Packers Trade of Wicks Changes Draft Importance for Wide Receiver
Wide receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed were both drafted in 2023; two of eight wide receivers drafted in the last four drafts.
Last week, the Green Bay Packers traded fourth-year wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles for two future Day 3 draft picks.
With the trade of Wicks, the Packers depth chart at wide receiver started to take shape. Projected starters are Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. The top backups are last year’s third round pick Savion Williams and free agent acquisition Skyy Moore.
If a 53-man roster was to be selected today, the 6th wide receiever would likely be veteran Bo Melton.
With the departure of Wicks, this also opens a need in the draft for a wide receiver. For a long time, dating back to the early tenure of general manager Ron Wolf, the Packers have been one of the best franchises at drafting and developing wide receivers.
Previewing the wide receiver position entering the 2026 NFL draft for the Packers.
📸 Patrick McDermott, Getty Images https://t.co/Qsf9Jqcpcs pic.twitter.com/EcwMfI2U5o— The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) April 14, 2026
With four spots locked up for next season (assuming all four guys are healthy going into Week 1 - Watson, Golden, Reed, Williams) and two to three spots up for competition, it makes a lot of sense for the Packers to add to the receiver room on Day 3 of the draft.
Under Wolf from 1992 to 2001, the Packers drafted 18 wide receivers in 10 years, with 1993 being the only draft without selecting one.
Notable wide receivers drafted by Wolf
| Year | Player | Round | Pick | School |
| 1992 | Robert Brooks | 3 | 62 | South Carolina |
| 1994 | Bill Schroeder | 6 | 181 | Wisconsin-LaCrosse |
| 1995 | Antonio Freeman | 3 | 90 | Virginia Tech |
| 1996 | Derrick Mayes | 2 | 56 | Notre Dame |
| 1998 | Corey Bradford | 5 | 150 | Jackson State |
| 1999 | Donald Driver | 7 | 213 | Alcorn State |
| 2001 | Robert Ferguson | 2 | 41 | Texas A&M |
From 2002 to 2004 with Mike Sherman in charge the Packers only drafted just three wide receivers in three drafts, with the most successful being 2002 first round pick Javon Walker.
Under Ted Thompson, wide receiver once again became a high priority in the draft. Thompson’s third selection as general manager was wide receiver Terrence Murphy out of Texas A&M. From 2005 to 2017, the Packers drafted 17 wide receivers in 13 years.
Notebable wide receivers drafted by Thompson
| Year | Player | Round | Pick | School |
| 2005 | Terrence Murphy | 2 | 58 | Texas A&M |
| 2006 | Greg Jennings | 2 | 52 | Western Michigan |
| 2006 | Will Blackmon | 4 | 115 | Boston College |
| 2007 | James Jones | 3 | 78 | San Jose State |
| 2008 | Jordy Nelson | 2 | 36 | Kansas State |
| 2008 | Brett Swain | 7 | 215 | San Diego State |
| 2011 | Randall Cobb | 2 | 64 | Kentucky |
| 2014 | Davante Adams | 2 | 53 | Fresno State |
| 2014 | Jared Abbrederis | 5 | 176 | Wisconsin |
| 2015 | Ty Montgomery | 3 | 94 | Stanford |
| 2016 | Trevor Davis | 5 | 163 | California |
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the decision maker on draft day, the importance of wide receiver has had some ups and downs. In 2018, Gutekunst drafted three wide receivers but then didn’t draft the position in 2019 and 2020, which led to drafting multiple wide receivers in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Overall, Gutekunst has taken 12 wide receivers in eight drafts.
Wide receivers drafted by Gutekunst (since 2018)
| Year | Player | Round | Pick | School |
| 2018 | J'mon Moore | 4 | 133 | Missouri |
| 2018 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 5 | 174 | South Florida |
| 2018 | Equanimeous St. Brown | 6 | 207 | Notre Dame |
| 2021 | Amari Rodgers | 3 | 85 | Clemson |
| 2022 | Christian Watson | 2 | 34 | North Dakota State |
| 2022 | Romeo Doubs | 4 | 132 | Nevada |
| 2022 | Samori Toure | 7 | 258 | Nebraska |
| 2023 | Jayden Reed | 2 | 50 | Michigan State |
| 2023 | Dontayvion Wicks | 5 | 159 | Virginia |
| 2023 | Grant DuBose | 7 | 256 | Charlotte |
| 2025 | Matthew Golden | 1 | 23 | Texas |
| 2025 | Savion Williams | 3 | 87 | TCU |
It is a position where it is worth investing year after year, even if a Day 3 player doesn’t produce until a few years into his career. The best example of this approach to draft a position every year even if it is not a need was the success of Donald Driver.
