Marcedes

Lewis

Lewis will join a crowded tight end room that also includes Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. A first-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2006, Lewis is about as much of a veteran presence as a team can get. He’s caught just 10 passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns over the last two seasons and won’t be asked to do much outside of serving as added depth on a roster. From a mentorship standpoint, Lewis will have plenty to offer the young Bears, who are ushering in a new era under No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

One of the few Aaron Rodgers favorites not to land with the Jets this offseason, Lewis, 39, will head for Chicago after five seasons with the Packers. Known for his blocking ability, Lewis has 39 receptions over his past three seasons. He’ll join Cole Kmet and former Green Bay teammate Robert Tonyan on Chicago’s tight end depth chart.

Lewis, who turned 39 last month, expects to sign closer to the preseason. Reuniting with QB Aaron Rodgers and ex-Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett in New York remains the top landing spot after Lewis started all 17 games for Green Bay last year. The Raiders have also been linked to the veteran tight end this offseason.

It’s unclear how many former Packers need to be on the Jets’ roster before he accepts a trade to New York, but the answer is seemingly more than one. A previous report has the Jets actively trying to sign Lazard while another pegged New York as one of two potential landing spots for Lewis. Odell Beckham, on the other hand, could turn out to be a serviceable second receiver for them. Rodgers is making full use of his leverage in this situation, forcing the Jets GM Joe Douglas to bend the knee if he wants to land the four-time MVP. Given how desperate the Jets must be to replace Zach Wilson, it looks like Douglas will be meeting at least some of Rodgers’ demands as the two sides barrel toward a trade agreement.

Blink twice if you are interested in Aaron Rodgers. With Rodgers in “much to think about” mode for the past two weeks, the Jets continue to send smoke signals they will do whatever it takes to secure his services. Lewis has spent the past five seasons blocking and occasionally catching passes from Rodgers in Green Bay. He is almost 39 years old. You only make this move for one reason: You desperately, desperately want AR12.

Lewis is almost exclusively a blocker at this point in his career, though he showed off some of the pass-catching chops that got him drafted in the first round over a decade ago. He nabbed his second touchdown of the year plus a 31-yard dime down the sideline. The ball appeared to move as he went to the ground, but the catch ultimately stood. Lewis isn’t a usable fantasy option, but he does offer the Packers some utility on offense.

Releasing Lewis would save $2.5 million in cap space. With Packers OC Nathanial Hackett and TE coach Justin Outten gone, it’s doubtful Lewis is back under a new staff. Lewis, 37, started all 17 games for the Packers last year and should have free agent interest if he doesn’t retire.

He fumbled after making the catch. Lewis finished the year as Green Bay’s No. 1 TE by snap count after Robert Tonyan’s torn ACL, but was predictably a blocker rather than a receiver. Under contract for 2022 at a $4.5 million cap number, cutting Lewis would save the Packers $2.4 million against the cap. Lewis will turn 38 in May and literally hasn’t been fantasy relevant for 10 years at this point. He’s a marvel.

It’s a significant development since the Packers were already short Robert Tonyan (torn ACL) on injured reserve. If Lewis is unable to get cleared after the league announces its new five-day quarantine protocols, hybrid FB/TE Josiah Deguara would take on a larger role in Week 17 by default.

Lewis led the Packers’ tight ends in targets, catches, and yardage, showing off some shockingly nimble feet and elusiveness on a couple grabs. Lewis could be a desperation tight end option in deeper formats in Week 16 against the Browns.