Rookie Receivers Don't Struggle With Aaron Rodgers, Actually

Aaron Rodgers is reportedly quite tough on rookie receivers. Statistically, they seem to produce just fine.

Aaron Rodgers’ relationship with young wide receivers has drawn a lot of attention this offseason. It’s understandable — he has notoriously specific demands for his pass catchers and expects his teammates to play at the same level he does.

But there’s a idea unfolding with that particular talking point that needs to be addressed. People have said again and again — including me on Blue 58, for what it’s worth — that rookie receivers don’t play well under Aaron Rodgers.

Is that actually true, though? Upon looking into it, I don’t really think so.

Consider some facts: in the Rodgers era, there really have not been that many rookie receivers of note. That is, no receiver drafted while Rodgers has been the starting quarterback could be said to have been expected to be a big contributor as a rookie.

The Packers took Jordy Nelson in the second round in 2008, but he was behind Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and James Jones to start his career.

The Packers took Randall Cobb in 2011, but he, too, was more or less buried on the depth chart. The same goes for Davante Adams in 2014, Ty Montgomery in 2015 and Amari Rodgers in 2021.

The Packers took three wide receivers in 2018, but if you were expecting big statistical output from guys taken on the third day of the draft, that’s more of a you problem than anything to do with Rodgers.

But what about their actual production? The depth chart is one thing, but surely this “rookies don’t produce with Rodgers” thing has some merit there?

Again, not really.

In 2008, Jordy Nelson caught 33 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns, but he was only third on the team in targets. Is that struggling?

In 2011, Randall Cobb had 25 catches for 375 yards and a touchdown, but he was seventh on the team in targets. James Starks had more balls thrown his way! How can a guy playing behind Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley really be said to have struggled?

In 2014, Davante Adams saw 66 targets, catching 38 for 446 yards and three touchdowns. That’s pretty respectable considering that Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb collected a combined 278 targets.

In 2015, Ty Montgomery’s numbers weren’t special (just 15 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns), but he only played six games.

In 2018, those day three picks turned out to be pretty productive. J’Mon Moore didn’t make an impact, but Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown combined for 59 catches and just over 900 yards. Where’s the struggle there?

Yes, the transition to a virtually entirely new receiving corps might be rough. Assuredly there will be growing pains in Green Bay this year. But we shouldn’t dismiss the Packers’ wide receivers or the quarterback who will be throwing to them just because they’re young. Nobody should expect All-Pro numbers from Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs, but it’s entirely reasonable to think they could be solid contributors this year in Green Bay.