complete access to the offensive playbook and defense that keeps us in games, whether it be 17-14 or 38-35.
Team first.
Unpredictable.
Offensive snaps ranging from 3 to 13 seconds remaining on play clock.
No dead ball penalties. ie - dumb penalties.
Most importantly aggressive on offense, defense and ST.
GPG

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Ferrari-Driver's picture

July 04, 2023 at 11:29 am

On a side note: Hope everyone enjoys the 4th of July today. A time to celebrate our independence and a special thanks to all the guys who were soldiers here at Cheesehead TV for their service and efforts to maintain our independence and freedom. I personally thank each and every one of you.

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T7Steve's picture

July 05, 2023 at 02:46 pm

Very well said.

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vin0770's picture

July 04, 2023 at 12:02 pm

Surprised they even got graded! How can the report card be any grade other than INCOMPLETE Top WR’s missed how many games of their rookie season…incomplete. 2 of the top 3 TE’s haven’t taken an NFL snap….incomplete. Come on 🤪

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marpag1's picture

July 05, 2023 at 05:16 am

Yeah, I know I'm being petulant, but god, I hate this BS about "skill position" players. As if blocking didn't require quick and proper hand placement, nimble feet, powerful punch etc. As if rushing the passer (or any defensive position, for that matter) required no "skills" at all. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah......

Stupid, like when James Harden tried to bash Giannis by saying, "Oh, I wish I could just run around and dunk all the time, but I need to have SKILLS...." Moron.

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