Packers: 3 things to watch at 2019 NFL Scouting Combine

Broad Jump, Tight End

Outside of big Bob Tonyan, the Packers lack an excellent athlete at tight end currently. Jimmy Graham’s age and knee injuries have sapped him of his previous explosiveness.

While Graham is likely to remain on the team this year, Matt LaFleur will want a tight end to feature in seasons to come. The ideal player will be an explosive route-runner, strong after the catch, and not a liability as a run-blocker.

The broad jump is a great way of testing the power a tight end can generate with their lower body. Jermichael Finley was widely regarded as a high-potential athlete when drafted, but the only drill he actually scored above the 50th percentile in at the combine was the broad jump (117 inches, 67th percentile). That leg strength was obvious when he became a menace after the catch.

Some other notable testing numbers include:

• Rob Gronkowski, 119 inches (76th percentile)
• Jimmy Graham, 120 inches (80th percentile)
• Jared Cook, 123 inches (91st percentile)
• George Kittle, 132 inches (98th percentile)

This is a great year to need a tight end. T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, Irv Smith Jr., Kaden Smith, and Jace Sternberger are some of the options that could present themselves to Gutekunst in the first two days of the draft. The broad jump will be a valuable piece of information for the team to weigh when comparing these prospects.

All of these, of course, should play only a small role in evaluating a player’s fit with the Packers. But while the 40-yard dash results garner headlines this week, make sure to also pay attention to these three tests, which may play an even bigger role in the draft position and success of the Packers’ top targets.