Martellus Bennett is the most underrated pickup of the NFL offseason

The Green Bay Packers already had an explosive, dynamic offense. The addition of Martellus Bennett makes them even more fearsome…

The Green Bay Packers don’t often make a splash on the free agent market. That’s probably why the addition of Martellus Bennett at tight end didn’t really generate a lot of publicity over the course of the offseason.

Offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett has to be thrilled with the weaponry he currently has at his disposal, starting with probably the most talented quarterback in the NFL today in Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers, of course, makes everyone around him better. We’ve seen Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb develop into elite weapons in the passing game, but the Packers have lacked at the tight end position since Jermichael Finley’s career was prematurely cut short due to injuries.

Martellus Bennet is 30 years old, but he’s still one of the best in the game at his position, as he proved last year with the New England Patriots. He caught a career-high seven touchdown passes while filling in for the injured Rob Gronkowski as the Patriots’ number one tight end.

In Green Bay, I think Bennett will shatter that mark.

Davante Adams is no slouch, but if he can catch 12 touchdown passes with Rodgers throwing the ball, I can only imagine what Bennett is capable of doing.

Last year, the Packers split their targets to the tight ends on the team 51-47 (Jared Cook and Richard Rodgers), and Cook is now with the Oakland Raiders. Bennett is far and away better than either of those players, and my guess is he will command at least 70-80 targets this season.

Bennett has averaged about 75 targets over the past two seasons, and has obviously been very productive. Last season, he had three games with over 100 yards. He had only had two of those in his entire career leading up to that.

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Playing with a top flight quarterback matters for a tight end, and Bennett is entering the perfect situation at the perfect point in his career. He’s working hard to develop chemistry with Rodgers this offseason:

"“I’m always talking to him on the field, too, trying to see what he wants,” Bennett said. “(I’ll say), ‘Hey, how did that look?’ or he’ll give me the thumbs up. Or if I’m in another group, I always look back at him, ‘Hey, is that what you want? Is there something different you want on this?’ Always trying to figure out, just trying to have those conversations on and off the field, trying to get know each other as players, and as people.”Martellus Bennett, Wisconsin State Journal"

There are many reasons why Bennett is a star player in this league. His ability to quickly earn Aaron Rodgers’ trust will prove to be detrimental to the hopes of anyone that stands in the way of the Packers this season.