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When the Green Bay Packers re-signed Randall Cobb to a long-term deal, many assumed that their attempts to augment the receiving corps had concluded. However, the team may still be looking for ways to improve the group. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Green Bay has its eye on free agent wideout Wes Welker.
Welker seems an odd target for the Packers. He turns 34 in May, has a history of injury and is coming off his worst season since his rookie year. Meanwhile, the team is currently stocked at wide receiver, with Jordy Nelson, Cobb, Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis all under contract through 2017 or later. Though Welker was never a great athlete, the loss of speed and quickness over the past few years has reduced his impact on the field.
At the same time, Welker is a wily veteran with a proven track record with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Even if Green Bay doesn't need him, he could prove useful to Aaron Rodgers.
Meanwhile, the potentially larger implication of the report is the Packers' apparent interest in adding another receiver. It suggests that there may be some concern with the wideouts currently on the roster, most likely those on the back end. Perhaps Abbrederis' recovery from his torn ACL hasn't progressed as quickly as hoped, or the coaches still hold reservations about the rawness of Janis. Whatever the case, the situation bears monitoring.
It also raises the possibility that a reconciliation with Greg Jennings isn't as outlandish as some previously believed. Jennings, of course, is familiar with the Packers' offense from his seven years in Green Bay. And while some choose to deny it, his two years in Minnesota weren't terrible. He caught 127 passes for 1,546 yards and 10 touchdowns despite playing with a cavalcade of substandard quarterbacks and a rookie Teddy Bridgewater. Jennings could be useful to the Packers in a reserve role.
Regardless, it appears that Ted Thompson's offseason shopping may not be over. The general manager famous for ignoring outside free agents could be on the verge of signing one for the second consecutive season.
(H/T to Zach Kruse and Ol' Bag of Donuts for alerting us to Rapoport's report)