#PackersDaily: What's next at tight end?
The tight end position is seemingly at a crossroads but there's a chance that not much changes next season. Aaron chats with Packers fans worldwide about that and all things Green and Gold.
By PackerAaron
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Comments (25)
Leatherhead
February 02, 2023 at 02:00 pm
We'll bring back Lewis, because he's such a good guy to have on the team and he can still get his guy blocked. We'll bring back Tonyan, because he led all our TEs in snaps, receptions, yards.
We'll bring back Deguara, because he's under contract, knows the system.
We'll draft a blocking/receiving TE. I like Darnell Washington, I usually select him in the first half of the second round, somewhere between 34-45.
We'll draft a Day 3 guy as a practice squad guy.
That wouldn't be a bad group.
T7Steve
February 02, 2023 at 02:58 pm
What's the vet minimum for the years Lewis has played, LH, and do you think he'd play for it?
Do you think Tonyan will go for another prove it deal? I know he wants to stay in GB.
These guys could be very expensive in a tough cap reduction year with good tight ends in the draft. It's normally taken two years at least to get our TEs ready, but they seem to be coming out more NFL ready now, don't you think? At least the big school guys.
OrganLeroy
February 02, 2023 at 06:19 pm
You mean we might ask Lewis to come back unless AR comes back, then he probably will play one more year.
PackyCheese500
February 03, 2023 at 11:09 am
Deguara will be staying unless we draft another FB. Lewis and Tonyan could be out the door if Rodgers is. I could see them signing with the Jets, honestly.
Between the two, Lewis makes more sense, as he'd be cheaper and he brings good locker-room leadership.
Tonyan doesn't seem as if he'll get back to 2020 form, and he will be 29 (and we wouldn't exactly be able to bring him in for a minimum deal; probably something like 5-7m/year). I think we should target a TE in round 1 or 2 (and in addition to that one in rounds 4 or 5), as draft TEs are cheaper and have more upside. I would elect to let Tonyan walk
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 02:55 pm
15 Mayor Te ND A+
45 Kincaid TE Utah. B+
78 Gervin Dexter. DL FL A
116. Kyu Blue Kelly CB Stanford A
151 Mike Morris. DL M. B+.
171 Jartavius Martin S Ill. A+
234 Kaevon Merriweather. S Iowa. B+
237 Hunter Luepke TE /FB NDs. A.
244 Thomas Incoom Edge Central mi. A+
OrganLeroy
February 02, 2023 at 06:21 pm
3 TE's , what are you smoking? It's spelled Mayher.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 06:23 pm
This wan't anything more than fixing the TE position.
Bird got it. Why didn't you.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 06:31 pm
But I drafted the two best at better value.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 06:58 pm
I want to see the Combine numbers first.
Washington never got a A+ when I tried the simulator.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 06:22 pm
I still think they sign Tonyan first.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 03:06 pm
15 Tyree Wilson EDGE | Texas Tech A+
45 Darnell Washington TE | Georgia A+
78 Luke Musgrave TE | Oregon State B+
116 Jaquelin Roy DL | LSU A
151 Zion Nelson OT | Miami (FL) A+
171 Tykee Smith S | Georgia A+
234 Elijah Higgins WR | Stanford A+
237 Darius Rush CB | South Carolina A+
244 Thomas Incoom EDGE | Central Michigan B+
257 Dee Winters LB | TCU A
golfpacker1
February 02, 2023 at 05:37 pm
The Packers have a TE om the practice squad from Nebraska, Austin Allen. 6'8' ,250-260. He was best tight end in the Big Ten in 2021-2022. Mackey award winner. Great hands and fairly athletic. I was hoping Green Bay would draft him late. He was a UFDA which really surprised me but the NFL in all their wisdom misses alot. Look at Alan Lazard. He only caught 241 passes for 3400 yards at Iowa State. He was great college WR. His teammate at Iowa State Brock Purdy threw for 12000 yards in 4 years owning every passing record they have. The 49ers got sloppy lucky drafting him with the last pick. How did that work out for them. Austin Allen could be another diamond.
In this draft the tight end I like are Luke Musgrave-Oregon State , Sam Laporta-Iowa, Zach Kuntz-Old Dominion,and my sleeper Josh Whyle-Cinncinnati. Look at their film especially Josh Whyle. We don't need to draft a tight end in round 1. Thats for a S ,DE , or DT. We need tight ends but in the middle rounds.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 06:02 pm
I'm all-in on Austin Allen too. Was very excited Gutey snagged him when he did. Concur on the later round TEs. We need more defense and no matter how bad the whiners complain we need WR/TEs I feel fairly confident Gutey will go defense, but he might surprise us and go OT. Or trade down. Part of the fun is in the surprise.
All those TEs you mention could be a Kittle or Kelce in there somewhere. Lets hope we get lucky.
PackyCheese500
February 03, 2023 at 10:42 am
As a Huskers fan, you are speaking my language about Allen. I also was hoping we wouId draft him, and he was criminally underrated here at NU. However, I would also target a TE higher, though, just because it is such a big need.
I love Whyle and think he could be an excellent day 3 pick, but I would also target one of Michael Mayer of Notre dame, Dalton Kincaid of Utah, or Tucker Kraft of South Dakota St. Musgrave is an unknown, but I think he could turn out to be great. LaPorta and Kuntz aren't much of blockers, so I don't know how much they'll appeal to the Packers.
mbpacker
February 02, 2023 at 05:47 pm
Nags- Which of the following soap operas do you think would get the most positive reviews?
The Edge of Night, Days of Our Lives, Bret Farve Goes to New York, or Will He or Won't He.... The Aaron Rodgers Story.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 06:18 pm
We already know how 'ole Dick Pic's story turned out on the field, so in my book, the only choice is Will he/Won't he...
