Packers Eyeing Receiver Prospects to Replace Dontayvion Wicks

From early to late round options, Green Bay has several intriguing receiver targets in the 2026 NFL Draft

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:23pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football game or match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a variety of colors, creating a dynamic and fragmented visual representation of the action.The Packers' search for their next generation of receiving talent takes center stage as the team looks to the draft to help replace departing players.Green Bay Today

With the recent trade of receiver Dontayvion Wicks, the Green Bay Packers are likely to target a wide receiver in this year's draft to help replace the departing talent. The team has several promising options they could consider, ranging from early-round prospects like Germie Bernard and De'Zhaun Stribling to later-round possibilities like Bryce Lance and Ted Hurst.

Why it matters

The Packers' receiving corps is in flux, with several key players set to hit free agency after the 2026 season. Adding a talented young receiver through the draft could help provide long-term stability and playmaking ability for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense.

The details

The Packers have a few intriguing receiver prospects on their radar for the 2026 draft. In the second round, they could target players like Germie Bernard from Alabama or De'Zhaun Stribling from Ole Miss. Bernard is a big-bodied receiver with experience, while Stribling is a physical pass-catcher who excelled in the College Football Playoff. Later on, the team may consider Bryce Lance from North Dakota State, a big and fast receiver with impressive production, or Ted Hurst from Georgia State, who impressed at the Senior Bowl and had a pre-draft visit with the Packers.

  • The Packers traded receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles on April 13, 2026.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26, 2026.

The players

Germie Bernard

A wide receiver from Alabama who transferred from Michigan State and Washington. He is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds who would fit the Packers' size preferences.

De'Zhaun Stribling

A wide receiver from Ole Miss who had a strong finish to his college career, including a great performance in the College Football Playoff. He is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds with 4.36 speed.

Bryce Lance

A wide receiver from North Dakota State who is the brother of NFL quarterback Trey Lance. He broke out with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and a school-record 17 touchdowns in his final two years with the Bison.

Ted Hurst

A wide receiver from Georgia State who participated in the Senior Bowl and had a pre-draft visit with the Packers. He fits the team's preferred size-speed model at 6-foot-4 and 206 pounds with 4.42 speed.

Christian Watson

A wide receiver for the Packers who is in line for a contract extension, but that has not been completed yet.

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What they’re saying

“When you're growing into a leader, you have to be more vocalized. Being more vocalized, letting people know what I've went through with my experience, they're going to go through a lot of things I went through. I can help talk them through it.”

— Germie Bernard, Wide Receiver, Alabama

“I don't think that there's just one standout trait. His length is a great attribute. He's got speed that's rare at that size, and then his ability to be extremely loose, to sink and get out of cuts, his catch radius over the middle of the field or a deep ball down the sideline. He's got some unique physical traits, and put that with his playmaking ability, those are hard to find.”

— Josh Heupel, Head Coach, Tennessee

“Comes from an A-plus family. … He'll maximize every ounce of his football talent.”

— Anonymous Scout

What’s next

The Packers will continue to evaluate receiver prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, with the team likely needing to use an early pick to address the position after the trade of Dontayvion Wicks.

The takeaway

The Packers' receiving corps is in flux, with several key players set to hit free agency after the 2026 season. Adding a talented young receiver through the draft could help provide long-term stability and playmaking ability for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense.