After parting ways with veteran tight end Jimmy Graham this offseason, electing not to sign a tight end in free agency, and waiting until the third round to select tight end/H-back Josiah Deguara, the Green Bay Packers will almost undoubtedly be banking on internal improvement this year to strengthen what has been one of their weaker position groups.
The most likely player to lead that internal improvement and benefit from an increased snap count is second-year tight end Jace Sternberger.
Sternberger, a 2019 third-round pick, barely saw the field last year after spending most of the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury. When he finally returned late in the season, he appeared in only six games, saw the field on just six percent of offensive snaps and failed to record a regular-season catch.
Now that he’s healthy and no longer has to compete with Graham for snaps, however, he should have a much bigger role going forward.
Why he’ll break out
- Sternberger will be catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. There really aren’t many better situations for a pass-catching tight end to be in.
- Aaron Rodgers doesn’t yet have a consistent No. 2 or No. 3 option in the passing game. Besides wide receiver Davante Adams, Rodgers doesn’t really have a target that he consistently looks for. Sternberger could step up and become one of those preferred targets.
- The threat of Adams and the extra attention he draws could help Sternberger uncover more easily.
- The Packers’ run-based offense should involve a lot of tight end usage. If Sternberger proves to be an adequate blocker, he could play on the majority of offensive snaps. If he plays on the majority of offensive snaps, he’ll have plenty of chances to make plays in the passing game, especially if the Packers can get their play-action game rolling.
Why he might not break out
- Sternberger missed most of the 2019 NFL season, and he still has very little game experience. It could take most of the upcoming season to build a strong rapport with Rodgers. It might also take some time for him to adjust to playing against NFL starters.
- Another tight end could emerge and steal a significant portion of his snaps. Robert Tonyan seems like the only real threat to Sternberger’s role as the primary receiving tight end, as he is the most physically gifted tight end on the Packers roster. If Tonyan finally turns his talent into regular-season production, he could really cut into Sternberger’s playing time.
- Since the Packers are aiming to be a run-based offense, they might prefer to put their best run-blocking tight ends on the field for a majority of snaps. If Sternberger is not one of those, he might be forced to sit on the sideline more often than anticipated.
Previous 2020 Packers breakout candidates: