The Green Bay Packers have been looking to add a go-to receiver this offseason. Thus far, the team hasn’t done that, although they did add depth with the signing of Mecole Hardman. But which of the Packers returning receivers is most likely to step up and become the team’s top receiver in 2025? Here are the top three candidates to take over that spot. This does not include any players the Packers could add via trades, free agency, or the draft.
Number Three: Romeo Doubs
Doubs returns for his fourth season with the Packers. This is his contract year, so the former Nevada star has plenty of incentive to have a big season. He caught 46 passes for 601 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season.
Doubs has many things working in his favor. While he isn’t an elite deep receiver, he runs disciplined routes and may be the team’s most reliable short-to-intermediate range receiver. He and Jordan Love have outstanding chemistry, and Love often looks to Doubs first in clutch, third down situations.
There are also obstacles facing Doubs if he wants to be WR1. The fact that he’s not a major deep threat remains a part of it. Doubs is not the kind of players defenses fear although they do respect his ability to make short and intermediate catches.
In addition, the Packers suspended Doubs for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. The receiver allegedly was disappointed with his lack of targets and his role in the offense. While Doubs returned to the team after sitting out one game, the underlying issue was not reportedly resolved and may carry over to this season.
In addition, Doubs suffered two concussions late in the 2024 season. That makes him more susceptible to concussions in the future.
Doubs has a lot to play for in 2025 but may be better suited to being a WR2 or WR3.
Number Two: Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks provides the Packers with more of a deep threat than Doubs, but he is also less consistent. He caught 39 passes for the second straight year, but he had 18 more targets in 2024 than the previous season. He also dropped nine passes in 76 targets, an 11.8 percent drop rate.
Inconsistent hands have been a problem for Wicks dating back to his time at Virginia.
With Christian Watson out of the lineup for at least the first half of the season, Wicks should get more targets downfield. In 2023, when Watson was out of the lineup for several games in the second half of the season, Love looked to Wicks and the receiver came up with some big plays on long passes.
Wicks may be the least consistent member of the Packers receiving corps, but he may also have the most upside.
Number One: Jayden Reed
Reed led the Packers with 55 catches and 857 receiving yards last season and finished second on the team with six touchdown catches.
Reed operates primarily out of the slot. He was on the field for just 63 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. With Watson’s expected absence, that number could very well increase in 2025.
In the first half of last season, Reed was a playmaker for the Packers. He was getting downfield and making big plays on catches, jet sweeps, and end arounds.
In the second half of the season, Reed seemed to only get the ball a few yards downfield or even behind the line of scrimmage. Matt LaFleur changed the way the Packers utilized Reed, and his productivity dropped as a result.
Reed was also credited with nine dropped passes by pro-football-reference.com and had a drop percentage of 12.0. This is something he will need to improve upon if he hopes to become the team’s top receiver next season.
The addition of Hardman via free agency will likely mean Reed will no longer be returning punts next season. This should allow him to concentrate on his receiving duties going forward.
Reed has led the team in catches in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. He has the best chance to become the team’s top receiver in 2025 as of now.
