This week it was announced that Aaron Rodgers will not be attending the Packers voluntary OTAs this offseason. While this was not a major surprise, it is a disappointment. Sure, you can argue that Rodgers missed all OTAs last season and enjoyed his second straight MVP season, but this year is different and Rodgers’ absence will be felt more in 2022 than it was in any previous season.
What is the big difference this offseason? Well, first and foremost, the Packers will have a lot of turnover in their receiving corps. All Pro Davante Adams has been traded to the Raiders. He has been the Packers top receiver for the last five seasons and had outstanding chemistry with Rodgers. His loss leaves the Packers without a number one receiver, at least for now. There are still roughly five months before the start of the 2022 NFL season.
The Packers are also without Marquez Valdes-Scantling who signed a lucrative free agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth a reported $30 million over three years. While MVS was not always consistent, he did provide the Packers with a deep threat who had the power to stretch a defense. Just the presence of Valdes-Scantling opened things up for other receivers underneath because defenses had to respect MVS’s speed.
Right now, the top three receivers on Green Bay’s roster are Allen Lazard, who has yet to re-sign with the Packers but was given a second-round tender and is likely to be back, veteran Randall Cobb and second-year man Amari Rodgers. Both Cobb and Amari Rodgers are best suited for slot duty. Cobb is past his prime while Amari Rodgers is looking to improve after a disappointing rookie season.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst is going to bring in new receivers before the 2022 campaign gets underway. The Packers currently have four picks in the first 59 and are expected to add at least one wideout with those picks. Another receiver could be selected later in the draft as well. The Packers could also sign a modestly-priced free agent with that being more likely after June 1st or add a veteran via trade.
Regardless of how the Packers decide to add talent at wide receiver, there is little doubt that the roster will be full of new players who have not played with Rodgers extensively if at all. The only way to get chemistry and to get comfortable with these new players is to get more reps with them during OTAs, training camps and the preseason.
Historically, Rodgers has had issues with new receivers. It takes time for them to win his trust. The two-time reigning NFL MVP needs to feel confident that a receiver will be where he should be on a given play and that when the need to improvise arises, he and his receivers will be on the same page to have a successful play after the original call breaks down.
Sometimes, Rodgers never develops chemistry and trust with his receivers and they usually fade from the team. Other times, it has taken a year or two before a receiver gains Rodgers’ trust and becomes an integral part of the offense.
Of course, there’s a catch now. Rodgers may not have a couple of years to wait. The 38-year-old quarterback could retire after the 2022 season, or the 2023 campaign or at most, play through his current deal and last till 2024. Rodgers has only a handful of chances left to win another Super Bowl and wasting one of those chances because he doesn’t have enough trust in his receivers is quite simply bad for the team.
At least one and quite possibly two of the new receivers will be among the top three receivers on the Packers roster. Rodgers should be taking as many reps as possible with these new receivers which means working with them during OTAs, training camp and preseason. Heck, if he was truly dedicated to winning another championship, Rodgers may even hold private workouts with his new receivers in addition to voluntary and mandatory OTAs.
The only benefit of Rodgers staying away from voluntary OTAs is that it gives Jordan Love more chances to work…
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