More playmaking at tight end a must for Packers in 2023
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers enter this offseason very thin at the tight end position, with only Josiah Deguara under contract currently, and as they look to add to this room in the coming months, finding more playmaking at the position should be a must.
Part of the Packers’ passing game woes weren’t only on the young receivers and Aaron Rodgers; they also had little playmaking from their tight ends in 2022.
Josiah Deguara was primarily used as a blocker, and while vital to the run game, he didn’t add much to the passing game, with only 15 targets the entire season. Marcedes Lewis, also a very valuable member of this Packers team, is again, primarily a blocker, while Tyler Davis was a core special teams player.
The only consistent target in the passing game was Robert Tonyan, who had 63 targets last season. However, he averaged only 8.9 yards per catch and had just two touchdowns, according to PFF ($$). Out of 43 eligible tight ends, this ranked 35th.
In part, how Tonyan was utilized didn’t always put him in the best positions to make plays. As the offensive line dealt with injuries, Tonyan was asked more often to chip and help block, which meant getting into his route later. He was also used as almost a safety net for Aaron Rodgers to dump the ball off to, with Tonyan’s average depth of target being just six yards. But on top of all of that, coming off his ACL injury, he just looked less dynamic with the ball in his hands.
Now, it’s easy to sit here and say, “go find a dynamic tight end,” but that’s easier said than done. If there were so many of them, every team would have one. The Packers are also going to be tight up against the salary cap once again. It’s going to take a number of contract restructures and kicking the can down the road to give themselves enough flexibility to operate. This isn’t going to be an offseason with a ton of spending.
Addressing tight end in the draft will be an option for them. In fact, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, who is considered the top tight end in this class, has frequently been mocked to Green Bay. But it’s important to note that very rarely do rookie tight ends come in and make a significant impact. It’s a very complicated position, where tight ends have to be effective pass catchers like receivers while also being competent blockers like offensive tackles. It’s a steep learning curve that doesn’t often lead to instant production.
An added wrinkle in all of this is that Rodgers made it fairly clear when on the Pat McAfee Show that he wants both Lewis and Tonyan back in 2023–that is if Rodgers is still in Green Bay. If that’s the case, and Brian Gutekunst acquiesces to Rodgers’ wishes, then the tight end room isn’t going to look that much different, if it even does at all.
As already mentioned, Deguara is under contract. Davis is a restricted free agent and will likely be brought back on an inexpensive contract. Then adding Lewis and Tonyan to the mix gives the Packers four tight ends. Sure, they could bring in someone else via free agency or the draft, but rostering five tight ends is a lot.
Adding that needed playmaking presence in the passing game at tight end is one way to help this offense rebound in 2023. But as we look at the options that the Packers have, well, there aren’t many, and upgrading this position group doesn’t appear to be a given either.