Vote on what’s been the hot topic of the 2000s: who is the Packers’ WR1?
We kicked off our All-Quarter Century voting today with a look at the quarterback position, and now we’re on to a more contentious spot on the roster: wide receiver. The 2000s and 2010s were a bit of a golden age for the Green Bay Packers at this position, and with guys like Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, and Davante Adams, it’s easy to make an argument that any one of them could be the team’s WR1 of the last 25 years.
We’ll be voting on two other wide receiver spots this week, but this round is for your #1 choice on the quarter century squad.
As a reminder, we are only looking at production from these players from the years 2000 through 2024, and only during their time with the Packers. Let’s dive in!
Wide Receiver Nominees
Antonio Freeman (2000-2001, 2003)
Regular season stats: 46 games played, 128 catches on 250 targets, 1,871 yards, 15 TDs
Postseason stats: 4 games played, 13 catches on 21 targets, 148 yards, 3 TDs
Freeman’s time with the Packers in the 2000s was limited, so his impact here is not nearly what it was when he was with the organization in the 90s. After feuding with HC Mike Sherman and being suspended from the team’s final game in 2001, Freeman was released by the Packers and went on to play in Philadelphia for a season. He was brought back to Green Bay for the 2003 season, but didn’t start a single game that year.
Donald Driver (2000-2012)
4x Pro Bowl
Regular season stats: 199 games played, 740 catches on 1228 targets, 10,106 yards, 60 TDs
Postseason stats: 14 games played, 49 catches on 69 targets, 675 yards, 3 TDs
Donald Driver had the rare privilege of getting to play with two HOF Packers QBs, and he was Mr. Reliable for both of them. By 2009, he had broken the Packers’ all-time record for receptions, and by 2011 he had broken the team’s record for receiving yards. He still holds these records today.
Javon Walker (2002-2005)
1x Pro Bowl
Regular season stats: 48 games played, 157 catches on 273 targets, 2,444 yards, 22 TDs
Postseason stats: 4 games played, 13 catches on 24 targets, 286 yards
Javon Walker was drafted to be the replacement for Antonio Freeman, and his time with the team also soured out after he demanded a new contract, and spoke poorly of the team’s handling of the situation. After threatening to hold out from the 2005 season, he ended up reporting to camp, and swiftly tore his ACL in the opener, missing the rest of the season. The day of the 2006 NFL draft, Walker was traded to the Denver Broncos for a second round pick.
Greg Jennings (2006-2012)
2x Pro Bowl, PFWA All-Rookie Team
Regular season stats: 96 games played, 425 catches on 735 targets, 6,537 yards, 53 TDs
Postseason stats: 10 games played, 50 catches on 79 targets, 673 yards, 6 TDs
Greg Jennings became a starter for the Packers the day he was drafted and quickly made an impact, making the league’s All-Rookie team. He caught the 16-yard pass that gave Brett Favre the all-time record for TD passes, and also caught Aaron Rodgers’ first-ever TD pass. On the Packers’ way to victory in Super Bowl XLV, Jennings had 4 catches for 64 yards and 2 TDs. After his second contract with the Packers was up, Jennings went on to sign with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013.
James Jones (2007-2013, 2015)
1x NFL receiving touchdowns leader
Regular season stats: 120 games played, 360 catches on 604 targets, 5,195 yards, 45 TDs
Postseason stats: 13 games played, 46 catches on 72 targets, 491 yards, 4 TDs
James Jones goes largely under the radar when talking about Packers receivers, due in part to some of the names he had to share the spotlight with, but he was extremely solid for the team during his tenure. After both Donald Driver and Greg Jennings departed, Jones had 817 yards in the final season of his first stint with the team. After a season with the Raiders, Jones was re-signed by the Packers just weeks after Jordy Nelson tore his ACL. In this final year with the team, Jones had a career-high 890 receiving yards, while leading the team in TD receptions (8).
