Is Richard Rodgers the Future at Tight End for Packers?

Though the Green Bay Packers drafted tight end Richard Rodgers No. 98 overall in the 2014 NFL draft, they will likely take another look at the position in 2015, a class that boasts a talented and fairly deep tight end group. 

But how the Packers feel about Rodgers' future potential and chances to start in 2015 will determine whether they're taking another tight end in the mid-rounds for depth or prioritizing the position early.

Could Rodgers be the future at tight end for the Packers? At this point in time, certainly. 

After a rookie season that started off slow and then rose—sharply—after the Week 9 bye, Rodgers' potential has become clear. When the Packers first selected him in the third round last May, some thought it was a reach. But CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco saw his potential, giving the pick a B grade. 

"The Packers needed to get help at tight end," Prisco wrote, "so they take one who can get down the field. He's a former receiver, which is the type of tight end they like."

In his postseason re-evaluation of his draft grades, ESPN's Mel Kiper raised his grade for the Packers from a B to an A-. Part of the reason for that was due to the development of Rodgers, who "looks to have a bright future," Kiper wrote. 

	Snaps	Receptions	Yards	TDs
Week 1-Week 8	214	7	111	0
Week 10-Week 17	277	13	114	2
Postseason	52	5	48	1

Rodgers' season was truly a tale of two halves. In Week 1 through Week 8, he started four games but had just seven catches for 111 yards and zero touchdowns. Per Pro Football Focus, he played 214 snaps in that span. 

After the Week 9 bye, however, Rodgers played 277 snaps in the Packers' remaining eight games and totaled 114 yards over 13 receptions for two touchdowns.

However, his real improvement in the second half of the season came in his blocking, which could be the only aspect of his game that could keep him from developing into a complete tight end and long-term starter. 

Though Rodgers' pass-blocking was above average last season, his run blocking needed improvement.

In Week 3 against the Detroit Lions, Rodgers' and T.J. Lang's crucial missed blocks led to a Lions safety that gave Detroit a 9-7 lead in the second quarter—a lead they never relinquished as the Packers went on to lose, 19-7. 

In Weeks 1 to 8, Rodgers was the sixth-worst tight end in the league in run blocking and the 19th-worst in pass blocking among the 63 tight ends who played at least 25 percent of snaps in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. In Weeks 10 to 17, however, he had improved to 48th among tight ends in run blocking and 20th in pass blocking. 

If that blocking can keep improving, Rodgers could be a dangerously complete weapon for Green Bay. After the tight end caught a 13-yard touchdown pass in the divisional round against the Dallas Cowboys, Aaron Rodgers had some high praise for him.

"He's got incredible hands; I dare say the best hands on the team," Aaron Rodgers said, via Robert Zizzo of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "He went through a stretch in training camp where he didn't drop a pass. Yeah, he's an exceptional player with great potential for us."

This is a team featuring Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, so his opinion on which of his targets has the best hands is not to be taken lightly. 

Indeed, prior to the draft last offseason, analysts like CBS Sports' Rob Rang were impressed with Rodgers' "soft hands," which have proven to be an even greater asset at the pro level. 

Draft analysts were also impressed with Rodgers' ability to change his body to suit his offensive scheme.

"Showed dedication and discipline re-shaping his body as a junior," NFL.com's Nolan Nawrocki noted in Rodgers' draft profile. Rodgers dropped 30 pounds from 275 to become an inside receiver in Sonny Dykes' scheme at California and appeared to be invested in becoming even more lean and, therefore, a better pass-catcher at the pro level.

"Throughout the year, it seems to be he's leaning out actually and becoming maybe a tad lighter," Aaron Rodgers said at the end of the season, per Zizzo. "It looks to be him putting himself in position to be maybe more of a pass-catching threat, and he's made some big catches for us over the year."

The big question surrounding Rodgers' selection in the third round by Green Bay was whether or not he could develop into a legitimate pass-catching weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Given the quarterback's high praise of Rodgers' development toward the end of the season, that seems to be a given. 

Deep Passing Targets	Deep Passing Receptions	Deep Passing Drops	Deep Passing Yards	Deep Passing TDs
3	3	0	97	1

Rodgers' efficiency on deep targets was also a glimmer of something promising to come in his future. Per Pro Football Focus, Rodgers was the most efficient tight end in the league in 2014 in deep passes, catching all three of his targets of 20-plus yards for 97 total yards and a touchdown. 

While that's not a huge sample size, more opportunities in 2015 will give Rodgers an opportunity to prove that he's a reliable downfield threat. 

Though Rodgers and Andrew Quarless each had key moments this season, the Packers were clearly missing the production and physical talents of Jermichael Finley in 2014. At 6'4" and 257 pounds, Rodgers is a close match physically to Finley and has the potential to follow in his footsteps of being a legitimate pass-catching weapon without incredible speed. 

As long as Rodgers can keep coming away with contested catches and improving his blocking skills, Aaron Rodgers can keep looking to him as his go-to tight end.