The Green Bay Packers continue to ignore the wide receiver position, snorting at its mere existence in their offense, and will probably do the same in the 2025 NFL Draft.
They hate wide receivers so much that 23 players at the position will have bigger individual cap hits in 2025 than Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks… combined!
They also haven’t drafted a receiver in the first round since taking Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick in 2002. If you’re keeping score, that’s 23 years—long enough for an entire generation of Packers fans to grow up without witnessing it happen.
Even after Josh Jacobs practically begged them to add a true WR1 in the media this offseason, their big splash was signing special teams ace and gadget receiver Mecole Hardman. What a letdown.
Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little about the Packers’ outright disdain for wide receivers. Fine—a lot.
To be fair, Green Bay was smart to avoid this year’s uninspiring free-agent class. Outside of Davante Adams, there wasn’t a receiver who truly made sense for them. The one exception was a trade for D.K. Metcalf, who would’ve been a terrific addition to their roster. However, it’s understandable that they didn’t want to give up draft capital and pay him $30 million a year.
That said, they still need to upgrade the position in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Watson and Doubs set to hit free agency in 2026, and Reed and Wicks following them in 2027, Green Bay needs to begin reloading.
Here are six wide receivers they should target in the first round.
1. Jack Bech, TCU
To be transparent, these first three receivers would be reaches in the first round. If the Packers want to target one, the ideal scenario would be trading back to the very end of the first round, collecting an extra pick, and then selecting their preferred target.
Jack Bech spent his first two seasons at LSU before transferring to TCU for his final two years. After a relatively quiet college career, he broke out in 2024, hauling in 62 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns.
At six-foot-2two and 207 pounds, he has solid size for the position. He also tested well athletically, posting a 9.46 Relative Athletic Score (RAS)—a key metric the Packers love. That combination of size and athleticism could make him a justifiable reach if Green Bay trades back.
2. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
At five-foot-ten and 194 pounds, Jaylin Noel is smaller than the traditional Packers wide receiver. However, he more than makes up for it with elite speed and precise route running.
He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and posted a 41.5-inch vertical leap. His shuttle and three-cone drills were equally impressive, showcasing the quickness that makes him a nightmare for defenders. That speed translates to the field, where he can just as easily burn corners deep as he can shake them loose on short and intermediate routes.
Perhaps the most appealing part of his game are his reliable hands. After watching Green Bay’s receivers struggle with drops last season, Noel’s ability to consistently secure catches would be a welcome change.
3. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Jayden Higgins is one of the crown jewels of this wide receiver class when it comes to athletic testing. He posted an elite 9.85 RAS, ranking third-highest among receivers in this year’s draft.
His athleticism isn’t just about straight-line speed—his size (six-foot-four, 215 pounds) and leaping ability allow him to win contested catches and be a red-zone weapon.
Production-wise, he delivered two standout seasons at Iowa State, combining for 140 receptions, 2,166 yards, and 15 touchdowns. He’s been a fast riser over the past few weeks and could continue climbing draft boards, making him a real option at the end of the first round.
4. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Now we get into the meat and potatoes of the Packers’ wide receiver targets in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Emeka Egbuka doesn’t have the same sky-high ceiling as some of the elite receivers to come out of Ohio State, but his production speaks for itself. In 2024, he caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Primarily a slot receiver in college, Egbuka has the size and strength to play inside or outside in the NFL. His route-running is already polished, which helps compensate for his lack of elite athleticism. He’d be a safe, reliable pick at receiver for Green Bay—something the team could use after last year’s inconsistency.
5. Matthew Golden, Texas
Matthew Golden is another inside option for the Packers, though he spent more time on the outside than Egbuka. At five-foot-eleven, he’s a bit undersized but makes up for it with a blend of strength and speed.
He has no problem blowing past defenders or outmuscling safeties on contested catches. That aggressive, bulldog mentality will serve him well in the NFL, where he approaches every pass like it’s his to catch.
After two years at Houston, Golden transferred to Texas for 2024 and posted 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. His violent, sudden quickness allows him to create separation with ease, a skill that should translate well to the next level.
6. Luther Burden III, Missouri
Luther Burden III would be a home run pick for the Packers at 23rd overall. He currently sits 17th on The Athletic’s consensus big board, dropping four spots since the NFL Combine.
His 2024 numbers (61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns) didn’t quite match the bar he set in 2023 when he racked up 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Still, he was a consistent playmaker all three years at Missouri.
Burden’s versatility is one of his biggest assets. He can line up all over the field and was heavily utilized on jet sweeps, wide receiver screens, and other designed plays to get the ball in his hands. If the Packers have concerns about Jayden Reed’s long-term development, Burden could step in and be an even better version of that role.
Discussion about this post