The Green Bay Packers are busily preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will take place tomorrow in Pittsburgh. With eight picks this year, the Packers hope to add depth to several positions on their roster, most notably on defense. Indeed, general manager Brian Gutekunst said as much during his pre-draft press conference with the Green Bay media on Tuesday.
It was during this media session that he also discussed the wide receiver position. Earlier this off-season, the Packers allowed Romeo Doubs to walk in free agency, and he signed a four-year contract with the New England Patriots. Additionally, the team traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles, who then gave the young former Packers wide receiver a one-year contract extension for 2027.
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reveals why they traded Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks, a fifth round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, was entering the final year of his rookie contract with Green Bay when they traded him to Philadelphia. He was coming off a year that saw him put up 30 receptions for 332 yards and two touchdowns, which were the lowest marks of his career.
Many fans have criticized Wicks for his drop issues, but he had the best season of his career in terms of hanging onto the ball in 2025, having just two drops last season after recording nine in 2024.
In the end, though, the Packers just have a deep wide receiver room and wanted more opportunities for Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, who were both drafted last year. During his press conference, Gutekunst said:
“It’s always tough to move off of a player that you feel is as good as Dontayvion was for us. … The situation we were in with the amount of players in that room, what we’re probably going to do in the future, him being in the last year of his contract, it just made a little bit of sense.”
“What we’re probably going to do in the future” seems to indicate that had he finished up his rookie contract in Green Bay, the Packers were not going to re-sign him.
Indeed, with Golden and Williams already on the roster, and with Christian Watson likely getting an extension, the Packers are once again rather top heavy in terms of their wide receiver depth. This does not even bring into account Jayden Reed, who also could be getting a contract extension from the Packers as well.
While Wicks may turn out to be a fine NFL wide receiver, he was not going to get the number of opportunities he needs to do so playing in Green Bay. He can have a bigger role in Philadelphia (after AJ Brown gets traded) and the Packers got some extra draft picks.
It was a win-win for everyone involved.
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