Packers Still Clearly Need Help at Tight End Even After Re-Signing Marcedes Lewis
By Scott Rogust
The Green Bay Packers have been in desperate need for a tight end for the past decade. Entering 2020, the team's position is even murkier, after the team opted to release free agent bust Jimmy Graham.
Yet on Wednesday, the team made the decision to re-sign Marcedes Lewis to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. And no, this doesn't help them in the slightest.
Marcedes Lewis staying in Green Bay on one-year, $2.5 million deal https://t.co/VloyAFU61R
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 19, 2020
Now, the Packers have a tight end depth chart of Lewis, Jace Sternberger, and Robert Tonyan. Lewis did play in all 16 games for the Packers last season, but he only recorded a measly 15 catches for 156 yards and one touchdown.
This is a far cry for what the Packers were expecting to do this offseason. Reports indicated that the team would aggressively pursue former Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper. Instead, he decided to join the Cleveland Browns. Eric Ebron is available, and should have been the option over Lewis.
Would think Marcedes Lewis' return means a guy like Delanie Walker is less appealing to the #Packers.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) March 19, 2020
A guy like Eric Ebron could still be in play, though I doubt it.
Now, the only way Green Bay can salvage this is by taking one in the NFL Draft. Notre Dame's Cole Kmet and LSU's Thaddeus Moss are the best tight ends in the class, and will likely be taken in the second round, so the Packers will have to strike quickly.
Green Bay has to address this need soon, due to the rapidly closing championship window for starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Having a depth chart of Lewis, Sternberger, and Tonyan for the regular season opener is unacceptable.