Green Bay Packers sign third round pick Richard Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers have signed one of their third round picks in tight end Richard Rodgers from Cal.  One of a pair of third round picks that were a little surprising to go as high as they did, Rodgers is a tight end in a similar vein as Jermichael Finley in that they are more geared to play in the slot and win with athleticism as receiving threats as opposed to inline blockers.  Rodgers is one of a pair of notable moves the Packers made to address the tight end spot.

Rodgers was one of four total weapons the Packers drafted for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to try to keep him with a ton of options to throw the ball.  In the opinion of some, Rodgers was a slight reach, but makes sense for what the Packers have wanted from the position.

The situation was made more intriguing by the signing of talented but troubled undrafted free agent tight end, Colt Lyerla from Oregon.  Lyerla, by most accounts, had first round talents but a number of off field issues caused him to go undrafted.  If he can stay out of trouble, Rodgers may have trouble beating him out on the depth chart for the Packers but both are players that could conceivably make plays for the Packers in space in the slot for the Packers.