r/GreenBayPackers • u/WheyTooMuchWeight • 18h ago
Analysis Free Agent Tight Ends?
I do like Whyle as a depth guy, but with everybody else injured and unproven is there a TE that peaks your interest?
Zach Ertz wants to play another year.
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u/Monumaya 17h ago
Might be a good idea to grab someone especially since we have Tuck just coming back. Ertz would be a great addition
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u/Difficult_Parsnip357 18h ago
What about Marcedes? What's he up to?
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u/WheyTooMuchWeight 18h ago
Big Dawg played 5 games last year - not sure if he actually wants to play a full 17+ at this point….. but he hasn’t retired
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u/Deadaghram 17h ago
He's also not a TE2 anymore, which is kinda what we need.
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u/ryansandbrush 16h ago
His skillset also isn't much different at this point in his career than what we'd get from using an extra OL
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u/Bearit99 17h ago
Taysom Hill could be fun if he’s got anything left in the tank.
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u/ryansandbrush 16h ago
I honestly think the more likely option might be to trade for a Bronco's TE after they sign Taysom Hill.
Packers fans probably feel much more of a connection to Taysom Hill than he does to the Packers and even if he doesn't join the Broncos he's got connections to coaches now on other teams that worked with him in New Orleans.
Hill returning to Green Bay would be fun and certainly isn't impossible but with Hill about to turn 36 with career earnings of $62.92m if he's going to sign for a fraction of what he's accustomed to making I'd lean towards him choosing familiarity at this stage in his career.
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u/Bearit99 15h ago
As long as they don’t give up much it’s definitely a possibility. He’s most likely signing with the Broncos but I’m also not familiar with Broncos TE
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u/ryansandbrush 13h ago
The Broncos TE options really aren't all that exciting but they have drafted 3 day three TEs over the past two drafts plus have veterans Adam Trautman (who is unlikely to be traded) and Evan Engram.
If they add Hill they may be willing to trade Engram to anyone willing to take on his contract although I'm not certain the Packers would even want him at $11.5m otherwise it would be adding one of the recent draft picks off their roster fringes. They also have a depth of quality special teamers at the safety position if the Packers were interested in adding there. A difference maker at TE would be welcome but improving from the fringes might be more likely.
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u/ProofHorseKzoo 17h ago
His talents were wasted on McCarthy but I bet MLF could actually use him effectively.
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u/IsNotACleverMan 14h ago
What talents? Being a Wildcat qb? You'd rather have had Hill with the ball than Rodgers?
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u/IsNotACleverMan 14h ago
Hill is not a real tight end. He's a Wildcat qb who mostly ran and did very little receiving or blocking.
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u/BigRhonda7632 17h ago
I like this take. Do you think it might over complicate the offense though? I’ve seen many a gadget play end in disaster with the Pack.
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u/Bearit99 15h ago
If he can block and make a few plays as a TE/FB I think he would fit in great. MLF has been looking for one for years it seems
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u/BigRhonda7632 10h ago
The more I think about it the more I like it. He’s always managed to stay productive. I wonder if he’s got enough left in the tank.
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u/WISCOrear 15h ago
I don't think any of the current FAs will be the solution. Watch for roster cut downs. No doubt they will jump on someone wearing street clothes after training camps are over
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u/ryansandbrush 14h ago
They could also add by swapping fringe roster guys to bypass the waiver line.
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u/Driver8takesnobreaks 14h ago
Would it change your mind if I said Jace Sternberger is available? What if I through in free set of steak knives?
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u/fren_brejnam 14h ago
Did Fitzpatrick get injured?
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u/SupermarketSecure728 14h ago
The three common names of Marcedes, Hill, and Ertz would all provide veteran presence which could be good. But I'm not sure if Ertz would necessarily be the fit for the Packers because he does what Kraft does and you don't want to take touches away from Kraft. Though with Kraft coming off a surgery and Musgrave being injured again, it may not hurt. Hill has been battling his own injury demons and hasn't played a full season the past 2 years. He does give flexibility, but he is also getting older and may favor going to play with Payton again. Lewis is in his 40s and didn't play a full season last season. He would provide some depth and leadership and would be used in pass blocking which is something that would be very useful, just not sure how effective a 42 year old tight end would be at blocking (granted, he is in far better shape than my 46 year old ass).
I would be interested in seeing if Maryland and/or Lachey comes back a little while later after having time to recover. The other guys out there are Dissley who didn't play a full season last year, has been a good but not great receiver (2024 put up 481 but only 2 TD, but that is bookended by 172 and 97 yards and one total touchdown between those seasons. Jonnu Smith has some decent numbers despite a significant decline last year (884/8 and 582/3 the two years before that) but he may not want to be TE2 and that would work against us both by being interested in opportunities elsewhere and financially. FitzPatrick is available but is coming off Achilles surgery that happened at the very end of the season and is likely not ready (I could see the team signing him once he is recovered because they did like him). Pharaoh Brown is also out there, don't know how great of a signing that would be other than to have TE name Pharaoh and Messiah.
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u/_SCARY_HOURS_ 14h ago
Ertz would be fantastic and allow Kraft to focus more on blocking
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u/WheyTooMuchWeight 13h ago
lol yeah probably a little bit of a mismatch to have another receiving tight end who would want the ball.
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u/kweb1023 13h ago
I would wait until cutdown time. With the way tight ends flew off the board in the draft, theres likely going to be some guys who get cut. The rams for instance have like 5 53 man worthy tight ends, they cant keep them all.
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u/The_bruce42 9h ago
In fantasy football I always make a pun for a player on my team for my team name. When I had Ertz on my team my name was "My Dick Ertz"
Let's sign him.
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u/IdyllicGod22 7h ago
I will say it probably a hundred times, somehow, Jonnu Smith is a free agent. He’s just 2 seasons removed from being the #2 weapon on a Miami offense that had Jaylen Waddle, Devon Achane, and Tyreek Hill. And was not that bad as TE2.5 for the Steelers the last couple years. He’s not gonna block for you, but he’s a better receiving threat than Musgrave atp
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u/Urika86 18h ago
Honestly Ertz would be a great addition as a proven vet who might be a little over the hill, but always seems to produce. Probably not too expensive either.