The Green Bay Packers have important decisions to make at wide receiver.
It was painfully obvious during their frustrating playoff exit to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jordan Love lacked a consistent receiver he could trust in the big moments.
The Packers need to search for reinforcements. Along with short-term help, they must consider the big-picture view beyond next season. Christian Watson will miss a significant part of the regular season, and in 2026, Watson and Romeo Doubs have expiring contracts.
The Packers can’t pay everybody. Considering that Zach Tom, Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Rasheed Walker, and Kingsley Enagbare are also hitting free agency in 2026, we can assume at least one of Watson or Doubs will depart a year from now. Perhaps both.
Re-signing either player will likely come at a high price, and the Packers must start preparing a backup plan.
Packers must start thinking about Romeo Doubs’ long-term replacement
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has signed a four-year extension worth up to $60.2 million.
It’s potentially significant for Doubs. As Packer Report’s Andy Herman noted, the two receivers have similar statistics since entering the league. Doubs has a slight edge in receiving yards (1,700 to 1,593) and a bigger lead in receiving touchdowns (15 to 7).
Doubs may look for a similar deal, but the Packers should pass.
They have far too many other priorities, like extending Zach Tom’s contract, to sign Doubs to a deal worth over $15 million annually. While the former fourth-rounder is a reliable receiving option, he hasn’t taken the next step to becoming a No. 1 target.
In three seasons, Doubs has never broken past the 700-yard mark. Sure, the Packers spread the ball around, but he has only posted a 100-yard game once (in the playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys in 2024). He’s never hit that mark in the regular season.
The Packers already need to think about adding a wide receiver. That could mean reuniting with Davante Adams or maybe even a blockbuster trade for DK Metcalf. The most likely scenario is the Packers using a Day 2 draft pick to add pass-catching talent.
In the short term, they need another talented receiver to help Jordan Love. Focusing on the bigger picture, they may need a Doubs replacement.
