Last season was full of ups and downs for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed. The former second-round pick was productive and led the team in receiving yards for the second consecutive season. He generated an impressive 137.5 passer rating when targeted. At the same time, Reed failed to beat man coverage and saw his drop rate jump from 4.5% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024.
The talent is undeniable, and there's obvious room for growth. That's what he's trying to achieve this offseason. This week, he participated in an event called "Wideout Workshop" in Miami, Florida, and some of the best wide receivers in football were there to share experiences and technique. The list included Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill, Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Houston Texans' Tank Dell, Denver Broncos' Courtland Sutton, Cleveland Browns' Jerry Jeudy, and Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba,
These positional workshops have been in vogue in the NFL since the establishment of the Tight End University. Offensive linemen and now wide receivers are following a similar path to unite forces trying to improve.
Why Reed didn't play at his best
Jayden Reed started the season hot, but regressed throughout the year in 2024. During the annual NFL meetings back in April, head coach Matt LaFleur offered an explanation of why it happened.
"[Reed] definitely started off hot. It's a long season, and there's ebbs and flows with every season. I think there was a point in time about midway through where he got a little bit banged up," LaFleur explained. "Nothing serious, just the overall pounding. And it definitely took a little bit of a toll. But I also think that we could have done a better job from a staff perspective of trying to put him in some more advantageous situations where he could have produced those numbers. Because he's an explosive player, and he's one of those guys that you want to get the ball to, no doubt about it."
This will be a key season for Jayden Reed to define where he is in the hierarchy of Packers wide receivers . While Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are entering the final year of their rookie deals, Green Bay added first-rounder Matthew Golden and third-rounder Savion Williams to the room in the draft. Moreover, this is Reed's third season, which means he will be eligible to get a contract extension next offseason—and a bounce-back season would be huge to elevate his market projection.
