Green Bay Packers 2022 Position Review: Tight Ends
By Paul Bretl
With the offseason here, it’s time to take a look back at the season that was for the Green Bay Packers. To do so, I will be going position by position through the roster, taking a look at what went right and what went wrong.
Next up are the tight ends, and there wasn’t much to discuss–good or bad. This was, overall, an underwhelming position group. Below you can stay up to date with each of my completed position groups.
What went right for the Green Bay Packers tight ends in 2022
– If there is one thing you can say about the Packers’ tight end position, it’s that this group was very good at blocking, specifically in the run game. By PFF’s grading system, Marcedes Lewis was the sixth-best zone run-blocking tight end in 2022, while Tyler Davis — in a small sample size — ranked 11th. For whatever reason, PFF wasn’t a fan of Josiah Deguara, but I thought he was a key member of the Packers’ run game, not only because of his blocking ability but also with his versatility.
– Speaking of Deguara, I thought he had a much improved 2022 season. This was his third in the NFL, and really second in terms of playing time after he missed most of 2020 with an ACL injury. With additional experience, he provided a much more steady presence.
– It wasn’t flashy by any means — and more on that in a minute — but Robert Tonyan was once again a very reliable target for Aaron Rodgers. He would catch 84% of his 63 targets for 470 yards, the third most on the team, and two touchdowns.
– Davis was mostly a special teams player and an important one at that. He led the team in snaps, playing a variety of roles, and had the third-most special teams tackles.
– Especially early on in the season, as the offensive line dealt with injuries, the tight ends were asked to help block, or at least chip, in pass protection. The up-and-down play of the offensive line during that first half of the season contributed to the issues on offense, but the Green Bay tight ends helped provide some stability. Out of 83 tight ends, Lewis ranked 14th in pass blocking grade and Deguara 33rd.
What went wrong for the Green Bay Packers tight ends in 2022
– One of the biggest issues was the lack of playmaking at the position. Davis was most a special teams player, while Lewis and Deguara were primarily blockers. That left only Tonyan to affect the passing game, and he averaged just 8.9 yards per catch, which ranked 34th out of 42 tight ends. In part, it was how he was utilized, but he also didn’t make many defenders miss. While Tonyan had his fair share of targets, the tight end position was pretty much a non-factor in the passing game.
– A key reason that the Packers struggled in the red zone was that opponents took away the run game and dared Green Bay to throw the ball. The passing game, however, simply wasn’t good enough to be relied upon that heavily. Part of that is that Tonyan wasn’t the same red zone threat that he was prior to his injury, Deguara got almost no opportunities, and Lewis is like a sixth offensive lineman on most occasions.
– As already discussed, Deguara took a step forward in his third season and was an important member of the run game. However, through the first half of the year, he was averaging only about 10 snaps per game. He’s also shown to be someone who can pick up YAC with the ball in his hands but continually plays such a small role in the passing game.
– This doesn’t completely pertain to only the 2022 season, but the long-term planning at the tight end position is a big problem. The only players under contract currently are Deguara and practice squad players Nick Guggemos and Austin Allen. Green Bay has basically put themselves in a position where they have to take at least one tight end somewhat early on in the draft. This is also a position that often doesn’t make a huge impact as a rookie.
– Again, this is more so looking ahead, but with Deguara under contract and Davis probably back as a restricted free agent, if the Packers decide to bring back Tonyan and/or Lewis, which is very possible, it’s hard to see how this position group gets better in 2023.