Lots of depth at TE for Packers

Green Bay, W.I. ~ The Green Bay Packers head into the 2017 season feeling confident in the tight end position. The Packers tight end corps is loaded with depth, especially with the additions of Martellus Bennett and ex-Wisconsin Badger, Lance Kendricks. Another tight end for Green Bay is 3 year Packer, Richard Rodgers. Also fighting for roster spots are undrafted free agents, Aaron Peck and Emanuel Byrd.

The Packers signed 6’6 TE Martellus Bennett on March 10, 2017 from the New England Patriots. Bennett is entering his 10th season in the NFL. Bennett has played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots. Martellus Bennett has played in 135 career NFL games, starting 100. Bennett has put up 403 receptions for 4,287 yards and has scored 30 touchdowns in his nine year career.

After Bennett’s college football playing days at Texas A&M he was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys ( 61st overall ). He played his first four seasons in Dallas. Bennett then played one lone season, 2012, for the New York Giants before signing with the Chicago Bears. He played for the Bears from 2013 to 2014. In 2014 with Chicago he had a career high 916 receptions. Bennett caught six touchdown’s that year also,earning his way to a Pro Bowl. In 2016 Bennett signed with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Bennett 55 catches for 701 yards last season, playing all 16 games. Martellus Bennett’s wide 6’6 frame should help the Pack in the red-zone and big plays downfield.

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Martellus Bennett #80

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The Packers hope Lance Kendricks can bolster the tight end corps

Also another newly-acquired tight end for the Packers is Lance Kendricks. Kendricks, 6’3, played for the Wisconsin Badgers before he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. Green Bay signed Kendricks on March 11, a day after Bennett was acquired, to bolster the tight end position even more. Lance played 93 games, starting 79, in six years with the Rams. Last year, Kendricks, a Milwaukee native, set a career high with 50 receptions for 499 yards while starting all 16 games. Kendricks has totaled 204 receptions for 2,132 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career.

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Richard Rodgers game winning catch over Detroit in 2015

Another tight end for the Green Bay Packers is Richard Rodgers. Rodgers was drafted by the Packers in 2014. He was a third round pick. Rodgers had a good rookie season, appearing in all 16 games, including a 43 yard reception in Chicago, the longest by a rookie TE in Packers history. He ranked 4th in the NFL in rookie receptions. Richard had an even better 2015 and gained lots of publicity thanks in part to his game-winning Hail Mary catch that capped off a comeback win over the Detroit Lions. Rodgers set a singe game record of yards for a Green Bay tight end with 143 receiving yards. Rodgers spent most of 2016 blocking and going out for short passes.

 

There a a few more tight ends fighting for roster spots including Aaron Peck and Emanuel Byrd. Peck signed with the Green Bay Packers on May 5 as an undrafted free agent. Peck is 6’2 and played at Fresno State in college. Byrd played at Marshall and signed with the Packers on August 5. A former quarterback, he now plays tight end.

The Packers are relying on their depth at tight end this 2017 season.

 

By Jacob Szczap

 

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