2 gems on Packers’ 2024 roster you need to know
One of the NFL’s newest teams was the Green Bay Packers in the previous campaign. Despite this, they managed to advance past the Dallas Cowboys in a road playoff game and secure a spot in the postseason. In the Divisional Round, Brock Purdy and company’s late game-winning drive ultimately proved to be too much for Green Bay, who had previously pushed the San Francisco 49ers.
The Packers got there in large part by nailing the draft and finding a couple of unheralded gems. A couple of those gems on the Green Bay’s 2024 roster include Dontayvion Wicks and Carrington Valentine.
The Packers have a ton of solid weapons on offense, especially in terms of young wide receivers. Three receivers on the Packers’ 2024 roster generated at least two yards per route run as a rookie. Two of them were second-rounders Jayden Reed and Christian Watson.
The other? That was 2023 fifth-round pick Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks had an underrated rookie season that could very well have never happened. Fifth round picks don’t get a ton of playing time in their first year, but Wicks’ circumstances were different. Watson suffered a hamstring injury during training camp that lingered all throughout the season
Watson wound up missing eight games. That gave Wicks a path to the field and he made the most of it. Wicks ran 281 routes and generated 2.07 yards per route run. Through 15 games total, he caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns.
Wicks has plenty of skill and versatility to his game. He primarily plays on the outside but can line up anywhere thanks to his smooth releases and deft route-running. Those skills were really on display at the end of the year.
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