Green Bay Packers 2021 NFL Draft Prospects to Know: TE Tommy Tremble

When we think of positions of need to address this offseason for the Green Bay Packers, tight end doesn’t exactly make the list. In fact, with Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger, and Dominique Dafney, the Packers are pretty well set.

However, looking ahead to 2022, there is some uncertainty. Will Green Bay give Tonyan a new contract? Will Sternberger take a step forward in Year 3? Will Lewis be back again? And Dafney is still a relative unknown.

Brian Gutekunst has shown us in his first few drafts that he will plan for the future — as he should — with the selections of Rashan Gary, Jordan Love, AJ Dillon, and three interior offensive linemen in 2020 being prime examples of this. So I certainly wouldn’t rule out the tight end position being taken this year given the potential uncertainty that lies ahead.

And one name to know is Tommy Tremble from Norte Dame, someone who the Green Bay Packers have reportedly met with already.

Tremble isn’t someone with eye-popping numbers by any means. In his two seasons at Notre Dame, he has 52 targets, hauling in 35 of them at 11.5 yards per catch. He also has four touchdowns, but none in 2020, along with a passer rating when targeted of 107.9—but don’t let the lack of production fool you, he is someone who can be effective at different levels of the passing game.

However, despite the relatively underwhelming numbers as a pass-catcher, in terms of what Matt LaFleur looks for in his tight ends, Tremble is an ideal fit. He’s someone who can play both in-line and in the slot, and he’s a terrific blocker—a staple of this LaFleur offense and why Lewis is continually brought back.

By PFF’s ($$) grading system, which certainly isn’t the be-all-end-all, but it helps illustrate who is playing particularly well and who isn’t. Tremble was the top run-blocking tight end in 2020 by this metric, and he ranked 21st out of 200 tight ends in pass-blocking grades.

For a closer look at Tremble’s game and what he can bring to the Green Bay Packers, here is what PFF had to say about him in their draft guide:

"“Standing a meager 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds, there was not a better run-blocking tight end in all of football last year. He blocks like his life depends on it snap after snap. Notre Dame used him all over the formation, and he continuously got the job done. Pair that with legit speed and you’ve got the makings of an interesting prospect. Because of that athletic combination, any team that uses a fullback in its offense should have him right at the top of their fullback rankings.”"

Overall, Tremble is PFF’s 105th rated prospect and fourth rated tight end. The Draft Network also has him as their fourth rated tight end but Tremble is a little higher overall at 82 on their big board.

Meanwhile, the NFL Mock Draft Database which compiles countless mock drafts and dozens of big boards from around the internet has Tremble projected as a fourth-round pick.

As I said initially, tight end isn’t an immediate need for the 2021 season but it very well could be in 2022. And I can assure you that a tight end with Tremble’s skill-set is on LaFleur’s radar—so he’s certainly a player worth keeping our eyes on.