Green Bay rode a wide receiver-by-committee approach to its fifth playoff appearance in six years. Newcomer Josh Jacobs would like to see a more stratified attack in 2025.
"We've got a really young group of receivers," Jacobs told 97.3 The Game on Wednesday. "All can be really, really, really special, but I think personally we need a guy that's proven to be a No. 1 already, somebody that we know is going to be a little bit more consistent."
Jacobs, the Packers' starting running back, finished sixth on the team in receiving in 2024, behind four receivers and a tight end (Tucker Kraft), all of whom had over at least 400 receiving yards but none of whom cracked 1,000 yards.
Jayden Reed paced all Packers pass catchers with 55 catches and 857 yards. Christian Watson (29 for 620), Romeo Doubs (46 for 601) and Dontayvion Wicks (39 for 415) rounded out the corps. It was never clear, due to injuries and Jordan Love's distribution, who Green Bay's top WR was. Doubs led the team in targets and receptions per game. Reed was a surefire No. 1 through Week 5 but saw his production tail off. Watson was second in the NFL with 21.4 yards per catch before tearing his ACL in Week 18.
All four are under contract in 2025.
Jacobs would prefer there to be a true go-to guy in Green Bay, possibly a former Packers legend and Raiders teammate, Davante Adams.
Asked playfully if Adams was the proven No. 1 wideout he was referring to, Jacobs played along.
"If he come at the right price, if he come at the right price, tell him it's live," the Packers RB said, laughing. "Nah, I have had talks with Tae."
Adams, currently on a Jets team that has undergone a regime change, has two years remaining on his deal and may be available in a trade this offseason. Perhaps, Jacobs and other Packers sympathizers hope, he would like to return to Green Bay for his 12th NFL season.
Other receivers potentially available this offseason are Cooper Kupp (recently made available by Los Angeles), Tee Higgins, Chris Godwin and Amari Cooper.
Not all Packers players are on board with Jacobs' idea. Wicks took to social media to express displeasure with the back's view of the receiving corps.
Aside from the Packers' outlook at receiver, Jacobs had nothing but nice things to say about his first season in Green Bay.
"It's been a good star," the Green Bay RB, who was sixth in the NFL with 301 carries and 1,329 rushing yards in 2024, told Good Morning Football on Wednesday. "Obviously, we didn't finish the way we wanted to, but I think it was a good start for me.
"With a young team, it's a lot of guys on that team that's still hungry. It makes it fun, man. It makes coming to work each day fun, being able to see guys willing to learn, willing to put the work in and win games. I think that's what everybody plays this game for ultimately is to win. We did a lot of that last year."
