Packers sign former Chiefs star to help fill wide receiver void

Trading away Davante Adams left the Packers with a massive hole at wide receiver but Green Bay has found a veteran who can help fill the void.

The 2022 offseason has been a series of ups and downs for Green Bay Packers fans. On the bright side, Aaron Rodgers is sticking around for the long haul. Unfortunately, he’ll move forward as the team’s quarterback without Davante Adams after a trade sent the star wide receiver to the Las Vegas Raiders.

While the decision from the front office to move Adams makes some sense, the roster was left with a glaring need at wide receiver thereafter. Most assume that Green Bay is set to invest heavily at the position when the end of April and the NFL draft roll around.

Just a couple of weeks before Roger Goodell starts reading names at the podium, though, the Packers aren’t waiting for that opportunity. After meeting with veteran wide receiver and former Chiefs standout Sammy Watkins, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the club had inked him to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million.

Packers news: Sammy Watkins signing helps but still leaves a hole

Watkins began his career with the Buffalo Bills as a 2014 first-round pick out of Clemson and showed his prodigious talent early with over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns over his first two seasons. Unfortunately, injuries began to limit him thereafter and the overall production slipped.

That led to him moving to the Rams for a season before spending three years with the Chiefs. While not the top option in the explosive Kansas City offense, he was an undeniable factor — again, when healthy. This past year, he played 13 games for the Baltimore Ravens, catching 27 of 49 targets for 394 yards and a single touchdown.

Yes, Watkins isn’t the player that he was coming out of college. Age and injuries have changed what he brings to the table. Thus, he’s not going to be a replacement for Adams by any stretch.

At the same time, the Packers are sorely lacking in terms of depth and quality. Bringing in a veteran such as Watkins to pair with a likely rookie-laden or overall young receiving corps makes a ton of sense and comes to them with little cost.