Packers: Predicting Week 1 starters at each position

Tight end: Jimmy Graham

Another season, another starting tight end for the Green Bay Packers.

Hopefully the revolving door at the position has officially been shut with the arrival of Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis in free agency.

We’ve seen Jared Cook play well then not get re-signed. Green Bay replaced him with Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks last offseason. That didn’t work out too well.

This spring, the Packers moved on from Richard Rodgers, signing Graham and Lewis to be the top two tight ends on the depth chart. Getting the start in Week 1 is Graham, who will effectively play as a wide receiver in Green Bay.

The concern is that Graham’s numbers dropped last season — he had just 520 receiving yards, and his yards-per-catch average dipped below double-digits for the first time in his career. But it’s clear he’s still a dominant red zone threat, as no player in the NFL had more touchdowns than Graham (10) within 20 yards of the goal line.

Can Graham become the pass-catching tight end the Packers have been searching for? Or will he just be an excellent target in the red zone?

Either way, Graham should have a positive impact on offense, and he will get the start in Week 1.