The man who entered the season as the Jacksonville Jaguars longest tenured veteran has found a new team to play for in 2018. According to multiple sources, Marcedes Lewis officially inked a deal with the Green Bay Packers Thursday and will be joining the league’s potential MVP of 2018, Aaron Rodgers.
Lewis, 34, spent 12 seasons with the Jags so it goes without saying it will be odd seeing him in another uniform. He was drafted by the franchise in the 2006 NFL draft out of UCLA and was even named to the Pro Bowl once in 2010. He’ll enter his tenure with the Packers with a total of 375 receptions for 4,502 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns.
He’ll join a tight end corps that consists of Jimmy Graham and Lance Kendricks atop the depth chart, who signed with the team in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The Jaguars like to run the ball, and Lewis’ blocking has been a big help there during his 12 seasons in Jacksonville. At 6-6, 267 pounds, Lewis is roughly as big as former Packers free-agent acquisition Martellus Bennett, who was one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the NFL.
The Jaguars regarded Lewis highly enough to exercise a one-year, $3.5 million option on Feb. 20. However, after signing Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Niles Paul in free agency, they released Lewis on March 20.
He told The Associated Press he felt "disrespected" by the Jaguars, who waited until a week after free agency began to make the move.
He is third on the team's all-time receptions and receiving yardage list behind receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.
The Packers' only other returning tight end with game experience is Emanuel Byrd, who caught two passes in last year's regular-season finale after he was signed off the practice squad. The team did not select a tight end with any of its 11 draft picks.
