The Green Bay Packers had a lot of needs when the 2017 NFL free agent period began but Ted Thompson has been a little show when it comes to signing any free agents. The Packers re-signed three of their own free agents in Nick Perry, Don Barclay, and Jayrone Elliott, and then tendered four of their exclusive rights free agents. However, when it comes to free agents from other teams, the only two big names that the Packers signed were tight ends Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks.
The Packers history with tight ends
The history of the Green Bay Packers is full of great tight ends.
Bubba Franks, Mark Chmura, and Jermichael Finley are just some of the more recent names of tight ends that made Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre’s jobs easier over the past 25 years. These players are the security blankets for quarterbacks who need to get the ball out quick and were especially important when the Packers offensive line was young and shaky. When Aaron Rodgers had a tight end like Finley healthy, the Packers offense was almost unstoppable at times. In 2016, that tight end was Jared Cook, who finished with only 30 receptions for 377 yards and one touchdown. The Packers made sure to load up this year in the NFL free agent period with, not one, but two quality tight ends.
Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks
The biggest name that the Green Bay Packers brought in was Martellus Bennett. Fresh off winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, Bennett brings that experience to Green Bay. He is a true quality receiving threat at tight end, catching 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns last season in New England.
He is also only three years off a 90 receptions season in Chicago. Lance Kendricks spent the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Rams and had his best season in 2016, with 50 receptions for 499 yards despite shaky quarterback play. Playing two tight ends will also shore up the offensive line, giving the best quarterback in the NFL plenty of time to find his targets. The New England Patriots have proven that two tight end sets can win big and now the Green Bay Packers have two pass-catching tight ends for Aaron Rodgers in 2017.
