PPP: Tight Ends

The tight end position has always been a stronger position for the Packers. When the position is associated with the Packers, names like Jackson, Chmura, and Franks come to mind. Now, Donald Lee appears ready to join them.

The Packers go into the draft with two tight ends currently on their roster: Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey. Lee will go into 2008 as the full-time starter, while Humphrey is looking to recover from a devastating leg injury that ended his season before it started in training camp last year. The Packers long time staple at tight end, Bubba Franks, is gone. On February 20, Franks was released and he signed with the New York Jets almost a month later, on March 16. Franks' durability was becoming questionable and his time with the Pack was done. Therefore, there is only one player analysis to do, as Humphrey did not appear in a game last season.

Donald Lee
Rec: 48
Yds: 575
TDs: 6
AVG: 12.0
Long: 60

Lee was one of Brett Favre's favorite targets of 2008, as tight ends usually are. Lee showed great hands and speed for a tight end, evidenced by his 60-yard scamper against Washington in Week 6. He continues his improvement daily and will get more playing time in 2008 with the departure of Franks.

Humphrey went in to training camp last season after very strong offseason camps and OTAs. On the first day of training camp, Humphrey broke his leg just above the ankle. He spent three months of doing no activity and six months to fully recover. At 6-2, 250, Humphrey has the size and speed to stretch the field and compliment Lee as a deep threat. Because the Packers have only two tight ends on their roster, Humphrey is the top candidate to get major playing time behind Franks in 2008. He hopes to follow the impacts that Atari Bigby, Tramon Williams, and Lee made this year.

2007 Grade: B

2008 Outlook
Next season looks like it will continue to be good for the Packers tight ends. Lee has a contract extension under his belt and has the starting job essentially locked up. Humphrey will provide a spark and will hopefully bond with Aaron Rodgers. The addition of any rookies could affect this drastically.

2008 Projected Outlook: B

Draft Needs
The Packers will take a tight end this draft. I can guarantee that. But which tight end will they take? I do not see the Packers taking a tight end in the first round, leaving a tight end to most likely be taken in the second and third rounds. Because of this, USC's Fred Davis will most likely be gone along with Dustin Keller of Purdue and possibly Martellus Bennett of Texas A&M. If Keller is available in the second-round, I see the Packers taking him. However, the two tight ends I think would fit the Packers the best are Martin Rucker of Missouri or Jermichael
Finley of Texas, as both are big and athletic and would provide Rodgers with a lot of help. After the draft, the Packers will most likely take a flyer on an undrafted free agent, as they take four tight ends into OTAs most seasons. Joey Haynos (Maryland), Joe Jon Finley (Oklahoma), and Tom Santi (Virginia) are my best bets for these.