Tight finish recognized as Packers’ greatest want coming into 2023 offseason
The place do the Inexperienced Bay Packers want so as to add to the roster this offseason? It’s troublesome to think about a place on Brian Gutekunst’s roster needing extra assist – each when it comes to depth and expertise – than at tight finish as the brand new league yr approaches.
The necessity is straightforward to see. In a giant checklist for all NFL groups, Professional Soccer Focus identified tight end because the Packers’ greatest roster want coming into the offseason.
From PFF’s Sam Monson: “The younger wideouts confirmed promise in 2022, however tight finish is an space that also wants a serious improve. Robert Tonyan noticed 63 targets this season however averaged simply 1.27 yards per route run and moved the chains solely 20 occasions.”
Depth is probably the most regarding challenge. Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis and Tyler Davis are all free brokers, leaving Josiah Deguara, Austin Allen and Nick Guggemos as the one three tight ends presently beneath contract on the offseason roster. Deguara is a job participant as an H-back, whereas Allen and Guggemos are latest additions who’ve by no means performed in an NFL recreation.
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Evaluating Packers roster entering 2023 offseason
Final season proved the expertise deficiency. Tonyan averaged solely 8.9 yards per catch and scored simply two touchdowns in his first season again from a serious harm. Lewis, who turns 38 in Could, isn’t a passing recreation menace however can nonetheless block as an inline tight finish. Deguara was focused simply 15 occasions. The Packers want extra manufacturing and playmaking skill from the place, particularly within the passing recreation.
It comes as no shock that tight finish has been a typical choose for the Packers in mock drafts. In truth, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer is likely one of the favourite picks in nationwide mock drafts at this level within the course of.
Will the Packers use the draft so as to add a high expertise at tight finish? Or will Gutekunst deliver again Tonyan and Lewis and hope for one thing higher in 2023? Banking on a rookie to repair the problem in all probability isn’t clever; a mix of a draft choose and veteran, as Paul Bretl of Packers Wire urged here, is Gutekunst’s greatest guess for turning tight finish from a weak spot to a energy in 2023.
Prime draft choices: Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, Luke Musgrave, Darnell Washington, Sam LaPorta
Prime free agent choices: Dalton Schultz, Evan Engram, Mike Gesicki, Hayden Hurst, Austin Hooper, Foster Moreau