Monday Cheese Curds: Remembering Dontayvion Wicks’ highlights
Wicks had some star turns in Green Bay, but never quite lived up to the promise he showed as a rookie.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith (32) during their football game Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. If you followed Acme Packing Company or our podcast feed during the 2023 season, you probably remember the season of Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks consistently crushed his over/under numbers on receiving yardage during the second half of his rookie season, posting 40 or more yards in six of the final eight games in his rookie season.
Wicks was a fun player for the Packers at times over the last three years and he delivered some memorable moments. In fact, he had a two-touchdown game against each of the Packers’ NFC North division rivals; his first game in the 2023 season finale against the Chicago Bears, then he repeated that feat against the Vikings in 2024 and then the Lions on Thanksgiving Day this past season. Yes, Wicks dealt with drops, particularly in his second season.
And although he was usually just a tertiary option in the passing game — he averaged just 3. 9 targets per game — he had a very solid success rate when catching the ball regularly. Still, the Packers made a shrewd decision to move him ahead of this year’s draft.
The former 5th-round draft pick (159th overall in 2023) netted Green Bay a higher pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (153) from the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as a bonus 6th-rounder next season. That’s almost assuredly a better haul than the Packers would have received in compensatory picks for 2028 if he had left in free agency next year, and so it’s probably best for both the team and for Wicks himself. We’ll always have that fun stretch late in the 2023 season to remember him by.