GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This is the fourth in a series looking at the Green Bay Packers' offseason roster by position as they head into organized team activity practices next week.
Previous installments: Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers.
Next up: Tight ends.
Who they added: Kennard Backman (sixth-round pick), Mitchell Henry (undrafted rookie).
Who's gone: Brandon Bostick.
Key holdovers: Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Justin Perillo.
Roster spots likely available: Three or four.
Competition: Quarless and Rodgers essentially shared the starting job last season, although the veteran Quarless held the edge in playing time (58.6 percent of the offensive snaps to Rodgers' 44.5 percent), but the Packers believe Rodgers has the ability to become a big-play threat down the field. The biggest competition might not be between players at this position but rather if the Nos. 3 and 4 tight ends are more deserving of a roster spot than, say, the Nos. 4 or 5 running backs (including fullbacks) and the No. 6 receiver.
Notable: Backman was just the second tight end picked by general manager Ted Thompson in the past four drafts. The other in that span was Rodgers, a third-round pick in 2014. Before that, Thompson picked three tight ends combined in the 2010 and 2011 drafts (Quarless, Ryan Taylor and D.J. Williams). Thompson has never picked a tight end higher than the third round since he took over as GM in 2005.
