Yes, the 2020 season ended in disappointing fashion.
If just one play or one call or one playcall would have been different, the Packers could have been in the Super Bowl. Based on the disarray the Chiefs were in from injuries and off-the-field issues, the Packers may very well have won.
But it didn’t happen.
There’s looming salary cap issues in 2021 and not everyone will be back, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic for the 2021 season and we’ll be counting them throughout the offseason.
Today we look at Reason #11: The 2021 Draft Wide Receiver Class.
Of course the Packers have bigger needs that more wide receivers.
However, a receiver can infuse some juice into an offense, even if that offense already ranks as the best in the league.
Last year, many fans were disappointed when the Packers didn’t draft a receiver in the 1st round. Or the 2nd. Or the 3rd. Or even on Day 3.
It was the deepest wide receiver draft ever and the Packers didn’t take a single one!
How could they!?
Well, for starters, even though it was a very deep draft for receivers, they were ridiculously over-drafted.
Even though the Packers traded up in the 1st round, there were still 6 receivers gone by the time they selected. By the time the Packers 2nd round pick rolled around, another 7 receivers had been taken.
That’s crazy.
For comparison: The first receiver take in the 2019 draft went at #25. In the 2020 draft, 6 receivers had been taken by then. The 1st receiver taken in the 2018 draft went at #24. You can’t really fault the team for not spending a 1st round pick on the 7th best receiver in the class.
But here’s the good news: The 2021 draft class looked even better than the 2020 draft class.
And the fact that 13 teams took a receiver in the first two rounds last year means those teams are probably less likely to spend a high pick on a receiver this year.
That means talent can drop.
A stud receiver could be there waiting in the 1st round… or maybe even the 2nd round.
The Packers have a good offense, but could use another receiver (or two) to keep it among the best in the league – especially when all their receivers become free agents after 2021.
Having a deep class of wide receivers to choose from in 2021 is a reason for optimism.
To see more reasons for optimism, check out our running list of: Reasons For Optimism in 2021.
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Want to learn more!?
Want more insight into how winning teams build through the draft (and how losing teams fail)? We’ve got you covered!
Start shallow, then get deep into understanding draft strategy with our draft book (rated a #1 New Release): A Fan’s Guide To Understanding The NFL Draft: Strategies, Tactics, And Case Studies For Building A Professional Football Team
Then jump into free agency with another #1 New Release: A Fan’s Guide To NFL Free Agency Hits and Misses to better understand this critical part of the NFL offseason and see where teams have found (or missed) success in this critical component of team-building.
Finally, get to the game behind the game with our new must-have book for 2021: A Fan’s Guide To Understanding The NFL Salary Cap – which lays out detailed, easy-to-follow scenarios to explain exactly how contract structures and salary cap rules impact teams.
All these great books are available in ebook and paperback – and free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!
If you don’t have Kindle Unlimited, you can get a free trial of Kindle Unlimited here!
Don’t just watch the draft – understand it and learn why GMs make the moves they do.
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Check out our PFTW 2021 Mock Draft Archive to see how other scenarios played out!
Check out Packers Draft Central 2021 for all our 2021 NFL Draft coverage!
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