Devin Funchess – WR (Green Bay Packers)
The Packers were expected to surround Aaron Rodgers with weapons in the passing game this offseason. It was speculated they’d add at least one pass catcher in free agency and then another with an early-round draft pick. They didn’t exactly go that route.
Green Bay signed a wide receiver late in free agency and then they failed to grab a rookie pass-catcher in the draft, opting instead to draft a quarterback, running back, and fullback with their first three selections this year.
It was an odd move, but the Vikings shouldn’t overlook the receiver the Packers did sign and that is Devin Funchess.
Funchess came cheap for Green Bay as he is coming off a missed season due to an injury to his clavicle he suffered in Week 1.
Despite last year’s injury, he has proven he can be a capable receiver in the NFL, as he had some productive seasons as a member of the Carolina Panthers. Funchess’ best year was in 2017 when he caught 63 passes for 840 yards and eight touchdowns.
He adds a lot of size to the Packers wide receiving corps at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. He can go up and catch the ball at its high point, winning plenty of contested catch battles. He should be a valuable red-zone target for Rodgers next season.
Minnesota needs to be worried about Funchess in 2020 because the one thing their group of cornerbacks lacka right now is size.
Currently, the Vikings’ biggest corners are rookie Cameron Dantzler and Holton Hill, who are both 6-foot-2. If Minnesota puts one of these guys on Funchess, he’ll still have two inches on them and this is something Green Bay would surely attempt to take advantage of.
At first blush, the addition of Funchess to the Packers is one that’s easy to brush off. There is a good chance, however, that since he’s the only new weapon Rodgers got this year, that the Packers quarterback will utilize his size as much as possible and Funchess could have one of the most productive seasons of his career.