The Green Bay Packers are currently in the middle of what has been a promising season plagued with major injuries. After seeing Aaron Rodgers go down with a broken collarbone, the Packers' goals have changed a bit this season. They have gone from searching for home-field advantage to simply trying to survive and cling to one of the final playoff spots in the NFC.

Another disappointing piece of news for the Packers was Martellus Bennett announcing that he will retire at the end of the 2017 NFL season. Bennett was signed to a three-year contract in the offseason and was expected to be a huge part of the Packers' offense.

He has struggled so far this season, but losing him after the first year of his deal was not what Ted Thompson envisioned when the move was originally made.

Throughout the Packers' first seven games, Bennett has caught just 24 passes for 233 yards and no touchdowns.

What could be next after Bennett?

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if Bennett actually follows through on his retirement "plans." He still has plenty of good football left in him, but his struggles could be frustrating him to the point of overreaction.

If Bennett does retire, however, the Packers need some help at the tight end position. Lance Kendricks is 30 years old and Richard Rodgers will be set to hit Free Agency.

That could lead Thompson and the Packers to scour the free agent market once again to find a new tight end for their star quarterback.

Potential replacement in free agency for Bennett?

One potential free agent that could be an ideal fit for the Packers is current Cincinnati Bengals' tight end, Tyler Eifert. He has had a lot of injury trouble throughout his career, but when he is healthy there are very few tight ends that are better than him.

To show how many injury issues he has had, he hasn't played more than 10 games since the 2015 season. In that season, he caught 52 passes for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Rodgers would enjoy throwing to a healthy Eifert. Green Bay wanted Bennett to be a security blanket for him with his size, but Eifert could end up being an even better target.

Eifert stands in at 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds and possesses top-notch speed and athleticism for a tight end.

All of that being said, Eifert is going to be an intriguing free agent to keep an eye on in the offseason. There will be quite a few teams interested in him, but injuries will be a factor. If Green Bay can get him at the right price, Eifert could be a perfect target in free agency.

Do you think the Green Bay Packers should target Tyler Eifert in free agency to replace Martellus Bennett? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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