Green Bay

Packers

Cobb is walking away from the field and entering the broadcasting game as a studio analyst for the SEC Network. The former Kentucky wide receiver was a second-round pick of the Packers in 2011 and established himself as one of the league’s top slot receivers during his second season when he went for 80-954-8 on 104 targets. Cobb’s production topped out at 91-1287-12 in 2014, but the veteran receiver strung together a long, productive career in which he totaled more than 7,600 receiving yards along with 54 receiving touchdowns. His final season, which came last year with the Jets, was an underwhelming one. After being brought in by long-time Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers, Cobb played a minimal role for the team in 2023, catching just five passes over the 11 games he appeared in.

Kraft and center Zach Tom were both placed on the PUP list after suffering torn pectoral muscles in the spring. Head coach Matt LaFleur does not expect them to miss much of camp, but it is notable that they are in danger of missing camp reps. Especially for Kraft, the second-year tight end who will compete with fellow sophomore tight end Luke Musgrave for opportunities this season. Kraft missing early camp reps could give Musgrave a better shot at being the starter. Regardless, Kraft is not expected to be out long but should be valued as the Packers’ second tight end heading into the season.

During a sit-down with Bleacher Report, Love sang the praises of the second-year receiver, who totaled 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season. The former fifth-round pick was impressive his first year in the league, averaging 14.9 YPR while earning the 16th-highest overall grade for receivers in ESPN’s wide receiver analytics. Wicks flashed big-play ability during his time in college, which included a 57-1,203-9 line as a sophomore at Virginia. Unfortunately, a coaching change in 2022 led to major struggles for Wicks and the rest of the offense, which likely played a role in him falling to Day 3 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Love said earlier this offseason that the Packers don’t have a true No. 1 receiver, which he believes can put added stress on a defense. Between those comments and his praise for Wicks, it’s safe to say there will be plenty of opportunities for the second-year receiver to produce for fantasy managers this season.

Policy has been working with the Packers since 2012. He first joined them in a vice president/general counsel role and was named as chief operating officer in 2018. Current president/CEO Mark Murphy will remain in his role until July 2025, with Policy set to take over following Murphy’s retirement. Prior to joining the Packers, Policy served as as the commissioner of the Arena Football League and also spent two seasons as an executive consultant for the NFL.

It was reported earlier that the Lions were expected to sign Bates at the end of the NFL season. Now, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has confirmed that the kicking phenom will sign a two-year deal for a chance to compete with Michael Badgley for the starting job in camp. Bates was 6-of-10 on field goals of 50-plus yards during the UFL regular season and blasted a 64-yard game-winner in Week 1 for the Michigan Panthers. Before signing with the Lions, Bates also met with the Commanders and Packers.

The Packers replaced long-time starting LT David Bakhtiari with 2022 seventh-round draft pick, LT Rasheed Walker last year, who admirably produced a 74.7 PFF pass-blocking grade. Walker’s 56.3 PFF run-blocking grade reflects his incomplete profile though, giving the well-rounded Morgan an advantage over the incumbent. Morgan’s first-round draft capital also works in his favor. Packers coaches are surely hoping Morgan asserts himself as the team’s best blindside protector before Week 1 kicks off.

Demovsky reports that Love likes to be in the loop on developments, so there is reason to think progress has been made on an extension. Love was asked if he thinks contract talks will pick up after minicamp and he responded, “Yeah, I think they should.” Last week, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told Milwaukee radio station 97.3 The Game that both parties wanted to get a deal done “before training camp for sure”. After leading the Packers to a divisional round game, Love is now poised to earn an extension that puts him amongst the highest-paid in the game. Without an extension, he would make $11 million in 2024, but seeing extensions like Jared Goff’s $53 million per year, Love is poised to reach those numbers soon.

Jacobs missed the first week of OTAs with a hamstring issue but was back for individual drills this week. He was seen cutting and running during individual work and looked perfectly healthy. His light workload to start OTAs is almost certainly a precaution and nothing more. Assuming Jacobs is a full go in practice next week, the hamstring issue will be a non-story by training camp. Projected to easily lead an ascending Green Bay offense in carries, Jacobs is rightfully being drafted as a low-end RB1 to start the summer.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said in March that Watson — who missed eight games in 2023 — was working with a “special lab” to figure out why he has sustained so many soft tissue injuries. Testing at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health showed Watson had a 20 percent muscle mass difference between his right and left leg. That difference has since been reduced to 8-10 percent. “For me, it really was the asymmetry between the legs,” Watson said this week after an OTA session. “It comes from a lot of things. Obviously, the issues I’ve had in the past with hamstrings, not fully recovering from those strength-wise. I’ve been attacking the strength side of it, trying to get that symmetry back and it’s been huge for me. I feel really, really good. I gotta continue grinding at it.” Green Bay coaches said Watson, 24, showed up to OTAs in great shape. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky said Watson “moved in and out of his breaks with explosiveness and without hesitation” during OTA practices. Jordan Love said a fully healthy Watson would bring a dangerous downfield element to Green Bay’s passing attack in 2024. Thirty percent of his 2023 targets came more than 20 yards downfield.

Per LaFleur, Kraft is dealing with a torn pectoral muscle and will be ready by the start of training camp or early into camp. Kraft started his rookie season as the backup to fellow first-year tight end Luke Musgrave. Kraft eventually took over for Musgrave after the latter suffered a lacerated kidney. He totaled 312 yards and two scores over the final seven weeks of the regular season. Missing a chunk of Green Bay’s offseason program could give Musgrave the inside track to reclaim the starting role this summer. Early drafters should avoid Kraft until we see him back on the practice field.