Cheese Curds, 3/28: Tight end position less of a need now for Packers

The big news of this Monday morning is of course the Green Bay Packers signing a free agent. Not only are they doing so, but it is a player at a position of need. Tight end Jared Cook is no superstar, but he brings athletic ability to the position that the Packers have not had in a long, long time. If he comes cheap (as expected) and can figure out how to reduce his drops (less of a sure thing), he could end up being an excellent bargain.

Today's Cheese Curds were a bit tight-end focused already, with one piece looking at how to address the lack of receiving threats at the position by adjusting the wide receiver corps. That may still be a valuable strategy in 2016, though it will be less critical than it was on Sunday night. The same goes for bolstering the tight end unit through the draft, though our bet is that the Packers still take one in the middle rounds. We find a look at one possible candidate this morning.

Finally, let's all take a moment to be grateful that the Packers are not one of the several teams vying to move up for the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, which begins exactly 31 days from today. April 28th cannot come quickly enough for many of us, but at least we now know that Ted Thompson has not been sleeping on the job during the entire free agency periodl

Packers may need ways to get Tretter on field | Packersnews.com
The Packers' "sixth man" on the offensive line, JC Tretter has certainly showed that he has earned more playing time with his admirable jobs filling in at both center and left tackle in 2015.

Wide receivers could help Packers' tight end problem | JSOnline.com
Mike McCarthy mentioned at the Scouting Combine that you can attack the deep middle of the field with receivers as well as tight ends, so it's possible that they do not need that athletic, seam-attacker from the tight end position. Then again, it appears that they're getting it anyway in Jared Cook.

Prospect Primer: TE Beau Sandland, Montana State | Packers.com
Sandland was a Miami Hurricane for a time, then landed at Montana State where he was one of the top tight ends in the FCS.

Former John Crockett blocker next NDSU product on NFL's doorstep | 247sports.com
Joe Haeg blocked for both Crockett and top QB prospect Carson Wentz, and he could be an intriguing mid-round option for the Packers.

Matt Forte surprised Bears went after C.J. Anderson - NFL.com
It was clear that Forte was not crazy about the Bears letting him go in free agency without a contract offer, and that feeling was exacerbated when the Bears were reported to have pursued another free agent runner.

NFL Draft: Eagles rumored to be one of four teams in play to trade up to No. 1 overall pick - Bleeding Green Nation
The Browns, 49ers, and Rams are the other three, and any of them could be in the running to move up to #1 for Jared Goff or Carson Wentz.