Green Bay Packers Playmaker Named Top Breakout Candidate

The Green Bay Packers are in an enviable position right now. After many expected they would drop into the basement a year ago following the departure of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they surged forward starting in November, made the playoffs and upset the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Jordan Love, Rodgers’ successor, did his part by finishing seventh in the NFL in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns despite a shaky start. He also benefited from having four young and promising wide receivers on his side.

In 2023, the best of the four was Jayden Reed, who led the team with 64 catches, 793 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. Romeo Doubs had 674 yards and eight touchdowns, while Christian Watson contributed 422 yards and five touchdowns in five games.

But some may say that Dontayvion Wicks also has tremendous potential. As a rookie last year, the fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Virginia posted 39 receptions for 581 yards and four touchdowns.

In a Bleacher Report article, Alex Ballentine singled out Wicks as a top breakout candidate this coming season.

“It was Wicks that Love predicted is going to have a “monster year” in an interview for Bleacher Report ,” wrote Ballentine.

“The Packers might have unearthed a gem when they took Wicks in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. His raw box score numbers were strong for a Day 3 rookie, as he reeled in 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns.

“Wicks was even more impressive when you look at more granular measures like his success rate running different routes. According to Reception Perception, Wicks had a success rate of at least 73.3 percent on seven of the 10 routes they chart.

“There are a lot of young receivers on the Green Bay offense, so that stands as a challenge for Wicks to hit his ceiling. However, Wicks’ versatility and success at running a full route tree should give him an advantage over some of the more one-dimensional choices Love has.”

Dontayvion Wicks is on the rise entering 2024

Wicks may not have top-level speed (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds at last year’s NFL scouting combine), but his production—not to mention his involvement in head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense—increased as the season went on.

In the Packers’ Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears, the win that assured them a playoff spot, Wicks had six catches for 61 yards as well as two touchdowns.

In a 2023 scouting report of Wicks , Bleacher Report said “he’s at his best as a deep threat” and that he had “great explosion off the line of scrimmage and even scarier buildup speed” while also calling him a “reliable ball tracker.”

Assuming Love continues to develop into an elite or near-elite quarterback, he will help Wicks continue to develop into the best wideout he can be.

Green Bay will need to eventually give out extensions to Reed, Watson, Doubs and Wicks, something that may not be feasible, especially given that Love could be in line for a historic extension of his own. The fact that Wicks is under contract for three more years should certainly help if the team has to let go of at least one of its four ascendant playmakers.

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