Green Bay Packers should give second chance to draft pick

The Green Bay Packers made several changes at tight end this offseason, drafting Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft to replace departing veterans Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis.

Along with Josiah Deguara, the Packers' top three at tight end is set.

But Green Bay should make a low-risk move that could pay off in a big way.

Former Packers tight end Jace Sternberger struggled to make an impact during his time in the NFL, but things have changed since joining the USFL this season.

Sternberger has dominated for the Birmingham Stallions, catching 33 passes for 517 yards and seven touchdowns. At the end of the regular season, he ranked fourth in the league for receiving yards and first for receiving touchdowns.

The former Packers third-round pick deservedly earned first-team All-USFL honors.

Green Bay should consider offering Sternberger a deal after the Stallions complete their season.

Bringing back Jace Sternberger makes sense for Packers

There would be little risk in offering Sternberger a one-year prove-it deal. He wouldn't need to start games for the Packers and would simply provide depth behind Musgrave, Kraft, and Deguara.

But the upside is there. Sternberger showed off his receiving ability in the USFL. The level of competition isn't as strong as in the NFL, but Sternberger dominated. There's also a reason why the Packers selected him in the third round four years ago.

Ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft, Pro Football Focus ranked Sternberger third in the tight end class, ahead of Dawson Knox and Irv Smith Jr.

PFF wrote: "Sternberger might not have the size or athleticism of others in this class, but all he did was produce. He had the highest receiving grade of any tight end in the country."

Maybe it just took some time to reach his potential.

Sternberger likely will never become a dominant pass-catching tight end in the NFL, but he could provide some competition for Tyler Davis as the fourth tight end on the roster.

It didn't work out for Sternberger in Green Bay. He made only 12 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown during two seasons.

However, after a dominant season in the USFL, why not give him a second chance? He could provide quality depth behind the Packers' starters. If not, it would be a low-risk move and the team could move on.

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