We do have an issue with our pass receiving corp since we can expect difficulties in signing both Nelson and Cobb for 2015, with Nelson likely the odd man out because of the age difference. I don't think we can count on Nelson giving us another home town discount.
Boykin's a nice player, but I don't see him as the kind of #2 behind Cobb that teams will need to game plan for.
Given that it takes at least a year for a receiver to get acclimated, it would stand to reason we'll need to go high for one...first or second round.
I suppose that could be a pass catching TE in the Finley mold, a guy who spends most of his time running routes out of the slot or wide out. Ebron fits that mold, but I agree with the captain that he's not expected to be much of a blocker. Now that we have a runner worth blocking for, I see us going in a different direction than a Finley-replication approach.
It would make more sense to me that we go high for a WR, get on Quarless' a*s to improve his blocking, and work Bostick into the slot TE role. I think Flynn-to-Quarless showed that Quarless can be a respectable pass catcher as well. The Quarless/Bostick tandem looks like a credible combo for the next couple of years.
There's also the possibility Finley comes back on a cheap deal to prove up his health, which at this point I see only as a surprising bonus if it happens, but it's still a factor in the equation.
On the other hand, Cobb, Boykin and one of the current practice squad guys come 2015 would not be acceptable.
Draft-wise, after Watkins, opinions vary on the next 4 WRs.
Most mocks have Evans as a top 15 guy; some have him lower. Some have Benjamin as a low first, high second rounder; a few rate him with or above Evans. Those are 2 big body guys who would be complements to Cobb.
Marquis Lee is also a guy who should be of some interest. He fits the 6'0", 4.5 Packer prototype (Driver, Jennings, Jones, Cobb), and we know Thompson loves him some California college players. If not for durability issues we'd not get near him at #21, but given the injury history he might still be on the board for us. He's a dynamic and explosive player and he has the rep of being a good route runner. He's got that "overcoming adversity" story line going for him as well.
Beckham, also in the Packer prototype mold, rounds out the top 5 WRs. He's somewhat reminiscent of Jennings.
I'm not espousing a WR pick in the first round, though the considerable attention and expense applied to the defense in free agency (Shields, Peppers, Neal, Raji, Guion, and Lattimore under tender) would suggest a turn to the offense in the first round should shock no one. In such a case, WR would make more sense than a pass catching TE.