Five moves that will send the Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl 50
By Josh McPeak
Upgrade the TE position
Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers and Brandon Bostick are all under contract for the Green Bay Packers in 2015.
The NFL has not only evolved into a running back by committee league but most of your top teams have multiple contributing tight ends as well.
Aaron Rodgers severely missed a top-tier red zone target this season from the tight end position. Quarless led the way with only 29 receptions for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns.
It was the rookie Rodgers who may have shown the most promise. Aaron Rodgers was once quoted as stating that Rodgers had the surest hands on the team.
While Rodgers looks to have the biggest upside of the three in the receiving game, he is a liability in the run game. Improvements must be made at this position.
It is highly unlikely that Ted Thompson will make a splash in free agency at this position. The crop is weak this year outside of Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron. Most likely the improvement will come by way of the draft.
The six-foot-four redshirt sophomore from the University of Minnesota is at the top of every draft list you will read for tight ends. Maxx Williams is an athletic specimen and every team wants the next Gronkowski. However, there are other options outside of the first round.
Florida State’s Nick O’leary has been slated as the next Dallas Clark. O’leary makes big plays when it matters –in the clutch. At six-foot-three he can also contribute at the h-back position should John Kuhn leave Packers News.
There are a couple of sleepers that could step in and provide immediate upgrades.
Blake Bell is an interesting prospect. At six-foot-six the quarterback-turned-tight-end obviously knows the scheme and the routes. Bell hauled in 16 receptions for 214 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Oklahoma Sooners this season. He also had a great week of practice at the East West Shrine Game.
The other sleeper brings another boom-or-bust prospect to Green Bay. Oregon’s Pharaoh Brown is a towering six-foot-six speedster with huge upside. Before a season-ending knee injury, Brown was on pace to shatter the record books for tight ends at Oregon. Brown had 25 receptions for 420 yards and 6 touchdowns.
This could be a “huge” red zone value pick for Thompson in the later rounds.
Next: Move number 3