Bob McGinn's writeups of Cobb the last three seasons:
2018
Randall Cobb (43.3%): Cobb does some good things every season. Without his nine-catch, 142-yard explosion in the opener, the Packers don’t beat the Bears in what turned out to be their biggest victory of the year. Strutting about in trademark fashion with his chest stuck out, he looks ready to conquer the world every Sunday. Alas, he has been in street clothes for too many of those Sundays in recent seasons. There’s always something wrong. Knee surgery in June limited Cobb to seven snaps in exhibition games. Then he missed Games 4-6 with a hamstring, Games 9-11 with another hamstring and Game 15 with a concussion. He still has some short-area quickness from the slot, posting a YAC average of 5.34. Still, that was just the fifth-best average of his eight-year career. As far as separating deep, forget that. Cobb also dropped too many (six of 60); it wasn’t his horrendous catching season of 2015 (14 of 138), but it also was a far cry from 2016 (two of 105). Cobb isn’t old (he’ll be 29 in August); he’s just beat up. If Matt LaFleur insists that he needs Cobb and can convince the bean counters, he’ll be back. Grade: C-minus.
2017
RANDALL COBB (70.9%): Made it through an injury-free August and missed just one game (chest) due to injury. Not as dynamic in his seventh season as he once was. Certified tough guy has absorbed heavy punishment over the years. No longer lightning-quick off the line, doesn’t separate as well at the break point and seldom runs away from tacklers in the open field. Still, he didn’t drop a pass until Game 14. Since dropping a record 14 in 2015 he has just six drops in 195 targets the past two years. He led the team in average gain after the catch at 5.5, his best since 2014 and indicative of a player with some juice remaining in his legs. Lined up 39 times in the backfield, including four from “wildcat” formation. He’s worthy of playing time in 2018 but at less than 50% of the $8.6 million base salary in the final year of his contract. Grade: C-plus.
2016
RANDALL COBB: Has taken a lot of shots as a receiver-runner-returner in six seasons and might be starting to break down. Missed three games, buffeted by an assortment of injuries for the second straight season. Operates much better in the slot than outside. Lacks proper catching radius and size for the perimeter. Isn’t asked to run many routes but, with his quickness, still can be a mismatch for some nickel backs. Last year, he dropped more passes (14) than any Packers receiver in the last 25 years; he also had nine in 2014. Allayed fears his hands were suspect with only two drops in 105 targets (team-best drop rate of 1.9%). Also led the club in average yards after the catch (5.05). Played 46 snaps as a RB but took a pounding and didn’t appear there in last six games. Grade: C-plus.
