Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the team considered reuniting with All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams when he hit free agency earlier this offseason.
“I think any time you have a player of that caliber, there’s definitely conversations that go into it,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told Kay Adams last week. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Davante Adams, who spent the first eight seasons of his career in Green Bay, declined to play under the franchise tag in 2022 and requested a trade to the Raiders. Since his departure, the Packers have prioritized building through the draft rather than investing in costly veteran receivers. They’ve selected Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson in 2022, followed by Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks in 2023. All four have become dependable options, though none have matched Adams’ elite production.
This offseason, rumors circulated that the Packers were eyeing a veteran receiver to complement their young group. While they never pursued D.K. Metcalf, Davante Adams was reportedly a consideration. Ultimately, Green Bay stayed committed to its youth movement, using a first-round pick on wideout Matthew Golden—their first first-round receiver selection since 2002, predating Golden’s birth.
With the current roster in place, the focus now shifts to securing long-term deals for their emerging stars. That process may have already begun: just last week, Jayden Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with Packers GM Brian Gutekunst to “clarify (Reed)’s status.” Head coach Matt LaFleur seemed surprised by the discussion, noting Reed’s strong mentorship of rookie Matthew Golden. LaFleur later clarified he wasn’t involved in the meeting, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, but reiterated Reed’s importance as a leader.
Jayden Reed is reportedly ready to go for the upcoming season, despite not undergoing surgery for the shoulder injury that ended his year in Philadelphia. Reed had suffered a dislocated shoulder and a partially torn labrum but told USA Today’s Ryan Wood that the issue healed naturally over four to five months, making surgery unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Christian Watson is also working his way back from a serious injury. He tore his ACL and sustained additional damage during a non-contact play in the final week of the regular season. While no official return timeline has been set, head coach Matt LaFleur remains optimistic about Watson’s progress, noting—via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky—that the 25-year-old is ahead of schedule in his rehab.
