Which New Arrival Will Have the Biggest Impact?

Another week, another free agent signing in Green Bay. If you’re having trouble processing that sentence, or if it just doesn’t seem real, who could blame you? Two and a half weeks in to 2017 NFL free agency, the Packers have signed four – yes, FOUR – players who weren’t wearing green and gold last season. Split evenly between offense and defense, each signing will bring their share of hype to a franchise that doesn’t venture into the free agency waters all that often and a fan base that lets said franchise know about it every single year.

So, with the right to change opinions should Ted Thompson strike again before all is said and done, which one of these newcomers has the potential to make the biggest impact in 2017? Let’s explore the options.

TE Martellus Bennett – Bennett is the type of big-bodied, agile tight end Packer fans have been clamoring for since Jermichael Finley’s premature exit from the NFL. That’s not to say Bennett is as athletically gifted as Finley, but he will be the closest Green Bay has come since. A Super Bowl champion with New England a year ago, Bennett is no stranger to playing alongside an elite quarterback, and Aaron Rodgers has made it clear he is excited about getting to work with his new teammate. Bennett, in his own words, can “do a lot of s---.” You can bet the Packers will be counting on him to do just that, and he will add to Mike McCarthy and Company’s ability to shuffle their pieces around. Bennett is also a willing blocker in the run game, adding another level to his value within the offense. We saw what a difference a healthy Jared Cook made down the stretch last season. Bennett’s game is more well-rounded than Cook’s, giving him the opportunity to make the Packers’ offense even scarier in 2017.

TE Lance Kendricks – The biggest benefit here may come from pairing Kendricks with Bennett. A shift toward a higher percentage of two-tight sets seems imminent, and why shouldn’t it? Kendricks is coming off a career high 50-catch season in 2016 and is no slouch athletically. Like Bennett, he’s a willing participant in the run game and gets the job done more often than not. Kendricks likely won’t produce as much down the field as Bennett, but they ability to work the two off each other in those two-tight sets will give the Packers a lot of flexibility in dictating and exploiting the matchups they want.

CB Davon House – Okay, so maybe he isn’t exactly a “newcomer.” He has been away for two seasons, however, and he brings back to the table a skill set the Packers desperately need in the cornerback group. House’s directive seemingly will be fairly cut and dry, with the Packers having a specific idea in mind for how they want to use him. He will likely be tasked with checking the best opposing receivers, and he’ll use his physicality and length to do so at the line of scrimmage. House also represents an upgrade in speed over the departed Micah Hyde as well as the remaining corners on the roster. While not necessarily a huge or splashy signing, House’s experience and skill set make him an asset to a position group that needs both.

DT Ricky Jean Francois – With Letroy Guion serving a four-game suspension to begin the season, Jean Francois will see opportunities from the very beginning. He slots in as an end in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme, so he won’t have to worry too much about splitting reps with the likes of Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark. His stat sheet numbers won’t be eye-popping, but he has proven to be a consistent performer over the course of his eight years in the league. Jean Francois ultimately may turn out to be nothing but a depth signing but, like House, his experience should only help a position group with a lot of youth.

So, which of these signings will produce the biggest payoff? For my money, it’s Davon House, if for no other reason than he improves his position group the most. While the Packers wait and see whether their trio of third-year corners can shake off their woeful 2016, they know what they’re getting with House. A disruptive, physical corner would make a world of difference, and now they’ve got one.

Who's your pick?

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Comments (14)

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TKWorldWide's picture

March 25, 2017 at 01:06 pm

Martellus.

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croatpackfan's picture

March 25, 2017 at 04:39 pm

Upvote! Of course Matellus...

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Since'61's picture

March 25, 2017 at 01:44 pm

Martellus Bennett. I second THE TKstinator's choice.
Thanks, Since '61

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TKWorldWide's picture

March 26, 2017 at 06:13 am

The TKstinator thanks you.
........Thanks! The TKstinator

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tm_inter's picture

March 25, 2017 at 01:53 pm

I think the new tightends will have the most impact on the Packers' offense. The two tightends formation will give Aaron Rodgers a new and effective weapon which will take a lot of pressure off the wide-receiver group and even enhance the effectiveness of wide-receivers, not to speak of better protection for the quarterback. Mike McCarthy loves tightends - himself being a former tightend - and will surely devise ways to use his new group of tightends.

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GB Jacker's picture

March 25, 2017 at 02:03 pm

I think/hope Kendricks will be the big surprise - and biggest difference to what we have already.

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ricky's picture

March 25, 2017 at 03:53 pm

These are the sorts of signings the Patriots do every year. Not that "splash" guy who will demand big bucks. Instead, the role player, the guy who does the right thing at the right time. These are team building signings, and if they can be matched with some younger players taking that next step, this could be a very promising season.

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NickPerry's picture

March 25, 2017 at 04:01 pm

I think Bennett would be the logical choice in terms of production but I also like House and have a feeling about Kendricks. With so many other options Kendricks could turn into a huge signing for GB. Time will tell on him.

Bennett will be extremely productive in McCarthy's offense as long as he's healthy. He'll also have an effect on Montgomery in the running game and Cobb working working underneath. Both players will benefit from Bennett being on the field. This IS a better offense today assuming Lang is replaced with an adequate Guard.
With House the Packers will basically be able to field a secondary like they had in mind last season. House is not Shields but he thrives in man to man and is the best CB the Packers probably have right now. Hopefully House plays like he did in 2015 so Randall, Gunter, & Rollins can continue to grow and get more experience without having to cover guys like Julio Jones or Dez Bryant.

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Lphill's picture

March 25, 2017 at 09:02 pm

Rey Maualuga anyone ?

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Samson's picture

March 25, 2017 at 10:43 pm

All the signings are an improvement over the last few off seasons. --- However, the Pack are still left with many question marks on the "D". Even after a "defensive draft", the "D" will still have many weaknesses.

When will the 'homers' realize that the Pack have watched the SB from their couches for the last six seasons because TT can't put together a better defense. -- At this point, the "D" is still a huge problem.

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Tundraboy's picture

March 26, 2017 at 12:51 am

So what's wrong with being a homer?

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dobber's picture

March 26, 2017 at 06:46 am

"When will the 'homers' realize....the "D" is still a huge problem."

Have you not been visiting this site recently?

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

March 26, 2017 at 09:38 am

House.

He's easily our best press cover corner right now, and that's the preferred style employed by Capers. He was wasted in zone last year.

Perhaps most important will be his effect on our younger corners.

The TE's will play well, but will only provide a marginal upgrade over Cook. The offense, quite simply, is NOT the problem in Green Bay.

The TE's are valuable, but House is critical.

So I'll go with House.

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PETER MAIZ's picture

March 27, 2017 at 03:53 pm

TE's bring talent at offense but House is the most essential because because Randall and Rollings can't cut it, unless they were playing injured all of 2016. Gunter doesn't have the speed to keep up with the speediest receivers so House could save the house (pun intended).

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