After being chosen in the 7th round in the 1999 draft pick, Driver went from a player who had just three catches as a rookie to a perennial Pro Bowl-level wide receiver and one of the best wide receivers in the history of the franchise.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (10)
stockholder
April 14, 2026 at 04:14 pm
I Loved the Trade.
It changed the future.
My hope is they take
Hurst or Lance early @84.
Then use that 153 pick on a RB.
Kaytron Allen is perfect.
golfpacker61
April 14, 2026 at 06:17 pm
GB doesn't need to waste #84 on a WR that won't play anyway, if we draft one it will be later.
Later round WRs, Jeff Caldwell-Cinn, and J Michael Sturdivant-Florida.
I like the other Penn State RB better, he is faster, and a better pass catcher. It's amazing having those 2 RBs for 4 years and they didn't win more games.
A late round RB I like is Noah Wittington-Oregon, he is what the Packers thought they were getting in Lloyd.
GB needs a better #2 TE way more than they need another WR.
stockholder
April 14, 2026 at 06:59 pm
waste-?
I don't believe it's a waste if they
brought Hurst in.
Do you know what a GEM is.?
I was filling the 153 with a running back.
Gute said he will address it and I went for the
guy in the top 10.
So you've given up on Musgrave?
The guy their interested in is
Will Kacmarek Te OSU.
He blocks and catches.
Kiper has him as a top 10 TE.
Which is interesting because most
say FA.
golfpacker61
April 14, 2026 at 08:18 pm
2026 is the first year of no 1st round pick and we only have 8 total. GB needs to be creative in the draft, move back small amount for more mid round picks. Even you stockholder have to admit WR is behind CB, Edge, DT, TE & OL as bigger needs. We need to fill the needs first.
Katron Allen is a mid 4.55 RB. I don't know if he ran faster at his pro day or if he even participated. I like the other PSU back, he runs mid 4.3s and we need a faster gamebreaker RB to compliment Jacobs. What I like about both of them is they are not 1-year wonders like Washington, and their production came in the best conference, the Big 10. I do like the Oregon back Wittington faster and better blocker.
Yes I have given up on Musgrave, we should have never picked him. I went back to look at his college stats: 57 catches 633 yds 2 TDs very weak blocker, injury issues. GB drafted him off RAS and potential. Last years Kraft injury showed us how important a solid #2 TE is. Whyle is as good as Musgrave. Trade him while his value is at it's highest since he was drafted.
GregC
April 14, 2026 at 04:59 pm
The Wicks trade doesn't really create a need for a WR, it just opens up a roster spot to draft one if they choose to do so. They still have enough WRs this year, and Wicks was going to be gone after this season anyway. If they don't take a WR in this draft, and they re-sign Christian Watson and let Jayden Reed go, they will still have a core of Watson, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams, to which they can add a rookie next year. There is more than one way for them to play this.
PhantomII
April 14, 2026 at 08:52 pm
No, Greg...It took the last batch 3 years to consistently catch the ball....just imagine your logic...JL is in a window but we need another 10 sack Edge / 2-OL / 1-Vet DL + a drafted DL / 2-WR's drafted / 2-CB's / 1-Vet TE + Draft 1 / Draft a RB.
ArlenWilliams
April 14, 2026 at 05:09 pm
Well... here's to drafting a couple more good offensive linemen...
stockholder
April 14, 2026 at 05:18 pm
Davis or Wright? 5th rd.
golfpacker61
April 15, 2026 at 09:05 am
Trey Zuhn, Logan Taylor, Diego Pounds, D J Campbell all fi GB OL criteria.
BuckyBadger
April 15, 2026 at 12:06 pm
What they have in house will have to be enough. Even if the do draft someone it will be late and a project player. Just last year it was thought it was a need now they are trading them away. Maybe didn't need to burn a 1st on one last year.