Bigger is better? Why the Green Bay Packers like size at receiver

GREEN BAY (WITI) -- Whether free agent Randall Cobb winds up returning to the Green Bay Packers or not, don't be surprised if Green Bay looks for some wide receiver talent in the upcoming NFL Draft and a certain kind of wide receiver talent, at that.

When Aaron Rodgers surveyed the field during the 2014 season, he had confidence that his receivers could get to where they wanted to go. Jordy Nelson weighs 217 pounds, Davante Adams 215 pounds, Jarrett Boykin 218 pounds, Jeff Janis 219 pounds. Randall Cobb aside, the organization believes that solid targets are best for Green Bay's offense -- especially when you consider that the weather gets colder and the conditions deteriorate right around the most important time of the season.

"When you look at the body types, I think you look at Jordy, you look at Davante, you know, Randall's a unique player. Randall is able to do a lot of things, but if you go down the depth chart from a measurables standpoint, to me, that's the preferred body type because those guys are 6'2", 218 pounds. They are excellent athletes. They play all four positions. They're very instinctive. If you look at every one of those guys' background, they were multi-sport athletes coming out, so those are the kinds of things I look for," Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said.

Of the top 26 wide receivers ranked by the NFL's own scouting service going into the NFL Scouting Combine, exactly half -- 13 of them weigh more than 200 pounds. Granted, some younger players will add weight after getting on a professional strength program, as well as simply by maturing physically, but Green Bay isn't likely to be tabbing the little speedster types come the NFL Draft.

If you're an undersized wideout at the Combine, you say 'hey, I can get it done at the next level,' but if you're a bigger wideout, you say 'yes indeed, size does matter.'

"I think it's a huge advantage. You know, corners are getting bigger. Everyone is getting bigger, so I should have an advantage with size, and you can't teach size. Actually, it's a blessing to get the size to come with me as I go up," Connecticut wide receiver Geremy Davis said.

For the record, Geremy Davis weighs 216 pounds. He posted some of the best bench press numbers for his position at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson have worked together for about a decade and generally have at least a philosophical agreement on whether a player fits their preferred profile. Their track record would indicate that they share a desire to bring in size at receiver, but there is a caveat.

"In some way, I hope we never have the 6'2" 225 pound phenom, great receiver, because that means we're picking about third that year," McCarthy said.

Draft positions are based on a team's record the previous season. The worst team on the field in the fall gets the first pick, and so on. Green Bay has the 30th of 32 picks in the first round at the end of April.