Jordy Nelson (2008-2017)
1x Second-Team All-Pro, 1x Pro Bowl, 1x NFL receiving touchdowns leader, 2016 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Regular season stats: 136 games played, 550 catches on 836 targets, 7,848 yards, 69 TDs
Postseason stats: 13 games played, 54 catches on 83 targets, 668 yards, 5 TDs
The favorite of a ton of fans, Jordy Nelson did it all. He was the receiver who truly kicked off the Rodgers era, and what a ride it was. After working his way up the depth chart early in his career, Nelson’s breakout year came in 2011, when he finished the season with 15 TDs and 1,263 receiving yards. After tearing his ACL during a preseason game in 2015, he bounced back in 2016 with another 1,200+ yard season and led the league in receiving TDs with 14, winning the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award. Nelson’s volume dropped the following year, due in part to a broken collarbone sustained by Aaron Rodgers, and the receiver was cut after the season ended.
Randall Cobb (2011-2018, 2021-2022)
1x Pro Bowl, PFWA All-Rookie Team
Regular season stats: 130 games played, 532 catches on 764 targets, 6,316 yards, 47 TDs
Postseason stats: 12 games played, 47 catches on 68 targets, 596 yards, 5 TDs
Randall Cobb burst onto the scene in an electric debut, tying the record for longest kickoff return in NFL history with 108 yards against the New Orleans Saints. He became one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets, despite cracking 1000 receiving yards just once. After leaving the team in free agency and doing a tour of Texas for two years, Cobb was traded back to the Packers at the request of Rodgers, becoming the veteran leader to the next generation of young receivers on the team.
Davante Adams (2014-2021)
5x Pro Bowl, 2x First-Team All-Pro, 1x NFL receiving touchdowns leader
Regular season stats: 116 games played, 669 catches on 1,012 targets, 8,121 yards, 73 TDs
Postseason stats: 11 games played, 72 catches on 101 targets, 910 yards, 8 TDs
Davante Adams had a slow start to his career with the Packers, and then…he just took off. After two seasons of under 500 receiving yards, Adams broke out in year 3 with 997 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ended up becoming Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target (sometimes to the detriment of the team), and was on pace to break almost every Packers’ receiving record until contract talks began. The team and Adams could not come to an agreement, and the franchise tag was placed on the receiver. He informed the team he would not be playing under the tag, and was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders just days later.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2018-2021)
Regular season stats: 59 games played, 123 catches on 247 targets, 2,153 yards, 13 TDs
Postseason stats: 3 games played, 9 catches on 15 targets, 156 yards, 1 TD
I know what you’re thinking. Why is MVS in this article? The answer? BECAUSE. He was on the team long enough and played a big enough role during his tenure that it would be malpractice to not at least mention the deep threat and his slightly buttery fingers. Get off my back.
Allen Lazard (2018-2022)
Regular season stats: 57 games played, 169 catches on 259 targets, 2,236 yards, 20 TDs
Postseason stats: 5 games played, 11 catches on 19 targets, 200 yards, 1 TD
I know what you’re thinking. Why is MVS Allen Lazard in this article? The answer? BECAUSE. He was on the team long enough and played a big enough role during his tenure that it would be malpractice to not at least mention the deep threat guy who is currently robbing the NY Jets and his slightly buttery fingers. Get off my back.
Christian Watson (2022-present)
Regular season stats: 38 games played, 98 catches on 172 targets, 1,653 yards, 14 TDs
Postseason stats: 2 games played, 2 catches on 3 targets, 20 yards
It’s early on in his career, but Watson needs to at least be mentioned here, since he’s been a big part of the offense for a few seasons now. In Watson’s most recent action, he tore his ACL in the team’s final game against the Bears this year. It remains to be seen how he’ll bounce back, but his presence on the field will be missed.
Romeo Doubs (2022-present)
Regular season stats: 43 games played, 147 catches on 235 targets, 1,700 yards, 15 TDs
Postseason stats: 3 games played, 12 catches on 14 targets, 247 yards, 1 TD
It’s early on in his career, but Watson Doubs needs to at least be mentioned here, since he’s been a big part of the offense for a few seasons now. In Watson’s Doubs’ most recent action, he tore concussed his ACL brain in the team’s final game against the Bears Eagles this year. It remains to be seen how he’ll bounce back.