Packers 2016 Recap: TE Jared Cook
2016 Stats
- 30 receptions, 377 yards, 1 TD
- Pro Football Focus: 79.0/100 (11th out of 63)
Expectations going into the season: Moderate
Expectations were: Met
Analysis: Jared Cook is as good as we could have hoped for Jared Cook to be
As we wrote leading into the NFC Championship, Jared Cook was basically exactly the player the Packers hoped he would be. In 13 games (including playoffs), Cook caught 42 passes for 551 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Packers an athletic, field stretching tight end that opened up options for other receivers.
His performance down the stretch showed the Packers exactly what they were missing during his six game absence due to injury. Cook’s size, speed, and relatively dependable hands provided a matchup problem for defenses, and he probably earned himself a contract extension with his sideline tapping catch against the Cowboys alone.
Cook’s limitations were evident at times this year. He’s not a great blocker, he can be a little stiff at times, and his reputation for untimely drops is well earned. But given how rare his physical gifts are, Cook’s drawbacks don’t outweigh his strengths, and his 2016 was a success as a result.