He will definitely play. I doubt he plays for GB.
golfpacker1
February 02, 2023 at 06:13 pm
My draft picks after trading back in round when getting extra 2nd and 4th.
1-Jordan Battle S Alabama- trade or dump Amos and save $8 million ?
2-Devon Achane-RB Texas A&m- Aaron Jones clone only faster-trade Aaron Jones and save $20 million
2-Luke Musgrave-TE Oregon St. 4.51 40
3-Jack Campbell ILB- trade Campbell and save $15 million
4-Zach Harrison DE Ohio State-6'6' 260- 4.4 40 trade Smith and save $10 million
4-Nathaniel Dell Houston or Rakim Jarrett Maryland-both fast slot receivers-dump Cobb-and save $8 million
5-Josh Whyle-TE Cinncinnati-6'6 250- 1/3 of his catches go for TD-good athlete and fast
5-Demarrco Hellams-S Alabama 6'2 210 trade Savage and save $10 million
7-Tim Demorat-QB Fordham 6'3 235- threw for 5100 yards and 52 td last year
7-Kaevon Meriweather-S Iowa
7- Kicker- either Harrison Mevis-Missouri or Jake Moody-Michigan-time for Mason to go and save $5 million
7-Trea Schropshire-WR UAB-6'3 215- sleeper who averaged 24 YPC the last 3 years-MY ULTIMATE SLEEPER
golfpacker1
February 02, 2023 at 06:15 pm
And I solved the 2023 salary cap problem. I would also trade Bakhtiari and save $20 million and a Billion dollars by trading Rodgers. He has to go to start rebuilding.
stockholder
February 02, 2023 at 08:35 pm
The Board would never stand for losing.
Think about who is on the board.
BirdDogUni
February 02, 2023 at 07:11 pm
Hey Nags - I just figured out how we win the trade AR12 sweepstakes...
We trade AR12 to Vegas for #7, '24 2nd round pick, and Derek Carr and then we trade Derek Carr to the NYJ for #13 this year and next year's 1st round pick.
Bingo, Bango, Bongo...
PackyCheese500
February 03, 2023 at 12:41 pm
Here's what I was thinking:
We trade Aaron Rodgers AND David Bakhtiari to the Jets (LT and QB are both big needs of theirs) before June first for 2023 1st and 2nd round picks, a 2024 first rounder, a 2024 4th-rounder, and a 2025 4th-rounder.
Here is my rationale for such a trade:
If I were the GM, I would accept one first or two seconds for Rodgers. However, I don't think the Packers FO will accept any trade for less than 2 firsts. They will have even more ability to stick to the price they demand because Brady has retired. So, you've got the 2 firsts for Rodgers.
Then, we give them one of the NFL's best LTs for just a 5.7m cap hit in 2023. That gives us a 2nd.
However, the Raiders may also pursue Rodgers now that Brady is off the market. The Raiders have higher picks this year, so it would make sense we prefer their deal. However, the Jets have been reported to be willing to go all-in for Rodgers, so they throw in two 4th-round picks to sweeten the pot.
I think your idea is good, although I don't think anyone would give two firsts for Derek Carr. Two seconds maybe. But that is a wickedly clever idea you present - that enables us to get trade compensation for not one, but the top TWO QBs on the market.
golfpacker1
February 03, 2023 at 06:23 am
Aaron Rodgers will stunt the growth of our current young WR and any new ones we draft because he doesn't treat them as equals. They are all pro football players who have made it to the top of their profession. But then I think he looks down on everyone especially those who disagree with his majesty. We wasted a year of really starting this rebuild by not trading him last year when we could have got "The Farm" and then some for him. The Packers should not make that mistake again. Love is in the mold of the new style NFL QB. lets get him going.
PackyCheese500
February 03, 2023 at 11:02 am
For edge rushers, I am liking Lukas Van Ness of Iowa and Will McDonald IV of Iowa St. a lot.
Van Ness is incredibly athletic and has a brutal power rush. He has lots of upside, but I don't know whether he would fit best as a 3-4 OLB or 3-4 DE.
McDonald is very athletic as well, but he is more of a speed rusher with a bendy frame. He is surprisingly strong, though. He was incredibly productive, logging 34 sacks during his time as a Cyclone, and that was while being mis-used and playing 3-4 DE when he would fit much better at 3-4 OLB.
Also, the Jets are going to go "all in" for Rodgers. We missed out on an enormous haul from Denver last year, and I think we ought to capitalize on our opportunity this year. Let's not make the same mistake twice
BAMABADGER
February 03, 2023 at 01:12 pm
I wouldn't mind drafting 2 TEs in this draft rich TE year. First or Second round take Mayer or Washington (both are big, blocking TEs can catch but no fluid moves). Roll the dice with a "Kittle YAC TE" like Tucker Kraft from SDSU or Will Mallory from the U. Both have size and can catch/run with fluid moves. Blocking can hopefully come later. Combine results will indicate if these two move up the draft board.
golfpacker1
February 04, 2023 at 10:08 am
I like Mayer but not @ #15. He is not head and shoulders above about 6 other TE in draft. And we can trade back and still get him late in 1st or better yet in 2nd. If not him Musgrave, Kinkaid, in 2nd. Or Laporta, Kuntz, Washington or Latu in 3rd. I also really like Josh Whyle-Cinn. Really athletic and catches alot of TD passes even with poor QB. A trade back would be smart and pick up extra 2nd and maybe 3rd or 4th round picks. Fix multiple positions not just 1 piece. Alot of talent available in middle rounds without panicking and trading up. Lets take advantage of some desperate teams and not miss out on available talent.