The Green Bay Packers have been in search of a pass-catching tight end since the end of the 2013 season. In 2013, the Packers starting tight end position was held down by then 26-year-old Jermichael Finley. In his sixth season with the Packers, Finley had become a major piece of the Packers offense. However, Finley suffered a neck injury, an injury that would end his football career. Since Finley’s departure, the Packers have tried to replace him and his production with veteran free agents. Unfortunately for the Packers, they are still in search of Finley’s replacement. For this season, it won’t be an aging free agent they turn to. Former third-round draft pick Jace Sternberger will get his shot to be the Packers top pass-catching tight end.
Jace Sternberger Takes Center Stage for the Packers in 2020
When Finley suffered his neck injury, his career numbers stood at 223 receptions for 2,785 receiving yards and had 20 touchdown receptions. Built like an oversized wide receiver with above-average speed for a tight end, Finley was a match-up nightmare for opposing defenses. He was too big for most safeties and he had the speed to outrun opposing linebackers. Finley could be a bit of a head case, especially when it came to his relationship with Aaron Rodgers, but you couldn’t question his ability.
Since Finley’s injury, the Packers have tried to replace him with outside free agents. Jared Cook had some success in 2016 when he caught 30 passes for 377 yards with a touchdown. But the following off-season, the Packers couldn’t agree to a contract with Cook which led to Cook’s departure.
Cook was replaced by free agent signing Martellus Bennett. That experiment turned out to be a major failure. Bennett played in just seven games in 2017 before he quit on the Packers. After Rodgers was lost to an injury, Bennett decided that he didn’t want to play for the Packers any longer. Bennett finished the season with just 24 catches with 233 yards and no touchdown receptions.
Prior to the 2018 season, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned to veteran Jimmy Graham to be the Packers top receiving tight end. While Graham was more productive, and a better teammate, than Bennett, he still didn’t live up to expectations. In his two seasons with the Packers, he caught 93 passes for 1,083 yards but had only five touchdown receptions. Graham was expected to be a major weapon in the red zone. But that never materialized. The Packers parted ways with Graham this season and he signed with the Chicago Bears.
Home Grown Talent
Gutekunst and the Packers decided to change up their philosophy for finding their top receiving tight end. Instead of looking to the outside to find someone, they are looking within to find their player. That is where Jace Sternberger enters the picture.
In the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, the Packers selected Jace Sternberger out of Texas A&M. Prior to coming to Texas A&M, he spent time at Kansas and at a junior college, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He spent just one season with the Aggies, but it was a very productive one season.
In his only season at Texas A&M, he caught 48 passes for 832 yards with 10 touchdown receptions. Because of his production, he was a finalist for the John Mackey Award and was voted All American by the Associated Press. He decided after that season he would forego his final season of eligibility and enter the draft.
As a former third-round pick, Jace Sternberger is thought of highly by Gutekunst and the Packers. But there are questions if he is ready to grab the number one tight end role.
Banking on Sternberger Taking the Next Step
Jace Sternberger didn’t have the type of rookie season he had envisioned. It was the type of season that has led some to wonder if he is ready to take the top tight end role.
Sternberger suffered an ankle injury in last year’s training camp. That injury forced him to start the season on the injured reserve. He was activated in October, played in six games, but never caught a pass. He did step in for injured fullback Danny Vitale and played some at fullback/h-back and proved to be a capable blocker. However, he never was able to show the receiving ability he did while at Texas A&M.
While he never caught a regular-season pass, he did catch three passes for 15 yards during the Packers playoff games. He also caught his first professional touchdown in their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
There isn’t much doubt that they are hoping Sternberger can build off of what he did in the playoffs. They are also banking on Sternberger to show the ability he did while at Texas A&M.
But it appears the Packers are setting Jace Sternberger up for success in his second season. They are surrounding him with other tight ends that can take some things off of Sternberger’s plate.
Help From His Fellow Packers Tight Ends
It seems that Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur has a plan for Jace Sternberger. A plan that should allow Sternberger to do what he does best. That being a tight end who can stretch the middle of the field and create some matchup problems for opposing defenses.
The Packers two other top tight ends should pick up the slack in other areas. This off-season, they re-signed veteran Marcedes Lewis. Lewis won’t be a major weapon in the passing game. But you will notice him because of his blocking ability. Even at 36, Lewis is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. His ability to block should allow Sternberger to concentrate on receiving.
Sternberger showed the ability to line up in the backfield last season. However, Gutekunst made a move in this year’s draft that should take that off of Sternberger’s plate. The Packers used a third-round selection on tight end Josiah Deguara out of the University of Cincinnati. Deguara is listed as a tight end, but he is expected to do more.
While at Cincinnati, Deguara lined up all over the field. He saw time as an in-line tight end but also spent time lining up as an h-back and all around the field. His ability to play all over the field, especially as a moving tight end, will also allow Sternberger to concentrate as a pass-catcher.
The Packers are hoping that taking so much off of Sternberger’s plate will help him succeed. Aaron Rodgers needs a tight end that can get downfield. The Packers are banking on Sternberger being that player this season.
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