The Detroit Lions are in an enviable position right now. Their roster is objectively loaded with top-tier talent, they have one of the best head coaches in the league, and they’re coming off a Divisional Round playoff loss while basically missing half their team to injuries.
With back-to-back NFC North division titles and a collective 27-7 record over that span, the North goes through the Motor City. Solidifying their position further is the most explosive offense in the NFL, led by one of the best receiving corps in the league.
Almost every team wishes they had Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams as their top pairing. One team definitely doesn’t, and unfortunately for them, they share the division. The Green Bay Packers still can’t figure out how to surround their offense with reliable playmakers.
In Kristopher Knox's latest article for Bleacher Report, he dove into each team's biggest reason for optimism, and the Packers' was a tale we've heard many times before.
Lions fans can share a collective eye-roll over Packers' reason for optimism
How many times are we going to sit here and complain about the “lack of weapons” Packers’ quarterbacks have on their roster? Every year it’s the same thing: ‘The Packers didn’t address the wide receiver room.’ Sure, they didn’t spend a first-rounder, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t try.
That’s why it was surprising to see Knox pin optimism on their new wide receiver weapons: rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams:
Packers' reason for optimism: New Pass-Catchers
"That could change in 2025 now that the Packers have injected some much-needed talent into their receiving corps. Green Bay used first- and third-round picks on wideouts Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, respectively. They'll join a young receiving corps that has had talent but has long lacked true go-to options."
Since 2018, Green Bay has drafted J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Amari Rodgers, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Grant Dubose, along with 2025 rookies Golden and Williams.
So, excuse me when I say it’s a tired narrative. At some point, the team needs to look internally for their failure to develop these guys, instead of pretending 10 receivers “just weren’t the right fit.”
If none of the last 10 worked, what are the odds these two will? For as good an offensive coach as Matt LaFleur is, it has to be concerning that not one drafted receiver has developed into a true No. 1 option.
Maybe it’s different this time. Maybe Golden and Williams are the Jordan Love saviors. Or maybe history will repeat itself because that’s what it does, and just because a first-round pick was used on a receiver doesn’t mean it’ll magically pan out. Until Green Bay figures it out, Detroit faithful can only sit back and laugh.
