Jared Cook UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson says they always do their free agency home work. Unfortunately for Packers fans, it hasn’t always led to signing players from outside the organization too often.
But according to a USA Today report, the Packers have agreed to a free agent deal with tight end Jared Cook and signed the deal a short time ago. According to the report, the Packers originally offered Cook a two-year deal. The two sides agreed on a one year deal worth up to $3.65 million with incentives.
The 28-year-old Cook gives the Packers a deep threat that was missing from the passing game during the last season. He was clocked at 4.51 seconds coming out of college.
At the NFL owners meetings last week, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said current rules open up the middle of the field and offenses need to take advantage. Cook should give the Packers the avenue to do that.
Cook spent his entire career to date under head coach Jeff Fisher. He was originally a third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans under Fisher, then signed a five-year, $35-million free agent deal with the Rams in 2013 after Fisher became the head coach there.
Cook’s best season came in 2011 when he caught 49 passes for 759 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers are looking for Cook to complement current starter Richard Rodgers.
Rodgers caught 58 passes for 510 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but speed and stretching the field is not a strength of his. While Rodgers averaged 8.8 yards per catch, Cook averaged 15.5 yards a catch in 2011 and at least 11.9 yards per reception in six of his seven seasons in the N-F-L.
The addition of Cook could mean the end of the line for veteran Andrew Quarless in Green Bay. The unrestricted free agent is coming off the least productive year of his career.