After the Green Bay Packers were forced to trade All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams following the 2021 NFL season, they faced a significant void at the wide receiver position. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also left in free agency, leaving Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb as the only dependable pass catchers.
To fill the gap created by the departure of these two wide receivers, Green Bay followed their usual approach of adding a free agent and selecting multiple players in the draft. They signed Sammy Watkins, who, however, did not finish the 2022 season with the team.
Additionally, the Packers used three of their 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to select wide receivers: Christian Watson (second round), Romeo Doubs (fourth round), and Samori Toure (seventh round).
Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Samori Toure Became the Odd Man Out
As a rookie, Samori Toure spent much of his time behind key receivers like Lazard, Watkins, Watson, and Doubs, which limited his playing time. He played only 16% of the offensive snaps across 11 games and saw even less action on special teams. Toure finished his first NFL season with five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
In 2023, the Packers parted ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, along with receivers Lazard and Cobb. They also added three new wide receivers in the draft to develop alongside quarterback Jordan Love: Jayden Reed (second round), Dontayvion Wicks (fifth round), and Grant DuBose (seventh round). The team also signed Malik Heath as an undrafted free agent and brought in Bo Melton.
Amid a crowded wide receiver corps, Toure struggled to see the field in his second season, finishing the year with just eight receptions for 78 yards. After the 2024 training camp, Toure was informed he wouldn’t make the 53-man roster and was subsequently released.
Former Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Samori Toure Signed a Futures Contract with the Chicago Bears
After being waived by the Packers, Samori Toure was signed by the Chicago Bears and joined their practice squad. He spent the entire 2024 season there, never being called up to the active roster despite the team’s struggles with a 5-12 record.
On Monday, the Bears announced that they had signed Toure to a futures contract, along with several other players, as they look to build their 90-man roster.
