Who Will Be The Packers Fourth Wide Receiver In 2013?

For the last several years, the Green Bay Packers have had the deepest collection of wide receivers in league history. That isn’t the case anymore. Greg Jennings has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, Donald Driver has retired, and Jermichael Finley has regressed. This leaves just Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and James Jones at the top of the receiver depth chart. Not that the Packers have anything to complain about, as those three are as good as it gets across the league, but the depth isn’t there anymore, at least not for the time being. This leaves an open competition for the 4^th wide receiver slot. Who will win it?

Jarrett Boykin: Boykin is the popular choice amongst the players contending for the 4^th receiver role. Boykin is certainly big enough, as he stands 6’2”, 218 pounds, but he lacks speed. Last year at the NFL combine, Boykin ran a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash. 40 times aren’t the most important measurement at the end of the day, but they are certainly important. The coaches do like Boykin, although personally I can’t figure out why, other than his size.

Jeremy Ross: Late last season, the Packers caught lightening in a bottle with Jeremy Ross, as he stepped in for the injured Randall Cobb and did a great job returning kicks/punts, right up until that crucial drop in San Francisco, which I think cost the Packers the Super Bowl. Ross has a lot of speed, and if he can get over that muffed punt, he can be a great asset to the Packers in the return game, but I don’t think he can be a true pass catcher.

Charles Johnson: Johnson was one of the two late round draft choices the Packers spent on a receiver in April. Johnson, like Boykin, brings size to the table as he stands 6’2”, 215 pounds. Johnson is a raw prospect who could pay dividends down the road for the Packers. If he can improve his route running, Johnson could be the next wide receiver to climb the depth chart to the top in Green Bay. But I’m not sure if he is ready to be the 4^th wide receiver at this point of his career.

Kevin Dorsey: Dorsey is the other of the two late round draft choices the Packers spent on a wide receiver. Dorsey has speed. Oh boy does he have speed. Dorsey has “down field, one catch a game that changes the game” potential written all over him. But, can he overcome his lack of refinement in other areas of his game? Four decent options are listed here. There are pro’s and con’s to each of them. Which one do you think should win the 4^th receiver job?