Packers: Dalton Kincaid could be missing piece at tight end

The Green Bay Packers need a tight end.

What’s new? It’s been the same story for many years.

Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Dallas Goedert are among the best tight ends in the NFL. They are all difference-makers. And what do they have in common?

They start for three of the four teams playing in this week’s conference championships.

Jermichael Finley was the Packers’ last game-changing pass-catcher at the tight end position. Robert Tonyan caught 11 touchdowns in 2020 but has been unable to sustain that level of play.

Tonyan is a free agent this offseason, as is the Packers’ dominant blocking tight end, Marcedes Lewis.

It could be time to start over at the position. Green Bay should turn to the draft to find its new pass-catching tight end, especially if Aaron Rodgers isn’t back. It would be the perfect time to start over at the position.

Enter Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, projected by many to go either late in the first round or early in the second.

Kincaid could be the Packers’ missing piece at tight end. The pass-catcher they have long been looking for.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah tweeted that Kincaid is a “mix of Kelce and Ertz”, which is certainly high praise.

And there’s good reason for the comparisons. Kincaid often lines up in the slot and dominates as a receiver, catching 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons at Utah.

In 12 games this season, Kincaid caught 70 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns.

“He’s just so smooth and graceful along the full route tree with the way he can clear his hips on his cuts,” wrote Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner.

If Jordan Love is the new QB1 in 2023, finding him a reliable tight end target will be important. Young quarterbacks often look their tight end’s way regularly, and Kincaid could quickly become a go-to target for Love.

The Packers desperately need a new tight end, especially if Tonyan and Lewis are gone.

Kincaid could be the answer.