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The Green Bay Packers had quite the offseason after a disappointing 2018 season. The franchise has a new head coach in Matt LaFleur, new offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett, and made a major assessment to their defense with huge signings.
Although there are plenty of speculative mock drafts suggesting the Packers use their 12th overall pick on a tight end, there are some pros and cons to the possibility. The two big name tight ends that could very well go this early in the draft are Iowa's dynamic duo of T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant. Hockenson is more likely to be drafted earlier than Fant, but both players have very bright futures.
Here's a few reasons why the Packers should/should not use their 12th overall pick on a tight end i the 2019 draft.
The Packers should draft a tight end to pair alongside Jimmy Graham
Pairing nearly any player alongside Jimmy Graham is terrifying, but having another talented tight end to terrorize defenses is not fair. If the Packers do in fact choose to take one of Iowa's stud tight ends, this could bring out the best of an offense that is already poised for a big year.
Hockenson is a great run-blocker, whereas Fant is the more athletic pass catcher. Either pick would fit well into the Packers offensive schemes and LaFleur innovative offensive mind could bode well for a play-making tight end prospect.
The Packers should draft a defensive player instead
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If for whatever reason a player like Ed Oliver is still on the board when Green Bay is called, it should be an easy decision to take him. The Packers are not desperate for a tight end and could even find one later in the draft and a game-changing defensive player could be significantly more valuable for the team going forward.
Oliver would be a fantastic addition to a renovated Green Bay defense considering his size and freakish speed off the line. The Packers may be looking at a tight end to give the offense a big boost, but a defensive player with a skill set like Ed Oliver should be impossible for them to pass on if he falls to them.
The Packers often don't utilize the tight end position
Why use that high of a draft pick on a position that won't be that big of a part of the offense? The Packers have gone after some big name free agent tight ends like Martellus Bennett and Jimmy Graham. The big problem is they don't involve these players in the offense very often, and using a high draft pick on a player that will be underutilized seems unnecessary.
Although drafting a player like Hockenson or Fant should mean the team will change their ways and finally use their tight end in the passing game, teaching an old dog new tricks is often rather difficult. A new head coach could bring forth a new approach to the offense, but the pick is not a dire one with a top tight end already on the roster.
