The list of tight ends to play into their late 30's is short, but a few have joined Marcedes Lewis in logging an age-38 season. Antonio Gates, Jason Witten and Hall of Famer Jackie Smith did so. Only Ben Watson has voyaged into an age-39 campaign.
Lewis is attempting to join Watson and also aiming to set a tight end record in the process. While Watson played until age 39, he suited up in 16 seasons. Lewis, Witten and Tony Gonzalez are the only two to reach 17. Lewis will attempt to wade into uncharted waters by playing an 18th. The former Jacksonville Jaguars and Green Bay Packers tight end is not planning to retire and said conversations with multiple teams have occurred this offseason.
“I get the business side of it. My agent is in talks with a handful of teams, but it’s just small talk,” Lewis said, via The Associated Press’ Mark Long. “I guess teams are trying to figure out their rosters and what they need.”
The Packers carried Lewis on their roster for the past four seasons, utilizing the 270-pound tight end’s blocking prowess. Green Bay has since moved on from some of its veterans and the team used a pair of Day 2 picks at the position (second-rounder Luke Musgrave, third-rounder Tucker Kraft). The Pack also let Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb walk in free agency, being content to outfit Jordan Love with a full complement of rookie-contract players in the quarterback's first year as a starter. Lewis, who turned 39 this offseason, may not be entirely out of the picture for a Green Bay return. But multiple reports earlier this year indicated the team is unlikely to make another contract offer.
The obvious team for the former Jags first-rounder would be the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers is believed to have placed the four-year Packer on his Jets wish list. Considering the team’s additions of Cobb, Lazard and Billy Turner, it would not surprise if Lewis became another ex-Nathaniel Hackett Green Bay charge heading to the Big Apple. Jets head coach Robert Saleh did not shut this possibility down when asked about the prospect recently, though the Jets do employ veterans Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah along with 2022 third-rounder Jeremy Ruckert and seventh-round rookie Zack Kuntz.
A Las Vegas Raiders agreement also came up on Lewis’ radar, per Long, but the team’s trade-up move for Michael Mayer at No. 35 in the draft may scuttle that. Las Vegas also added Austin Hooper and O.J. Howard this offseason. Lewis would be eager to mentor a tight end prospect, but a deal would likely come together closer to training camp or during preseason workouts — as teams assess their various position groups to determine needs.
“For older players, there’s two things where they could potentially not get picked up,” Lewis said. “One is that their play is declining for their role. The second thing is they’re asking for too much money. I’m neither of those. I just want to compete.”
Lewis, who signed three Packers contracts from 2019-22, played out a two-year deal worth $5.92M last season. Working as the Pack’s primary blocking tight end, he started 17 games — only Gonzalez (254) and Witten (252) top Lewis’ 221 starts among tight ends — and played 451 offensive snaps. Lewis, who has missed one game over the past six seasons, played between 400 and 500 snaps in each of his four Green Bay runs. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot-6 veteran as the fifth-best run-blocking tight end in 2022.
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