Green Bay Packers: Third Year Player Performance Grades
By Kenny Jilek
Undrafted Free Agents
Robert Tonyan – TE
The Green Bay Packers found a real diamond in the rough with Tonyan after the Lions cut him in 2017. This is his fourth year out of college, but it’s his third year on the active roster after spending all of his first season on the practice squad. In his first two seasons, he had a very small role and caught a total of 14 passes.
This year, he is having a Pro Bowl-worthy season but was snubbed in favor of Evan Engram of the New York Giants. A couple of things that are eye-popping about Tonyan’s 2020 season are his catch percentage and his touchdowns. 89.1 percent of his targets have resulted in a catch, and that kind of consistency is something that’s been missing for the Packers from the tight end position for quite a while. He’s also gotten into the end zone 10 times, which ties him for first place among tight ends with Travis Kelce, widely known as the best tight end in football.
His blocking has also been a welcome sight, and we see his power in that area week after week. Some people were expecting an increased role for Tonyan this season as a pass catcher, but I think very few saw this kind of improvement. He’s been a breakout star and an extremely important weapon for Aaron Rodgers to have, but he’s not a first-round pick, so he must not be a good enough weapon just like all of the other players that Rodgers has thrown touchdowns to. He just is another testament to how little it matters that the Packers haven’t drafted a first-round receiver, and he will hopefully be here doing his thing for years to come.
Overall Grade: B+
Chandon Sullivan – CB
Sullivan was fantastic in a limited role last season, allowing just a 35.5 completion percentage and 34.3 passer rating. After that, he was poised for a much bigger part in the defensive scheme this season, especially with Tramon Williams gone. He has been the starting slot corner all season, and he hasn’t been as good as that small 2019 sample, but he hasn’t been bad either.
This season, he’s given up a 64.4 completion percentage and 89.5 passer rating, which are about average numbers. His big moment this season was in the second game of the season against the Lions when he had a pick-six in the Packers 42-21 win. He’s been an integral part of Pettine’s scheme this season and has played in 71 percent of the Packers’ snaps on defense this year, almost all as the slot cornerback with some time on the outside in the Jacksonville game when both starters were out.
Even though Sullivan hasn’t been a star this year, he’s still a phenomenal find for the Packers after being waived by the Eagles in 2019. He’ll continue to be in the lineup, matching up against slot receivers, and he’ll need to play at a high level in the playoffs to keep the Green Bay Packers’ defense up to snuff.
Overall Grade: C+
Tyler Lancaster – DL
Tyler Lancaster is a two-down lineman, and he’s not really even that good at doing that job. His lack of any quickness inside makes him a complete liability rushing the passer on early downs, and he has exactly zero quarterback pressures this season. He has also made just 19 tackles this season and none for a loss.
His lackluster play has cost him playing time this season, as he started the year playing at least 40 percent of defensive snaps in four of the first five games, but has gotten over that threshold just once since. Lancaster just hasn’t been much to write home about, and guys like Kingsley Keke that are younger and on the rise, are taking his snaps.
When the Green Bay Packers look into their future and who they will line up next to Kenny Clark in the trenches, there is not much of a chance that they see Lancaster as one of those guys. He’s just not dynamic in any way and hasn’t been a playmaker for this defense. He’s a restricted free agent after this season, and if they bring him back, it will be on an extremely cheap contract. There just isn’t enough value there to give him any sort of substantial contract.
Overall Grade: D
So what do you think of these Green Bay Packers’ third-year players? Would you change any of my grades? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @DairylandXpress.