Matt LaFleur wants to make a specific upgrade to the Green Bay Packers roster, and there’s a seamless way to do just that.
Matt LaFleur will be leading a very different Green Bay Packers team this year, that much is obvious. The Packers will not only lose Aaron Rodgers via a mutual decision to part ways and trade him to the Jets (eventually, anyway), but they’re also unlikely to bring back kicker Mason Crosby despite taking steps forward in 2022 after a down 2021.
That means that the Packers are up against it when it comes to filling their locker room with established, knowledgeable veterans that can help guide the younger players and keep them on the straight and narrow.
LaFleur knows that, too.
“Well, I think some veteran leadership would be nice,” LaFleur said to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “Although I think guys like Allen and Randall did such a great job last year kind of taking those guys under their wing and showing them the ropes and the expectations and the practice habits that you need to have to go out there and play at a high level. But there’s going to be a lot of growth with those two guys, certainly Romeo and Christian. And then you’ve got Samori Toure and we’ve got a small glimpse of Bo Melton last year.”
Thankfully for LaFleur, the solution here is right in front of the Packers.
Packers could take back Corey Davis in the Aaron Rodgers trade
First mentioned by Mike Florio over at Pro Football Talk, wide receiver Corey Davis would be an easy option for the Packers to not only get their receiver room up to capacity but also bring in some wisdom and experience.
Davis has been in the league since 2017 and has played in nearly 80 games, starting in nearly 70. Prior to joining the Jets, he spent the bulk of his career with the Titans, catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill.
He was the team’s leading receiver in 2018 and played second fiddle to A.J. Brown in 2019 and 2020.
Davis, at this stage in his career, is not going to be a high-volume receiver, but he can still give the team an occasional boost and efficient yards, averaging 14.5 yards per reception in 2021 and 16.8 in 2022.
Perhaps, though, the best trait he brings to the table is stability and a knowledge of what it’s like to play with young quarterbacks who need some room to make a few mistakes. LaFleur would really like that, clearly.
