The Green Bay Packers currently don’t have plans to move breakout wide receiver Allen Lazard to tight end in 2020.
According to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed he isn’t expecting for Lazard, who was second on the team in receiving yards in 2019, to transition to tight end, despite having a big enough frame and the blocking ability to try it.
Lazard actually cut weight and showed up at training camp lighter and faster in 2019. He had a strong summer, eventually forced his way onto the 53-man roster and played in all 18 games. With the Packers desperate for production from a No. 2 receiver, Lazard stepped up and caught 35 passes for 477 yards and three touchdowns, including important late touchdowns in each comeback win over the Detroit Lions.
Lazard stands 6-5 and is listed on the Packers’ roster at 227 pounds. He is probably capable of adding 15-20 more pounds to his frame, and given how impressive he was as a blocker during the 2019 season, there’s a case to be made for bulking him up and moving him to tight end. The change could accentuate all his best traits while covering up some of the speed and explosiveness deficiencies that held him back early in his NFL career. But he’s also coming off a breakout season as a receiver, Aaron Rodgers praised his development on the outside all year and the Packers likely want to exhaust every opportunity for him to make it on the perimeter before attempting to move him to tight end.
The Packers have needs at both receiver and tight end. Gutekunst is expecting to add help at receiver, which could ease the pressure on Lazard to produce as the secondary option behind No. 1 target Davante Adams. If the Packers add a speed threat and a go-to option in the slot, Lazard could have a more strictly defined role as a No. 3 or 4 receiver.
Shelf the idea of Lazard moving to tight end for now, but it could still be a possibility down the road if the Packers become comfortable at receiver and Lazard keeps proving himself in areas conducive to playing tight end.
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