Dontayvion Wicks Named Most Underrated Packers Player

The Green Bay Packers received a lot of contributions from unheralded players in 2023. One of the standouts in that regard was wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. A fifth-round pick out of Virginia in the 2023 NFL Draft, he made his presence felt right away.

Despite being the fourth pass catcher the Packers selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dontayvion Wicks still found a way to carve out a role and make an impact. He appeared in 15 games, starting six, and developed chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love rather quickly.

Heading into the 2024 season, Wicks is one player to keep an eye on in Green Bay. In the opinion of Zoltan Buday of PFF, he is the most underrated player on the Packers’ roster heading into the season.

“There are multiple candidates here, considering the Packers’ young, ascending offense, but second-year receiver Dontayvion Wicks finished as Green Bay’s highest-graded receiver in 2023 (77.8). The then-rookie was playing at a high level toward the second half of the season, earning an 83.6 PFF overall grade from Week 11 onward, which ranked 10th among wide receivers. He caught 95.1% of his catchable targets in 2023, which ranked second among all wide receivers,” Buday wrote.

That late-season emergence should lead to even more opportunities for Dontayvion Wicks in 2024. Most of his chances came because of injuries as a rookie, but he played at a high enough level to warrant playing time even if the wide receiver room is 100 percent healthy.

As a rookie, Wicks caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns. There will be plenty of competition for targets, as the Packers also have Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed at wide receiver. At tight end, Luke Musgrave will be heavily involved as well.

The level of competition for snaps should help everyone on the team improve. If you are going to get a regular spot in this offense, you will need to earn it. Dontayvion Wicks has his work cut out for him, but he has proven capable of producing at a high level when given the chance.

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