Brandon Bostick could very well be the Packers' future at tight end given the likelihood that Jermichael Finley will not return to the team next season. Finley suffered a herniated disc in his neck and is recovering from single-level fusion surgery, according to a report.
The Packers also have Andrew Quarless and Ryan Taylor to fill the void Finley has left, but neither of them has the Finley-like athletic qualities that Bostick does. The 6-3, 255-pound tight end ran faster and jumped higher than Finley coming out of college and has people pondering the limits of his ability.
"I think there's a lot of potential there," receiver James Jones said. "No. 1, he's extremely fast for his position. He has great hands and if he can just get it in his mind that nobody can stop him, and go out there and play the way he plays at practice, he's going to become a great player because he has all the tools."
Bostick has just four catches for 68 yards this season, but his recent contribution has the coaches contemplating how good he can be. At Newberry, he was a dominant receiver and even played one year of basketball. But it took him a year of being on the practice squad and improved special teams play to get him where he is now.
"He has a lot of potential," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said. "He's gotten better. He has a lot of physical tools to work with. He's doing well; he can do better."
But to get on the field more, Bostick has to block better. It has been the pebble in his shoe since making the switch to tight end, and while he has made a lot of gains, it was obvious against the Giants that when a blocker was needed Quarless or Taylor was called upon.
"He's made the most of his opportunities," tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said. "That's a positive. We still have some things we'd like to clean up and improve, but he's definitely taking a step in the right direction."
It's doubtful that Bostick suddenly becomes startable this year in redraft leagues, but dynasty/keeper owners should take note. It's very unlikely that Finley will be back at 2014, so the Packers have a large hole at TE.
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