Third Round Pick 2019, Jace Sternberger, TE

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Round 3, No. 75 overall: Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M

Demovsky: http://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-p...for-every-pick

My take: Finally, someone who actually touches the football. After two defensive players on Day 1 and an offensive lineman in the second round, GM Brian Gutekunst took an offensive skill position player. And it was at their greatest position of need in that regard. They couldn’t get the top tight end, T.J. Hockenson (who went eighth to the Lions), and passed on his Iowa teammate Noah Fant. They also passed on Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. in the second round and saw two more tight ends, Washington’s Drew Sample and San Jose State’s Josh Oliver, go before the Packers came around again in the third round. “Yeah, it was important to us, if we could do it, no doubt,” co-director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said about finding a tight end early in the draft. “Brian has addressed this with you guys, we always try to take the best player available. That's just philosophically what we believe in, and he was the best player available for us at this time. It worked out, and it was a position we valued. We needed to get a young guy in the mix, and we did.” Sullivan said Sternberger won’t need to be an immediate starter; that job still belongs to veteran Jimmy Graham. But there will be opportunities for the 6-foot-4, 251-pounder to help stretch the field. “There’s a reason I left early -- because I felt like I was the best tight end in this draft class,” Sternberger said. “So I have a lot of work to prove out for me, but I’ve always been in a situation where I want to take challenges head-on and that’s what I plan to do here, and just prove to Green Bay they made the right pick.” Despite a relatively pedestrian 40 time of 4.75 at the combine, Sternberger averaged 17.3 yards per catch in his only season at Texas A&M, which followed two years at Kansas and a junior college season. “I don’t think there’s pressure for him to come in here and be Superman,” Sullivan said. “We can throw him in that room and let him go. But we definitely think he has that skill set if needed.”

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CBS https://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ce-sternberger
Sternberger, Jace, TE, Texas A&M

Ran a 4.75 40 at the combine but looks fast on tape. Is an effortless, crisp route runner, who snatches ball out of air in tight areas and excels at yards after the catch. Needs to get stronger as a blocker -- he's willing but needs work. Only has one year of production but is a reliable middle-of-the-field security blanket who regularly wins one-on-one matchups. . -- RW


ESPN http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/rounds
TE, Jace Sternberger

6'4", 251 lbs
Texas A&M

4 POS RK
71 OVR RK
77 GRADE

Pre-Draft Analysis
Sternberger looks like a bulked-up receiver, and though he has experience playing in-line, he's at his best in the slot. He shows some craftiness as a route runner. He's a reliable pass-catcher and makes plays in traffic. He's a below-average blocker, but he's tough, and he competes.

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NFL https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jace-s...8-bfa1754fcc8f

HIs comparison on this site was Jacob Tamme. Woof.

Overview
Despite his experience in-line and willingness to block in Jimbo Fisher's offense, he has neither the size nor strength to handle those duties as a pro. Sternberger is athletic with above-average ball skills, catch radius and route breaks that help him undercover on the second and third level. His paychecks will be tied to his pass-catching so he'll need to play stronger through route contact and with better focus when contested. He has eventual starter potential as a move tight-end who can function as a big WR3/4 from the slot.

Strengths
Talented route-runner with no wasted steps
Maintains pressure with good route speed
Sets off-man coverage up before accelerating past
Excellent hand-eye for smooth grabs on the run without breaking stride
Runs his routes like a big receiver
Keeps the same energy in and out of breaks
Slick outside-in breaks to cross-face coverage
Above-average hands
Plus in-air adjustments and grab radius
Athleticism and route savvy could create matchup issues
Runs with vision after the catch
Able to be shuffled around the field with various groupings

Weaknesses
Slightly undersized
Run blocking isn't where it needs to be
Gets caved into the run lane by edge strength
Initial block engagement lacks necessary leverage
Allows backside leakage due poor angles
Needs longer sustain as blocker in space
Route bullies throw his timing and focus off
Inconsistent finishing catches through contact
Can improve body positioning to protect catch space

Sources Tell Us
"You wish he was a little bit faster but he makes up for it with his routes. You feed him, get him stronger and you'll have an NFL starter who gets you 50 to 60 catches a year." -- AFC tight ends coach

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Looks like Andy Dalton's kid brother.

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[HarveyWallbangers]

Not that it matters, but I was talking to a random A&M fan as GB was drafting him. The dude thinks we got a steal.

[mraynrand]

Good routes, good hands.

[Joemailman]

Jace Sternberger
Tight end
SCHOOL: TEXAS A&M | CONFERENCE: SEC
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-4.0 / 251 | 40: 4.75 | DRAFT YR:2019
Rankings
GRADE
3.74
PROJECTED ROUND
3rd
Pos:
Well-traveled tight end who watched his game take off last season. Smooth, quickly releases off the line of scrimmage into pass routes and immediately gets to top speed. Gets vertical, contorts in midair and comes away with the difficult reception. Nicely makes the catch with his hands away from his frame and consistently comes away with the difficult grab. Runs solid routes for a big tight end, quickly gets into breaks and stays low on exit. Fires off the snap into blocks, stays square and turns defenders from the action. Displays outstanding awareness.
Neg:
Does not display great playing speed and won’t consistently stretch the seam down the field. Must improve his overall strength as a blocker. Has a thin body of work at the college level.
Analysis:
Sternberger looks the part and really played to it in 2018, when he came out of nowhere to become one of the better tight-end prospects in this year’s draft. He needs to complete his game but is a terrific pass catcher who could eventually develop into a starter at the next level.

[George Cumby]

Good routes, good hands.

Good pick, then?

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Good routes, good hands.

White Dick Rod.

[RashanGary]

Jon-Eric Sullivan had this guy. He’s gutes right hand man. Jon-Eric and Gute both hinted that they had him in the top tier of TEs. Jon-Eric said Jaces body developed late. Said he gained weight even during the season last year and kept it going into the combine. So they believe they’re getting a guy who will still get bigger faster stronger.

He has just enough speed to be fast enough but because of his feel and route savvy he plays faster than he times. Still times good enough to be good. He has excellent hands and feel for the passing game. He’s getting better and better as a blocker.

Sounds like a pick who has higher upside than the combine line will show. Both because he’s skilled beyond athletic testing and because his body is still developing.

Kenny Clark was another one who ended up being more physical than his combine line read. Sometimes these scouts are projecting beyond that, into what a guys full potential is.

Listening to gute and his guys, they think this guy is just scratching the surface.