No. 27 — Savion Williams

The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.

Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.

The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.

“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”

Those are fair expectations.

The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.

“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.

Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.

Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.

At No. 27 is rookie wide receiver Savion Williams.

No. 27

Savion Williams, WR

Last season

The 6-foot-4, 222-pound Williams spent five years at TCU. In 52 career games, he caught 137 passes for 1,655 yards (12.1) and had 14 touchdowns. Williams also ran the ball 62 times for 384 yards (6.2) and six TDs.

Williams played sparingly his first two years with the Horned Frogs, then broke out during his final two seasons.

In 2023, Williams caught 41 passes for 573 yards and four TDs, while rushing 11 times for 62 yards. Then in 2024, Williams caught 60 passes for 611 yards and six TDs, while rushing for 322 yards and six more TDs.

On the flip side, Williams had a high number of drops at TCU and scouts questioned his ability to run the full route tree. Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said the Packers weren’t concerned with his hands, though, and the tape showed far more good than bad.

“He’s a huge man, but his determination, his ability, his elusiveness, his power, his ability to break tackles, I just thought those were the first things that stuck out to you,” Gutekunst said of Williams. “Because they moved him all around in different ways, I thought there was a little bit of a rawness to his game as far as the polish as a route-runner, and things like that. But his ability to create separation and get behind guys vertically and catch the football, all those things I think, he just really seemed to fit what we’re trying to do.”

Outlook

The only certainty with Green Bay’s wide receiver group is uncertainty.

Questions surround returning players like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, while Christian Watson is recovering from a torn ACL.

That means rookies Williams and first round wideout Matthew Golden will be given every chance to flourish.

Many scouts compared Williams to Cordarrelle Patterson, a versatile player who’s carved out a 12-year career with six NFL teams. Now, it’s up to the Packers to find ways for Williams to flourish — whether that’s in the passing game or as a ball carrier.

“He’s a guy that is really interesting,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Williams. “You can come up with a zillion different ways to use him in your offense. That’s one guy I’m really fired up about.”

They Said It …

“You love the versatility, just his ability to go in there play wildcat quarterback, get in the backfield and play as a halfback, or whatever, however you want to use him. Jet sweeps. You just want to find different ways to give him the ball because he’s so big, he’s so powerful, so explosive, and I think that guys just have a tendency to bounce off of him. I think he’s just scratching the surface of the playmaker he can become.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Williams

“He’s done a lot of wildcat running back stuff. He’s played inside out of the slot. He can play outside. He’s so good in the red zone. I just think he’s really versatile. Receivers that can do things with the ball in their hands is very important to us.” — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Williams

“I’m excited about a lot of the different things we can do with Savion, whether it’s handing him the ball or his routes down the field. He’s a guy that can make some plays.” — Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Williams

“Whatever my team needs me to do, that’s what I’m going to do. If coach tell me to get on tight end, I’m going to play tight end. Get on the line, I’m going to play lineman. Whatever I need to do I’m going to do.” — Williams on ways he can help an offense

THE TOP 30

• No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd

• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks

• No. 28 — S Javon Bullard