Packers Sign 3rd Round Pick Jace Sternberger

The Packers have signed their 3rd round pick Jace Sternberger per Mike McCartney.

Sternberger, who comes from Texas A&M, played one year for Jimbo Fisher and became one of the most dangerous Tight Ends in college football, earning Consensus All-American honors. He originally started his college football career at the University of Kansas, but then decided to go the Junior College route at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before being recruited to College Station.

The Tight End tallied 832 total yards on 48 receptions for Texas A&M. He also scored double digit touchdowns with 10 to his name. Jace is the last player in the Packers 2019 draft class to be signed.

Ryne Ryskoski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV who attends Texas A&M University where he is majoring in journalism in hopes to one day write for a pro sports team. He can be contacted directly through twitter @rusty_ryskoski_.

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Comments (24)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lare's picture

June 10, 2019 at 02:20 pm

Finally. It's nice to have all the business attended to before training camp.

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Tonkathunder's picture

June 10, 2019 at 02:26 pm

Agreed! I wonder what the hold up was?

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TheVOR's picture

June 10, 2019 at 02:51 pm

Maybe bonus or incentives, or something. It's not like his salary wasn't bracketed. Glad it's done, looking forward to seeing this young guy develop, him and Tonyan, they're the future.

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IceBowl's picture

June 10, 2019 at 08:17 pm

3rd round picks have some "options" in their contracts that the first 2 do not. I would think the next CBA will sort out these "options" so all players can get signed simply, like the rest of the rounds.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 11, 2019 at 01:52 am

I agree with IceBowl. Sternberger's failure to be signed came up some time ago, and at that time I noted that players drafted 76 to something like 85 also hadn't signed yet, plus a couple of players taken in the low 70's also hadn't signed. I didn't check again, but the the 70-73rd, 76th, 78th, 79th picks are also unsigned at this time. I didn't check anyone drafted earlier than 70 or 80th and later.

There are always issues to be negotiated, just fewer than there used to be. Offsets, when the signing bonus is paid (example: Matt Ryan got a $46M signing bonus when he signed in 2016, but only $23M was paid in 2016, so he had to wait until 2017 to get a check for the other $23M), voiding of guarantees due to suspensions, and for GB, workout bonuses. The workout bonus tends to be deducted from the signing bonus, but 3rd round picks make enough that it can be taken from future base pay amounts as well. Obviously, players are going to get the signing bonus right away so it is fully guaranteed, but they might not earn a work out bonus in year two or three and workout bonuses cannot be guaranteed under the terms of the CBA.

Essentially third-rounders are considered premium picks still but the money is less and the leverage is different.

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Since'61's picture

June 10, 2019 at 02:44 pm

Ready for mandatory OTA starting tomorrow. Sounds good! Thanks, Since ‘61

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

June 10, 2019 at 10:02 pm

Will Jones be there is the question?

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kevgk's picture

June 10, 2019 at 03:24 pm

mike mccarthy... paul mccartney... mike mccartney?

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Since'61's picture

June 10, 2019 at 04:01 pm

Trubisky? Thanks, Since ‘61

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Coldworld's picture

June 10, 2019 at 06:10 pm

If you say it, it must be Trubisky, surely?

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Coldworld's picture

June 10, 2019 at 10:58 pm

Deleted. Posted to wrong location

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Coldworld's picture

June 10, 2019 at 06:12 pm

Also seemed to have picked up a TE on Waivers. A former WR and DE. 6 ft 6 in and 260. Pharaoh McKeever.

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IceBowl's picture

June 10, 2019 at 08:13 pm

Coldworld,

Now that is a physical combination, and I assume he can run. You baiting me??

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Coldworld's picture

June 10, 2019 at 10:57 pm

4.79 40 speed and a 9-11 broad jump. Did find this from Steelersdepot.com

"Oh boy, there’s a lot to unpack here. His story is just as interesting as is the actual position he’s playing, tight end. Let’s look at how he performed at tight end last year though for the bowl-bound FIU squad. What I assume was intiruging to Pittsburgh was how often McKever played as an in-line tight end. How often he blocked, even in pass pro, something that’s pretty rare for college tight ends who act as glorified receivers.

And while McKever is far from the best, he gave good effort and used his length and frame to get in the way in pass blocks and seal the edge in pass protection.”

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greengold's picture

June 11, 2019 at 06:05 am

Oh, man, thanks for the info Coldworld. WOW. McKever is looking a lot like a younger Mercedes Lewis in terms of strengths to his game. Granted, Lewis is the top in line blocking TE in the NFL, but, a nice pick up. I'm sure he will learn a lot from Lewis.

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Coldworld's picture

June 11, 2019 at 06:49 am

Greengold, I’d guess that the thought is to see if a year on the PS will give him a chance to refine his technique as a blocker. He apparently does have really good hands. He was a QB/safety in high school, then a WR in college who went to DE for a couple of years and only then to TE, so likely still learning to be done. His highlights as a TE remind me a bit of Lewis.

Got to earn his PS place as I don’t see him cracking the roster this year, but superficially the physical parallels and willingness to block would seem to suggest a possible role as a future blocking TE. I like the idea of bringing in a developmental candidate for that role.

I also like the fact that Gute seems to look for players at the back end who appear to have valid reasons not to have reached their full potential, rather than being good players at a lower level without NFL attributes and upside. Once in a while we may get real value out of that, maybe Crawford and one of the Browns are possible candidates this year.

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greengold's picture

June 11, 2019 at 07:20 am

Yeah, I love how Gutey is loading more quality depth to his team, at every single position. Was thinking same on this guy possibly making the PS for a year of development. He's got the size and the hands, just needs experience.

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EddieLeeIvory's picture

June 10, 2019 at 08:13 pm

10 catches this season for the rook.

Who had the OVER & who had the UNDER?

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IceBowl's picture

June 10, 2019 at 08:18 pm

I took both. LOL

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Daren726's picture

June 11, 2019 at 05:51 am

I’m happy to see that Gute is scouring the waiver wires for options. Our two older TE won’t be here next year most likely, so we need as many options as we can get. More competition the better.

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PatrickGB's picture

June 11, 2019 at 06:48 am

I am only six foot. So I took the under.

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greengold's picture

June 11, 2019 at 07:24 am

I have a feeling Sternberger is going to make some significant contributions on O this year, and I know it is unusual for first year TEs to really produce. I just think he is going to be special, and a reliable target for Rodgers. Great route runner, great size, and great hands. Best hands of any TE in his draft class, including Hock and Fant. Plus, he's wearing #87.

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PackfanNY's picture

June 11, 2019 at 07:54 am

I don’t think him not being “signed” affected anything. From what I’ve read, kid has been present to all OTAs and working. I am really looking for him to develop a nice place with Rodgers and this offense. Don’t know how long that takes but a young pass catching TE who can stretch the field would be perfect fit.

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PAPackerbacker's picture

June 13, 2019 at 02:53 am

I don't know what the hold up was to get this young man signed, but glad the deed was done. He has a lot to offer
the Packers with his skills and talent. I think he will develop into a viable part of the offense as long as he stays healthy.

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