Green Bay Packers: 3 Tight Ends to target in 2019 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers have a long-term need at tight end. Here are three players who could potentially fill that void for years to come.

The Green Bay Packers enter this year’s draft likely in search of a tight end. They’ve tried to put a band-aid on that position since Jermichael Finley’s career ended, but haven’t quite been able to do so. Jared Cook was good for half a season, but signed elsewhere for more money than the Packers were willing to pay him. It’s also safe to say Martellus Bennett did not work out.

Jimmy Graham is likely on his last legs and he’ll be around for 2019, but the Packers need a tight end for the future.

That has led many to connect them to one of the tight ends from Iowa. Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson would both be excellent additions to the Packers’ offense and both are the consensus top two tight ends in this year’s draft.

It is also possible that they get caught in the middle of a value game. The Packers may not value either player enough to pick them at 12 while it’s also possible neither player is available at 30.

If that happens to be the case, the Packers will have to look elsewhere. Here are three tight ends they could target outside of the first round to groom for the future.

Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M: There’s a connection here. Sternberger is somebody that the Packers have used a top-30 visit on. They also interviewed him at the NFL Combine. He;s a day two prospect and a likely a third round pick.

Sternberger is somebody that is a move tight end and capable of stretching plays up the seam. He’d be a vertical threat the Packers have not had, outside of a short stretch with Jared Cook in 2016. He could use some refinement as a route runner and in the run game, however, he has high upside to become a quality starter as soon as 2020.

Dawson Knox, Ole Miss: It remains dumbfounding that Ole Miss did not average more than 40 points per game. They have three receivers that will get drafted. Two of which are likely to be top-50 picks in DK Metcalf and AJ Brown. In addition, they had Dawson Knox at tight end.

Knox’ production is not there, but that’s because they did not use him. He was essentially used as a decoy and a blocker. Although he’s a solid blocker, with tremendous athletic upside, he’s also talented as a pass catcher. He’s likely a day two pick that would benefit learning the tricks of the trade from Graham and Marcedes Lewis.

Donald Parham, Stetson: This time of year everyone loves to know some of the sleeper prospects in the draft. Parham fits the bill.

He’s a small school kid, but an impressive physical specimen, as he stands at 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds. He was dominant on the FCS level and possesses traits that would project well to the NFL level. He has big hands and is able to make plays after the catch. Parham would likely fit better as a late round pick that is given a redshirt season or two to learn the nuance of the NFL game. His ceiling, however, is sky high. He’s someone the Packers could likely get on Day 3 and become what they hoped Brandon Bostick would when they originally signed him.