One of the Green Bay Packers’ priorities this offseason was to address their wide receiver room—or at least, it was a priority for fans and some players.
After spending all last offseason debating who Green Bay’s WR No. 1 was, the 2024 season gave no clear answers. No one emerged as Jordan Love’s go-to target, leaving the Packers’ offense stuck in neutral as Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks either regressed or plateaued.
Earlier this offseason, running back Josh Jacobs went on the radio and said he loves Green Bay’s receiving corps, but they still need to add a proven no.1 option. Unfortunately, that option never arrived.
Tee Higgins was franchise-tagged by the Bengals, Davante Adams signed with the Los Angeles Rams, and the Packers couldn’t secure D.K. Metcalf in a trade.
Now, Green Bay could still take a swing at one of the top remaining free-agent receivers, such as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, or Keenan Allen. However, all three are on the wrong side of 30, with their best football likely behind them—kind of like trying to relive your college glory days by dusting off an old varsity jacket. That’s the opposite of the type of free agents Brian Gutekunst tends to target.
That said, there are still a handful of low-cost options available. Here are five wide receivers Green Bay could sign without breaking the bank.
1. Devin Duvernay
For starters, the Packers seem ready to move Keisean Nixon out of the returner role and into a full-time cornerback role. Signing Devin Duvernay would give them a capable replacement without much drop-off.
Offensively, Duvernay has the speed Green Bay desperately needs, and he rarely drops passes. The problem is his production has fallen off a cliff. Over the last two seasons, he has just 15 receptions for 97 yards and zero touchdowns.
Still, that decline means the Packers could probably get him for pennies on the dollar—like finding last season’s winter coat on clearance when summer rolls around.
2. Elijah Moore
The Packers desperately need to add speed to their wide receiver room. With Christian Watson expected to miss roughly half of the 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL, Green Bay is left without a true deep threat.
There isn’t a perfect solution in free agency, but Elijah Moore could be one option.
A second-round pick in 2021, Moore spent his first two years with the New York Jets and the last two with the Cleveland Browns. Over the past two seasons, he has averaged 60 receptions, 589 yards, and 1.5 touchdowns—not exactly WR1 numbers, but a steady contributor nonetheless.
While he won’t single-handedly transform the Packers’ offense, Moore’s speed could be a game-changer. His ability to stretch the field would open up underneath routes for Green Bay’s other receivers, giving Jordan Love more room to work. In other words, he’d be like a good wingman—he might not steal the show, but he’ll make life a whole lot easier for everyone else.
3. Mecole Hardman
Speaking of speed, Mecole Hardman might be the fastest player on this list. And that’s saying something, considering how many sub-4.40 guys are still floating around in free agency.
A second-round pick in 2019, Hardman has spent most of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning three Super Bowls along the way. That championship experience could be valuable in a Packers locker room looking to finally break through in the playoffs.
On the field, though, Hardman is a bit of a mystery. His best season came in 2021, when he caught 59 passes for 693 yards. Since then, he hasn’t even cracked 300 yards in a single season.
Still, Hardman would come at a bargain price and provide the kind of top-end speed Green Bay is missing. If nothing else, he’d be a fun gadget player—like a trick-play specialist who can turn one or two plays a game into something special.
4. Diontae Johnson
Diontae Johnson is the perfect example of a high-risk, high-reward player.
On one hand, he can be a game-changer. He made the Pro Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, posting 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. That season included a standout performance in Week 4 against the Packers when he hauled in nine receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.
On the other hand, he can wear out his welcome faster than a guest who double-dips at a party. After spending his first five seasons with the Steelers, Johnson somehow managed to be on three different teams in 2024 alone. That’s impressive—but in the worst possible way.
The Packers would need to do their homework on Johnson and ensure their locker room has the personality to keep things steady if they bring him in. But the red flags come with a silver lining: his price tag is much lower than a player with his résumé would normally command. If Green Bay is willing to roll the dice, Johnson could be a bargain.
5. DJ Chark
Wrapping up our list is another former second-rounder, DJ Chark.
Chark spent his first four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and even earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 after posting 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.
Unfortunately, his production has dropped off a cliff since then. He hasn’t topped 709 receiving yards in a season since, and his 2024 campaign was an outright disaster. After battling injuries and inconsistency with the Los Angeles Chargers, he finished the season with just four receptions for 31 yards and one touchdown in seven games.
At this point, Chark is like an old sports car—you remember how great it used to be, but you’re not sure if it still runs the same. If the Packers sign him, they’ll be hoping to get a version closer to his 2022–2023 form, when he averaged 32.5 receptions, 514 yards, and four touchdowns.
