2023's tight-end class offers perfect time for Packers to invest

While the world waits for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision about his future, the Green Bay Packers have to plan for a season knowing someone will be under center. We don’t yet know for sure who that will be, but we can say with confidence the Packers will employ a signal-caller. To maximize that quarterback, they must find a player or players who can threaten the middle of the field more often than the guys currently on the roster.

With that in mind and after seeing the 2023 tight-end draft class light up the combine, now is the perfect time for Brian Gutekunst to find his forever tight end.

Not since Jermichael Finley was in his prime have the Packers been able to threaten the middle of the field consistently with their tight ends. Jimmy Graham and Martellus Bennett flamed out in inglorious fashion as failed experiments of a win-now approach from Ted Thompson and his successor Gutekunst.

When it comes to drafting tight ends, the Packers haven’t pushed for athletic marvels the same way as at other positions. Jermichael Finley was a good but not great athlete. Jace Sternberger and Josiah Deguara were about average in terms of athleticism.

As I wrote last week, when the Packers eschew their draft models, they tend to miss, and tight end has been a bug-a-boo position in that regard. One key reason: athleticism matters. In fact, history suggests athleticism matters more than almost anything in the modern era when it comes to tight-end play. We’ve seen non-elite collegiate performers become NFL monsters based purely on their physical traits.

Did you know Jimmy Graham played basketball?