The Green Bay Packers have a variety of holes that they need to fill at the skill positions on offense. One of these is at tight end. Robert Tonyan has already signed with the Chicago Bears and Marcedes Lewis remains unsigned. One would have to assume that if the Packers and Lewis had mutual interest, a deal would have been done already. As it stands, it is fair to suggest that he will not be back, leaving Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis as Green Bay’s lone tight ends. While they will almost certainly look to the draft, it would be wise for the team to also explore free agent tight ends.
The problem with this, of course, is that the Packers do not have a lot of salary cap space to sign a premier tight end. For this reason, Bleacher Report‘s David Kenyon suggested that they explore signing former Atlanta Falcons tight end MyCole Pruitt in free agency.
MyCole Pruitt Would Take Marcedes Lewis’ Place on the Green Bay Packers
MyCole Pruitt is certainly not the biggest name on the free agent market, but he could be just the player that Packers are looking for in a veteran to replace the esteemed Marcedes Lewis. Like Mad Dog, Pruitt is not much of a receiving threat, though he does have seven touchdown receptions in the last two seasons. Instead, Pruitt is a solid blocking tight end who would help protect new starting quarterback Jordan Love and open up gaps for running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Of Pruitt’s fit with the Packers, Kenyon writes:
“Green Bay is committed to the running game, and that desire is likely only stronger with the transition to Jordan Love at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers’ looming departure means Marcedes Lewis is expected to leave, though. The free agent has been a critical blocker at tight end for the Packers. MyCole Pruitt isn’t a major receiving threat but has seven touchdown catches over the last two seasons and a solid reputation as a blocker.”
Even with the addition of Pruitt, the Packers would still need to add a better receiver at the tight end position. This may be addressed in the NFL draft as the tight end class is fairly deep. In any case, Pruitt would be an affordable veteran option the Packers could sign to a short-term contract that would not eat much salary cap. This would give younger players time to develop and save the team from having to kick the proverbial can down the road on other contracts in order to afford a bigger-named free agent.
MyCole Pruitt’s NFL Career
It is worth noting, too, that Pruitt spent the first two seasons of his career in the NFC North. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was released in his second season and signed by the Chicago Bears.
After his two seasons in the NFC North, Pruitt played for the Houston Texans in 2017, though he played in just one game due to injury. This was followed by a four-year stint with the Tennessee Titans and then a single season in Atlanta.
Thus far in his career, Pruitt has accumulated 62 receptions for 638 yards and 11 touchdowns. Most of that production has come in the last two seasons (30 receptions for 295 yards and seven touchdowns).
How Does MyCole Pruitt Compare to Marcedes Lewis?
At six foot two and 245 pounds, Pruitt is much smaller than Lewis, who is six foot six and 267 pounds. That being said, Pruitt was fifth highest graded tight end in the NFL last year by PFF. He had an overall grade of 75.9 with a receiving grade of 80.9. Pruitt received a pass blocking grade of 75.8 and a run blocking grade of 62.2.
Comparatively, Lewis was the 25th highest graded tight end last year by PFF with an overall grade of 65.6. He had a receiving grade of 51.9, a pass blocking grade of 72.9, and a run blocking grade of 66.6.
As seen in these numbers, Pruitt is the better pass catcher and pass blocker. These two skills will be vitally important for anyone the Packers sign as they transition to Jordan Love.
It may be a while until the Packers make any kind of move, but this one just makes sense.
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