The Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired tight end Rob Gronkowski in a blockbuster trade with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, which means that O.J. Howard could be on the block for an inquiring team like the Green Bay Packers.
It seems hard to imagine the Buccaneers going into the season with Gronkowski, Howard and Cameron Brate, and given that Howard has more value than Brate (arguably), he is the more likely trade candidate.
It's perfect timing, too, as the NFL Draft begins Thursday, so Tampa Bay could try and swing Howard for a pick.
The Packers seem like a perfect trade partner.
Earlier this offseason, the Packers were in on Austin Hooper, who ultimately signed with the Cleveland Browns. Because Green Bay released Jimmy Graham, the Packers are very thin at the tight end position, and striking out on Hooper was a rather significant blow.
So why not go after Howard?
Because Howard was relatively disappointing in 2019, he probably won't be that expensive. Green Bay might be able to acquire him for a mid-round pick.
The Packers have needed a tight end for quite some time, as Graham did not exactly deliver in his two seasons, and prior to his arrival, none of Green Bay's previous tight ends were anything to write home about.
Outside of Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers doesn't really have any reliable targets to throw to. The Packers tried to nab Emmanuel Sanders, but he chose to join the New Orleans Saints. Yes, they re-signed Allen Lazard, but he is more of a complementary receiver than anything else.
With Rodgers clearly declining and not getting any younger, he needs help now more than ever, and Green Bay has failed to provide him with that help thus far this offseason.
To be fair, the Packers haven't had much cap room to work with, but they also haven't been nearly as active as they should have been in trying to supplement Rodgers with more appropriate talent.
Not that Rodgers has ever really had a great tight end at his disposal, but it would certainly help to have a talented one at this stage of his career.
Howard has all of the tools to become a good tight end on the NFL level. He has good size. He is athletic. He has solid hands. He just hasn't been in the right situation yet, as Jameis Winston wasn't exactly doing him any favors in his first three seasons.
But Rodgers is not Jameis Winston. He is someone who doesn't turn the ball over, and while his accuracy has waned in recent years, he can still thread the needle when he needs to.
It was painfully obvious in their NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers that the Packers are still a couple of pieces away from winning a Super Bowl.
I'm not saying Howard is the be-all-end-all answer, but acquiring him would definitely be a rather key step in bolstering the offense and giving Rodgers more of a chance against stingy defenses.
I would be very surprised if Green Bay doesn't at least kick the tires on Howard this week.
Follow Us
Subscribe