Green Bay, Wisconsin – The NFL free agent market for receivers was stopped, veterans stars Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen looking for work.
Are Green Bay’s packers, who could use a veteran receiver to complete their young group, would they make a last big splash by free will?
Probably not. At least not at the price commissioned by Diggs, which accepted a A three -year contract of a value of up to 69 million dollars With the New England Patriots on Tuesday evening, reports. The average of $ 23.0 million is slightly higher than the average of $ 22.0 million in the two -year contract of Davante Adams with RAMS.
It is an amazing contract for Diggs, which will be 32 years old in November and leaves a torn LCA. In eight games in 2024, he was productive in terms of volume – 47 receptions for 496 yards – but his average of 10.6 was the lower second in his 10 -year career.
The “up to” language, of course, could be filled with dollars slums that will never be won. Nevertheless, the patriots pay money n ° 1 to a receiver which is no longer a n ° 1.
This does not mean that Diggs is no longer a quality receiver and that it will not help the quarter of the second-year Patriots Drake Maye. Or that he would not have helped packers at the quarter-Arrière Jordan Love.
Acquired in Buffalo last year, Diggs in half a season with Houston captured 74.6% of its targeted passes, had only a drop (2.0%), transformed 66% of its receptions in the first Downs and supplied CJ Stroud with a note of 106.3 passers-by when targeted.
The percentage of capture was the third best of his career, the drop rate was the lowest, the first percentage was better than his career brand of 60.0% and the coast of the passer was slightly better than his career brand of 104.5.
However, Diggs is in the process of a serious injury towards the end of his career. He had already lost part of his explosiveness. Last year, according to Sports Info Solutions, its average objective came from 8.3 yards below. It is the shortest of his career; The average objective varied from 10.6 yards to 15.4 yards in the previous five seasons.
Having short passes is good if the receiver can do something after taking. However, Diggs broke only three plated and on average 4.0 YAC per reception, according to Pro Football Focus.
When the packers beat the Texans in week 7, Diggs captured five passes for only 23 yards.
Based on the Diggs contract, the door is probably closed on the packers obtaining one of the best remaining veterans. If he had not been closed, locked and barricaded earlier.
With Christian Watson dealing with his own torn ACL, it will be up to the return group of Romeo Doubs, who failed 700 yards every three years and which comes from two end -of -season concussions, Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed, who had the percentages at the end of the second and third higher level.
“You would like someone to move into this space,” said Director General Brian Gutekunst to have a veteran receiver No. 1, “but, at the same time, I would like several guys to move into this space. What I am looking for are guys who are called in this space.”
Packers have signed a veteran receiver, Hardman Mecole, but the choice of second round 2019 has 214 reception yards in the past two years.
With the market of veterans that are too rich for Gutekunst, the pressure will be on the praised receiver that he chooses in the first laps.
Tuesday, he was in Texas Pro day to see Matthew Golden, who is considered a first -round hope, and Isaiah Bond, who will have a Visit of Prédraft with Packers. Gutekunst was the Only GM during the individual professional day Held by the star of Arizona Tet McMillan.
The famous packers have not written a receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002. It doesn’t matter that this changes this year, packers will have to find an instant contributor – something that has become more common due to the evolution of the game at the lower levels.
“There was a time when the receiver’s position was really difficult to enter the league during the first two years and have an impact,” said Gutekunst. “We saw this change. Just the way these guys present themselves through the football of the school and the college is different from what it was that allows these guys to make a higher impact earlier. ”
As Tom Cruise said once in Top Gun.
The pack obtained the need, the need for speed.
They organize a Texas Longhorn during a pre-Rôti visit that has a lot. https://t.co/bq6lqv8f8f
– Jacob Westendorf (@jacobwestendorf) March 26, 2025