Since 2007, the Green Bay Packers have never had more than five wide receivers on their 53-man roster. For the most part, they haven’t needed to. There’s always been plenty of talent among the top five, and gifted TE Jermichael Finley was drafted in 2008 as a glorified receiver. Plus, there has never been a compelling case for a sixth wideout.
That’s not the case this year, as three young receivers in Green Bay are strongly stating the case to stick around when Friday’s final cuts are made. Diondre Borel, Tori Gurley and Jarrett Boykin have been competing throughout training camp to convince the team they’re deserving of that sixth spot.
All three players went undrafted -- Borel and Gurley in 2011, Boykin this year -- and each has battled to show he belongs in the league. Heading into the preseason finale Thursday against Kansas City, it would appear each of them is indeed NFL-caliber. Both Borel and Gurley, who spent last season on the Packers practice squad, turned down offers to join other teams’ 53-man rosters in late 2011, choosing instead to develop and compete in Green Bay. Boykin, who set school receiving records at Virginia Tech, has caught everything thrown his way in camp and earned the praise of coaches.
There’s probably a 53-man roster for all three somewhere in the NFL. But for now, each of them is hoping that opportunity comes with the Packers, whose dynamic passing offense averaged 307.8 yards per game last season and propelled the team to a franchise-best 15-1 record. With reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers flinging the football to a fleet of prized pass-catchers, what better place for a young receiver to learn and grow than Green Bay?
The Packers’ top five receivers -- Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Donald Driver and Randall Cobb -- are locks. If the Packers keep six, that leaves Gurley, Borel and Boykin competing for one last potential spot.
Both Borel and Gurley have battled groin injuries, which coach Mike McCarthy said has hindered their progress. McCarthy said the Chiefs game will give them one last chance to state their case. “I think their injuries set them back," McCarthy said. "They’re progressing through camp, hopefully they’ll get some opportunities against Kansas City."
The two second-year players were more impressive in training camp last year, but the Packers successfully snuck them onto the practice squad. They probably won’t be able to do that again this year, and Boykin could get scooped up by another team, too, should he get cut Friday. If the Packers want to preserve one of these guys and further groom him, they need him on the 53-man roster.
So, assuming the Packers keep a sixth receiver, which one should they choose? Here’s the case for and against each player, with our final pick for who sticks.
The case for Diondre Borel: A former quarterback at Utah State, Borel is regarded by Rodgers for seeing the game like a signal-caller. Savvy and quick, Borel (6-foot, 199 pounds) is an excellent route-runner who’s showed an ability to find defensive seams and get open underneath. He can play in the slot or outside and do different things as a receiver. He’s more versatile in the offense than Gurley and more athletic than Boykin.
The case against Diondre Borel: Presented with a golden opportunity to distance himself in the preseason opener, when Gurley was sidelined with the groin injury, Borel fumbled a kickoff. He missed the second game with his groin injury and then shot himself in the foot in the third game. He dropped a critical third-down pass and couldn’t come down with another one, plays he was upset he didn’t make. He caught only two of the six passes thrown to him, for eight yards. “I was mad about that so I was just telling myself I can’t drop any more passes,” Borel said in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. He’s not as good on special teams as Gurley and less sure-handed than Boykin.
The case for Tori Gurley: At 6-4 and 232 pounds, Gurley is a physical presence who adds a sizeable dimension to the Packers offense. Several times in practice, he showed what he can do in the red zone, going up to catch jump-balls over smaller cornerbacks in the end zone. He’s also valuable on special teams. He was a punt-blocking machine last summer and he had the crucial block on a teammate’s 60-yard kick return in the second preseason game. Gurley’s bigger than Borel and better on special teams than Boykin.
The case against Tori Gurley: The early injury seemed to stall his progress. He hasn’t gotten going at all offensively in the preseason, catching one pass for six yards in two games. He’s not fast and doesn’t use his big body effectively to overpower smaller defensive backs. He’s seemed almost gentle at times. Gurley is slower than Borel and not as industrious as Boykin.
The case for Jarrett Boykin: Hard-working and reliable, Boykin has displayed hands of glue both in practices and games. Unlike the other two, who have faltered or simply failed to stand out when the lights come on, Boykin has eight catches for 84 yards in two preseason contests. Boykin is extremely polished. Also, at 6-2 and 218 pounds, he’s got good size and plays physical.
The case against Jarrett Boykin: He lacks top-end speed, is not quick off the line and isn’t elusive after the catch. He ran a 4.69, 40 at the combine. Basically, he’s the least athletic of the three. Boykin has great hands but lacks the speed to get open to utilize them. He doesn’t bring as much to the table on special teams. Boykin is slower than Borel and not as big as Gurley.
Final prediction: The guess here is that the Packers know they have too much potential at receiver to risk all three young players getting away. While Gurley and Borel haven’t made the jump from Year 1 to Year 2 that coach Mike McCarthy said he was looking for, Gurley’s physical traits are too enticing to ignore. He can help on special teams immediately while honing his skills as a receiver and learning to better use his size to his advantage. As for Borel and Boykin, the Packers would be happy to get either of them onto their practice squad.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLGB and @jimmycarlton88.
