Packers jump into free agency fray, agree with TE Jared Cook

After a lot of considering, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has decided to sign a free agent.

Tight end Jared Cook, who spent the past three seasons with the St. Louis Rams, flew to Green Bay on Sunday to take a physical and sign a contract on Monday. The Packers and Cook agreed to a deal, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported.

The move is most interesting because the Packers are famously the least active NFL team in free agency. Thompson believes in building through the draft and retaining his own players, and follows through on that plan in an extreme way. The Packers rarely sign any notable free agents (Hodkiewicz said this is the first outside veteran free agent the Packers have signed on offense since 2013), though the ones Thompson has signed have worked out pretty well, including cornerback Charles Woodson, defensive end Ryan Pickett and outside linebacker Julius Peppers.

The Packers hope the picky Thompson is right about Cook, too. Cook was disappointing for the Rams the past three years, with 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons. Cook signed a five-year, $35 million deal after showing some promise with the Tennessee Titans early in his career, but never lived up to that deal. The Rams cut Cook this offseason. 

It’s a pretty good fit for both sides through. Cook’s production never matched his contract with the Rams, but he also never had a decent quarterback situation or offensive scheme. That changes dramatically in Green Bay, with two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers, whose pass offense uncharacteristically struggled for most of the second half of last season, haven’t really had a notable tight end since Jermichael Finley had to retire because of a neck injury. Rodgers will be happy to add a new weapon in the passing game. Cook will presumably replace the mostly ineffective Richard Rodgers as the Packers’ starting tight end.

The Packers only sign a free agent when they’re absolutely, positively sure. So it’s probably wise to bet on Cook having a nice revival in a better offense.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab