Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers are without question one of the most improved teams in the NFL due to their offseason moves. After missing the playoffs for the second straight year in 2018, Green Bay made it clear that they were no longer going to accept mediocrity.
The team had not been very active in free agency for years before Gutekunst took over. He signed Jimmy Graham last offseason and went out and made huge splashes this year as well. Preston and Za'Darius Smith were signed to beef up the pass rush, while safety Adrian Amos was poached from the Chicago Bears to help their secondary.
In the draft, the Packers went out and got two defensive players who should have a chance to be immediate starters. Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage are both quality players who have star potential.
Green Bay did not address one of their biggest perceived needs, however, which is at the wide receiver position. After Randall Cobb left town to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers did nothing to fill the void that he will leave. They are hoping that their young receivers can step up and fill the role.
Davante Adams is without question one of the top receivers in the entire NFL, but after him there are a bunch of unproven guys. Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, J'Mon Moore, and Jake Kumerow will all try to earn playing time throughout preseason and training camp.
While they could go into the season with that depth chart, the Packers should strongly consider signing veteran free agent receiver Michael Crabtree.
Crabtree may not be the star that many once considered him to be and he never developed into the superstar that many thought he would be, but he would still be a solid pickup for the Packers.
Last season with the Baltimore Ravens, Crabtree ended up playing in all 16 regular season games, catching 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers may not look impressive, but they don't have to. Having a proven veteran like Crabtree would take a lot of pressure off of the young receivers and would give Aaron Rodgers a much more comfortable No. 2 target to throw to.
More than likely, the Packers would be able to get Crabtree on a cheap, one-year contract. He is simply looking to play football and teams have not been calling him aggressively this offseason.
At 31 years of age, Crabtree still has a few years of quality football left in him. While he simply wants to find a new team, having the opportunity to play with a quarterback like Rodgers would have to be appealing to him. Rodgers is one of the best in the league and Crabtree's career could see a major resurgence playing with him.
All of that being said, Gutekunst and the Packers may simply decide to go into the season with their current roster. They have a lot of talent, but it will have to prove itself.
Crabtree makes a lot of sense and the Packers should strongly consider signing him, but at this point in time it is unknown how the team feels about adding another wide receiver.
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