In the 2024 season, the Green Bay Packers adopted a notably ground-and-pound offensive approach, emphasizing a run-heavy game plan. This strategy resulted in their passing attack reaching its lowest point in terms of pass rate since 2003. Essentially, they ran the ball much more often than they threw it, likely in an effort to control the game tempo and lean on their running backs. Despite this trend, quarterback Jordan Love’s passing stats painted a different picture in terms of depth. Love managed to rank fifth in average depth of target (ADoT), trailing only four notable quarterbacks: Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, Cleveland Browns’ Jameis Winston, and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. This suggests that, even in a run-heavy offense, Love was still asked to make deeper throws downfield compared to most quarterbacks in the league, which is an impressive feat given the run-first approach.
However, despite Love’s ability to push the ball downfield, the Packers’ offense is facing a significant issue in their lack of a consistent deep threat. Christian Watson had been the team’s primary vertical option in recent years, providing the Packers with a legitimate deep playmaker. However, Watson is expected to miss a substantial portion of the upcoming season due to an ACL injury, which is a major blow to the offense. Adding to the uncertainty, Watson is in the final year of his rookie contract, meaning his long-term future with the team is in question. His absence leaves the Packers without their top deep threat, and with a pressing need to find someone who can fill that role, especially as they look to bolster Love’s development and provide him with reliable weapons.
The Packers now find themselves in search of a new deep threat, someone who can stretch the field and create explosive plays. Ideally, this player would not only be a short-term solution for the upcoming season but also a long-term asset, a player they could build around for years to come.
To address this need, Dataroma, using data from Fantasy Points Data and nflfastr, produced a chart that highlights some potential trade targets. One standout candidate is Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf. Metcalf is known as one of the league’s elite deep threats, consistently ranking among the best in terms of both yardage and big-play potential. While Metcalf ranks just behind George Pickens, who also offers similar deep-play abilities, Pickens might be a less viable target due to off-field issues, making Metcalf a more realistic and attractive option. Metcalf’s combination of high production, big-play ability, and volume would be a perfect fit for a Packers offense looking to improve its passing game and give Jordan Love the deep-threat weapon he desperately needs.
In summary, while the Packers’ offense in 2024 struggled with a low passing rate, Jordan Love still demonstrated his ability to push the ball downfield. However, the injury to Christian Watson and the uncertainty surrounding his future with the team have left the Packers with a gap at the deep-threat position. With trade targets like DK Metcalf emerging as potential solutions, the Packers have an opportunity to add a game-changing weapon to their offense, which would not only help Love but also provide a much-needed dynamic to the passing game.
