How can you not love a good undrafted rookie free agent story in the NFL?
The Green Bay Packers might have found the top gem of the 2026 undrafted free agent class with rookie wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, who not only cracked the 53-man roster, but might be able to get into the rotation for the offense this season.
Sturdivant had a very long journey at the college level, going from Cal to UCLA before finishing at Florida in the 2025 season. Despite some uneven production at the college level, Sturdivant is very much the Packers' "type" at the receiver position with his outstanding combination of height, weight, speed, and explosiveness.
With a couple of key losses at the position this offseason, Sturdivant appears poised to take on an actual role after a big preseason.
Packers might have the NFL's top steal in UDFA WR J. Michael Sturdivant
It's been an interesting offseason for the Green Bay Packers, who are clear Super Bowl contenders in the NFC, yet have simultaneously lost a lot this year.
The Packers said goodbye to a couple of key weapons at the wide receiver position this offseason, letting Romeo Doubs walk in free agency to the New England Patriots and also trading Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After impressing during training camp, J. Michael Sturdivant really caught the attention of the Packers when he hauled in six of his seven targets in the preseason finale for 112 yards and a touchdown. He already projects as someone that can play special teams right away for the Packers, and with Green Bay keeping just six receivers on the 53-man roster, maybe he's earned himself more than expected.
The roles being left behind by Doubs and Wicks are not small. Doubs has been the most targeted player in Green Bay since he was drafted in 2022. The Packers' plan in moving on from Doubs was obviously to get more targets to breakout candidate Matthew Golden, the team's 1st-round pick in 2025.
Even though the trio of Golden, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed will be in line for most of the work at receiver, the Packers' history has proven Matt LaFleur is not afraid to throw rookies into the mix, even with a deep group like this. The other receivers on Green Bay's depth chart are Bo Melton (who has also played corner for the team) and returner Skyy Moore.
It was a bit of a surprise to see the Packers move on from Will Sheppard after the preseason he had as well, but that also speaks volumes about what this team sees in Sturdivant. The way he played in the preseason finale could be something we look back on as his true launching-off point.
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