Morning Buzz: Packers poised to shut down the run

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with my look at the tight end position as our positional preview series rolls on.

When it comes to the tight end position, the Green Bay Packers have to be hoping the third time is the charm.

General manager Brian Gutekunst went shopping for the position in free agency this spring, striking a big-time deal with former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham early and then bringing in former Jacksonville Jaguar Marcedes Lewis late.

This approach followed the path of Gutekunst’s predecessor and mentor Ted Thompson, who dove into free-agency waters last offseason when he signed Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. The year before that, Thompson used free agency to bring in Jared Cook.

Thompson’s decision to draw a hard line in negotiations with Cook and bring in Bennett blew up in his face with the now well-documented meltdown between Bennett and the team. The veteran tight end was a shell of the player who had performed so well with the New England Patriots the season before, dropping passes at an alarming rate.

So now the Packers enter training camp looking to build chemistry between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and yet another new group of tight ends. One can only wonder what paying Cook a bit more two summers ago may have done not only for the position but for continuity on the offense.

Rich Ryman writes on a unique request from a shareholder:

Rich also has the latest development around Titletown Tech:

I chatted with readers via Facebook Live on Thursday afternoon:

Elsewhere, Pro Football Focus believes the Packers will be the best team in the league at stopping the run:

From PFF:

In Clark and Daniels up front, the Packers have two top 10 interior defensive linemen with regards to their PFF run-defense grade from 2017. Behind them, linebackers Jake Ryan (11.2 percent) and Martinez (9.0 percent) both ranked in the top 20 in terms of our run-stop percentage signature stat among inside linebackers. The added bonus could come in the form of defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who arrives on a one-year “prove-it” deal. Wilkerson had the 42nd–highest graded player on the defensive interior against the run last year, but was more dominant in 2014 and 2015.

Jamaal Williams was in good company last year when it came to pass protection:

Pack-A-Day looks at the quarterbacks:

DLineVids highlights a workout from Kenny Clark:

Packers Wire looks at the trust Geronimo Allison has earned from his quarterback:

Nate Davis has the Packers going 11-5:

Lombardi Ave. looks at what’s at stake in the Packers' backfield:

Roto Underworld loved the Packers' draft:

Aaron Jones and Justin McCray were holding it down yesterday at Jones’ youth camp:

The league and the players union released a joint statement regarding the anthem policy:

Jason Wilde shared quotes from Mark Murphy on the subject: