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Jayden Reed led the Green Bay Packers in receptions and yards last season, but also had several … More games where he made little or no impact.<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.<\/p>\n
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cI think it\u2019s time we started competing for championships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those are fair expectations.<\/p>\n
The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re ready,\u201d Gutekunst said.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the \u201830 Most Important Packers\u2019 heading into the 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n
At No. 9 is wide receiver Jayden Reed.<\/p>\n
No. 9
\nJayden Reed, WR<\/p>\n
Last season<\/p>\n
Reed led the team in receptions (55) for a second straight year and had a team-best 857 receiving yards. His six touchdown receptions ranked second.<\/p>\n
Reed also became the only receiver in team history to post 900-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his first two seasons.<\/p>\n
Despite being the Packers\u2019 top option in the passing game, there were seven games Reed had two catches, or fewer. And Reed\u2019s receptions and touchdowns both dipped from his 2023 numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that we could have done better from a staff perspective of trying to put him in some more advantageous situations where he could have produced those numbers, because he\u2019s an explosive player and he\u2019s one of those guys that you want to get the ball to, no doubt about it,\u201d Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Reed.<\/p>\n
The Packers used their first round draft pick on wideout Matthew Golden and their third round pick on receiver Savion Williams. Shortly thereafter, Reed\u2019s agent \u2014 Drew Rosenhaus \u2014 met with the Packers to discuss his client\u2019s role moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe clarified what we needed to clarify in house,\u201d Reed said. \u201cWe clarified what I need to get better at, what they want for (me) and I\u2019m here to just do my job and take care of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Career to date<\/p>\n
Reed, a second round draft pick in 2023, had a tremendous rookie year.<\/p>\n
Reed led Green Bay in catches (64), which also broke the single-season receptions record by a Packers rookie previously held by Sterling Sharpe (55). Reed also led Green Bay in receiving yards (793) and tied for the team lead with eight touchdown catches.<\/p>\n
In addition, the Packers used Reed regularly on reverses and sweeps, and he finished the year with 119 rushing yards and two rushing TDs, despite battling a bevy of injuries.<\/p>\n
Reed\u2019s 10 total touchdowns in 2023 rank No. 3 in franchise history among rookies behind only receiver Billy Howton (13 in 1952) and running back Eddie Lacy (11 in 2013).<\/p>\n
Outlook<\/p>\n
Reed seems to be at an early career crossroads.<\/p>\n
Reed\u2019s brilliant rookie season led many to predict multiple Pro Bowls could be in his future. Instead, Reed was the forgotten man far too often in 2024.<\/p>\n
Most of the blame for Reed\u2019s disappearing act should fall on coach Matt LaFleur and his offensive staff. Reed has unique ability and should have been a focal point of the game plan every week, regardless of the opponent. Instead, LaFleur & Co. forgot about him far too often.<\/p>\n
The Packers have more options in the passing game with the additions of Golden and Williams. But Reed should still be option No. 1.<\/p>\n
Look for him to have him a big 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n
They Said It \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes stats aren\u2019t always on the player. They could be on us, too, as a coaching staff. There\u2019s going to be some games where it just doesn\u2019t go that way. There\u2019s a couple injuries throughout the time that were nothing that he had to miss a lot of games, but he was banged up a little bit, too, you know? And he\u2019s the type of tough guy who\u2019s going to play through everything, you know?\u201d \u2014 Packers wide receivers coach Jason Vrable on Reed<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it definitely started off hot. It\u2019s a long season, and there\u2019s ebbs and flows with every season. I think there was a point in time about midway through where he got a little bit banged up. Nothing serious, just the overall pounding, I would say, and I think it definitely took a little bit of a toll. But I also think that we could have done better from a staff perspective of trying to put him in some more advantageous situations where he could have produced those numbers, because he\u2019s an explosive player and he\u2019s one of those guys that you want to get the ball to, no doubt about it.\u201d \u2014 Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Reed vanishing at times in 2024<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s hard. It’s football. You gonna take hits, so whatever I gotta do to help the team win, that’s my mindset, that’s what I’m gonna do. So I don’t really — I don’t know. I’m a player, so whatever the coaching tell me to do, that’s what I’m here to do, so I don’t make the rules. I don’t make the plays. I’m here to just run the plays and be here for my teammates.\u201d \u2014 Reed on running jet sweeps<\/p>\n
THE TOP 30<\/p>\n
\u2022 No. 30 \u2014 RB MarShawn Lloyd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 29 \u2014 WR Dontayvion Wicks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 28 \u2014 S Javon Bullard<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 27 \u2014 WR Savion Williams<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 26 \u2014 LB Isaiah McDuffie<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 25 \u2014 OL Jordan Morgan<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 24 \u2014 WR Matthew Golden<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 23 \u2014 CB Carrington Valentine<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 22 \u2014 WR Romeo Doubs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 21 \u2014 QB Malik Willis<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 N0. 20 \u2014 DE Lukas Van Ness<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 19 \u2014 RG Sean Rhyan<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 18 \u2014 LT Rasheed Walker<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 17 \u2014 DT Devonte Wyatt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 16 \u2014 S Evan Williams<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 15 \u2014 CB Nate Hobbs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 14 \u2014 LB Quay Walker<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 13 \u2014 OL Aaron Banks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 12 \u2014 CB Keisean Nixon<\/a><\/p>\n