Former WKU TE Mitchell Henry Signs with Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis.–

The Green Bay Packers were in need of only three positions heavily before last week’s NFL Draft: inside linebacker, cornerback, and tight end. Tight end was not as heavily needed with second year tight end Richard Rodgers  along with veteran Andrew Quarless returning, but with Justin Perillo as the next guy up, you knew the Packers were going to want to expand their tight end depth chart.

The Packers waited until their final pick, 213th overall, to select a tight end. The Packers snagged up Kennard Backman from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

That didn’t mean there wasn’t another guy on the Packers’ radar, though. Right as the draft came to a close, former Western  Kentucky University tight end and undrafted free agent Mitchell Henry knew before anybody else: he as a Packer.

“I knew it was going to be between Green Bay and Denver. I liked both teams, I liked both places,” Henry told me on Monday, “Denver drafted that guy out of Ohio State in the third round so I kind of felt like Green Bay needed more tight ends than Denver.”

“I loved everything about the community and I really needed a signing spot where I could compete for a job.”

Henry, a 6’4”, 240 pound player provides a big body when needed to block, but becomes his largest threat in the receiving game. Now that he’s signed with the Packers, he’s going to be catching passes from two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

“I’m really excited. That’s what my friends and family and people I’ve been talking to are talking about. They’re all saying ‘You get to go catch passes from Aaron Rodgers.’ It’s a really cool opportunity and I’m really excited.”

Although he only had just over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in his four-year career, Henry still has a legitimate chance of making the roster. With only Perillo, Rodgers, Quarless, Backman, and now Henry on their roster, the Packers will likely keep three or four tight ends on their roster with the possibility of one on the practice squad.

Whichever way it goes, you know he undrafted rookie is going to put full effort into everything he does, beginning with rookie camp, which opens on Thursday. In the first week of June, Offseason Training Activities begin for one week before Henry will return home to Kentucky for the final time before training camp, which begins in July.

 

~Alex Strouf (@LetsGoAlex)