Since Jordan Love became the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback in 2023, the team has never kept more than six wide receivers on the final 53-man roster.

However, competition within the receiver room is expected to be higher compared to previous seasons as the team heads into training camp.

The Packers currently have 12 wide receivers on their roster: Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Mecole Hardman, Bo Melton, Malik Heath, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, and Samuel Brown.

However, it is plausible that only six will make the final 53-man roster. Barring injury, Doubs, Reed, Wicks, Golden, and Williams are most likely locked in, while Watson should begin the season on the PUP list.

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Still, Zone Coverage’s Mitch Widmeier believes the Packers could stray from their usual approach and carry seven wide receivers into the regular season.

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“Let’s start with the obvious. Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams are locks. That’s five spots swiped up. In this prediction, we also include Mecole Hardman and Bo Melton to get to seven,” Widmeier wrote.

“Hardman was a standout in minicamp and gives the Packers a real option at punt returner and potentially kick returner. Green Bay preaches the importance of versatility, and now they can practice it by having seven wide receivers make the cut,” he added. “Melton has been a key contributor on special teams for Rich Bisaccia and is now experimenting at cornerback and wide receiver.”

Widmeier also highlighted that although Melton’s short trial at cornerback could be perceived as a final attempt to secure his place on the team, it might actually reflect the Packers’ genuine interest in his versatility and overall skill set.

“While some may see the cornerback flirtation as a last-gasp effort to keep him on the roster, let’s view it as the Packers being enamored with everything he can possibly do, thus earning him a spot. Malik Heath ends up on the outside looking in here,” he wrote.

The Packers likely have five spots in the receiving corps already locked in, and if they stick with their usual approach of keeping only six wideouts, the final spot will likely come down to a battle between Bo Melton, Malik Heath, Mecole Hardman, Julian Hicks, Samuel Brown, and Cornelius Johnson. However, it is fair to assume that the competition will ultimately narrow to Melton, Heath, and Hardman.