Arguably Green Bay’s biggest splash this offseason was the addition of free agent tight end Jimmy Graham. Both literally and figuratively. At 6’7”, 265 pounds, the hope is that Graham provides the receiving weapon at tight end that Aaron Rodgers hasn’t had since Jermichael Finley was in his prime. When Rodgers has been at his best he’s had a receiving tight end across the middle that he could rely upon. Graham gives him that weapon.

Even after signing Graham in free agency, however, Green Bay had a massive hole at the tight end position. Green Bay’s top three tight ends (Graham/Kendricks/Byrd) were all receiving tight ends who aren’t anywhere near skilled enough to be consistent blockers. When Green Bay didn’t address the position in the draft it seemed inevitable that they were going to need to find a veteran who could fill that void.

Enter Marcedes Lewis. How often is it that you have a need on your football team at the end of May and can get the absolute best player in the league to fill that need for around $2,000,000.00? That’s exactly what GM Brian Gutekunst did when he signed Lewis.

Lewis is quite arguably the best blocking tight end in football and was Pro Football Focus’s top rated run blocker a season ago. He immediately will make Green Bay more dynamic and he completely changes the face of the offense. That’s an incredible statement for a player joining the team so late in the offseason.

With this signing, Green Bay changed their best formation from one with 11 personnel – Graham, Allison, Adams, Cobb, and either Jones, Montgomery or Williams to a 12 personnel formation with Graham, Lewis, Adams, Cobb, and either Jones, Montgomery or Williams.

I specifically love the formation options with Montgomery in the backfield. The formation options with those five players are almost endless. If a team lines up in a base or heavy defense, you can lineup Lewis in-line as a tight end with Graham, Montgomery, Cobb and Adams all lined up as receivers. Two of those players are likely going to get massive mismatches against safeties or slower linebackers. It would be a huge mismatch advantage for Green Bay.

On the flip side if the team comes out in dime or a lighter defensive formation, Green Bay has the ability to lineup two tight ends and run power with Montgomery at running back. Technically you could even have Cobb in the backfield in a two running back look. The possibilities are endless with those five players and teams will really struggle to matchup personnel against that grouping.

So we know that Lewis is going to be a beast as a run blocker but Green Bay is certainly going to want to get more out of their tight end than a pseudo sixth offensive lineman. So let’s break down the tape and see what exactly can be expected from Marcedes Lewis this upcoming season.

When I look at Lewis on tape, I see two major strengths, run blocking and red zone ability. In addition, Lewis does a really nice job off of play action and with finding holes in zone coverage—sitting down and providing a large target for his quarterback. Lastly, he’s sneaky athletic after the catch, making more defenders miss than you’d expect him to.

Where Lewis struggles is with separation in a standard passing attack and he’s certainly not going to be a dynamic or explosive playmaker at this point of his career. Let’s take a look:

Run Blocking

Having a tight end that can dance with Michael Bennett for 2-3seconds... Huge advantage for your offense pic.twitter.com/HUCuTCgZHK

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

If your TE can soften an edge and push the other teams DE 2-3yds downfield... The possibilities for personnel groups/play calling are endless.. Need versatile TEs/H-Backs in today’s NFL... pic.twitter.com/081s6oQ6D6

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

Playoffs. Marcedes Lewis getting Bud Dupree on the ground... Jags weren’t asking Lewis to just cutoff the backside, they ran AT him all season! pic.twitter.com/Hw6FiLUDjJ

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

Plenty more... pic.twitter.com/ezJmDIGPaN

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

So many good blocks from Marcedes Lewis in 2017... Can handle himself head up/in line vs DEs! Here sealing off Clowney...#Packers need a TE compliment to Jimmy Grahams skillset. pic.twitter.com/HknPiZd4fW

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

It’s you and Cam Hayward. 1on1, cant give you help and we’re running it your way.

Imagine having that much confidence in your TE to block... pic.twitter.com/0NKz4CEqRS

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) May 24, 2018

Red Zone Ability

Lewis adds another huge red zone weapon to the offense. Pairing him in the red zone with Adams and Graham should be very scary to opposing defenses. pic.twitter.com/VRiDaGvGt0

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Motion Lewis outside, get him 1x1 with a smaller corner. This is akin to stealing. pic.twitter.com/Xrodr7FldW

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

He’s just a beast on these jump ball plays. Good luck knocking it away when he high points the ball. pic.twitter.com/eVqFodWOii

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Play Action Passing Game

Lewis is really good off of play action both outside and here over the middle. pic.twitter.com/stU7xvED4j

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Size Over the Middle

This time Bortles is able to hit Lewis and you can see how dangerous his size can be. This is vs. CJ Mosley, one of the best inside linebackers in football. pic.twitter.com/BE4JdmqB5f

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Lewis is a big body in the middle of the field who can sit down and be a bit underneath target for Rodgers. He’s not afraid to take any punishment over the middle. pic.twitter.com/cvyZ6aztij

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Last play. Absolutely no fear for Lewis over the middle. He’s going to hurt you more than you’re going to hurt him. pic.twitter.com/DSXD0cz4U2

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Run After Catch

It’s Thursday afternoon, you had a long day and you deserve a @MarcedesLewis89 thread for your troubles. Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/2CBiPW8Blc

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Lewis is deceptively shifty after the catch. He makes more people miss than you’d ever expect. pic.twitter.com/pifNQEfDVn

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Separation

Lewis isn’t going to have elite separation or agility and is better used in-line. If Green Bay uses him as a move tight end it’ll be a waste, that’s what Graham is for. pic.twitter.com/mznL2SZAfN

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Here again you can see he’s not the explosive athlete he once was. It’s not a huge deal because that’s not what Green Bay needs him to be. pic.twitter.com/Z9paINcfjO

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

As mentioned above, Lewis isn’t going to be a dynamic playmaker for Green Bay. The last time Lewis caught over 30 passes in a season was back in 2012. He hasn’t had a game catching more than 4 passes since week 4 of 2015 and his longest catch over the past two seasons has been 37 yards.

All of those things are completely fine for Green Bay’s offense. Green Bay has playmakers on offense and what they need from Lewis is his ability to be a true “Y” tight-end. He will pay huge dividends opening up holes for the running backs and will be another huge red zone threat for Rodgers to go along with Adams and Graham who are already two of the best red zone players in football.

Lewis will absolutely benefit from playing with Rodgers instead of Bortles (see videos below) and Green Bay’s offense will benefit from Lewis’ experience and diverse skill set. It’s a win-win for both player and team and Lewis should prove to be a phenomenal late-May find for Green Bay.

My first note is that I think it’s safe to say that Lewis will benefit from Aaron Rodgers being at the helm... pic.twitter.com/gwg9kJdegq

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Here again you can see that Lewis has the size and ability to threaten the seam but Bortles was unable to hit him for the big play down the middle. pic.twitter.com/p5UQgZU83t

— Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) June 7, 2018

Make sure to follow @benfennell_nfl who does an amazing job analyzing Packers' tape (see blocking vids above).

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