Allen Lazard was one of the biggest surprises in 2019, and he should be part of Matt LaFleur’s plans for next season.

Wide receiver will likely be a top priority for the Green Bay Packers in the offseason. Outside of Davante Adams, who fell just three yards short of 1,000 despite missing a month due to injury, there was a lack of consistency from the other pass catchers.

That said, Allen Lazard stepped up as the second-best receiver on the team and made some key plays throughout the season. Bringing in more receiving talent is a must this offseason, but Lazard, too, deserves more opportunities.

After using three Day 3 draft picks at the position in 2018, it would’ve been hard to imagine that Lazard, who went undrafted in the same class and eventually signed by the Packers off the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, would become a key contributor in Green Bay.

Lazard finished second on the team in receiving with 447 yards and three touchdowns. It’s particularly impressive as he didn’t get his first real opportunity until Week 6 against the Detroit Lions.

And in that game, without Lazard, the Packers probably would’ve lost. He caught four passes for 65 yards and a touchdown that pulled Green Bay back into the contest in the fourth quarter. Lazard repeated that in the season finale against the same Lions team, catching a game-tying touchdown late on.

Lazard pulled ahead of the other receivers on the depth chart including Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Kumerow.

Perhaps his best role won’t be as the number two receiver. But to have a player like Lazard third or fourth on the depth chart would be a luxury. He’s reliable, doesn’t make many mistakes and came up with key play after key play just when the Packers desperately needed one.

No matter what GM Brian Gutekunst does to address the wide receiver position in the spring, Lazard should be part of the plans.