GREEN BAY, Wis. -- For the first time in his NFL career, Jared Cook is playing on a one-year contract. And he’s never had so much fun.
“You think it’s pressure?” Cook said.
Considering he’s had two previous contracts -- his original four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, who picked him in the third round of the 2009 draft; and a five-year, $35.1 million free-agent deal he signed with the St. Louis Rams, which, in theory, offered more security -- an uncertain future would seemingly bring some added pressure.
“No, man, you’re still doing what you love, and that’s playing ball,” Cook said. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my eight years of playing.
“It’s just different here. It’s completely different. There’s no pressure at all to me. I love it here.”
And if Cook continues to produce like he has since he returned from his early-season ankle injury, the Green Bay Packers should give strong consideration to extending their relationship with the veteran tight end. In the five games since he returned, Cook ranks third among all NFL tight ends in yards per catch (13.6) and seventh in receiving yards (231). He even missed half a game in that stretch because of the lung contusion he suffered against the Seahawks two weeks ago.
His third-down production has been exceptional. In that same stretch, seven of his 12 catches have come on third down for an average of 21.0 yards per catch -- second-best among all tight ends on third down since Week 11.
“I think Jared's return has been important, just giving us two tight ends that can get down the field,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “Obviously, he's a matchup issue when you split him out to his own side, as we've seen in various games.”
In that regard, the 6-foot-5, 254-pound Cook is like a wide receiver. It’s no wonder Rodgers looked to him twice last Sunday on the opening drive against the Bears. On third-and-2, he lofted a perfect ball to Cook for 27 yards. Three plays later, on third-and-11, he swung a short pass to Cook in the flat that turned into a 17-yard gain.
“That’s where it stands out more than anything else; he continues to make plays on third down,” Packers offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. “We talk about moving the chains, those are two back-to-back weeks where he’s made two big plays to keep drives alive.”
The only knock on Cook this season has been injuries. He missed six straight games because of a severely sprained ankle. That shouldn’t give general manager Ted Thompson reason to pause because Cook has otherwise been durable throughout his career. Before this year, he had missed only five games in his first seven NFL seasons, and he played in all 16 games in five of those seasons.
The Packers brought in Cook for the relatively affordable price of $2.75 million for one year after the Rams cut him with two years left on his contract.
Given all the other needs Thompson will have to fill this offseason -- running back, cornerback, pass-rusher and perhaps receiver chief among them – it would help to re-sign Cook. Thompson would be hard-pressed to find another 6-5 target in the draft who could play right away. It took until he signed Cook to replace Jermichael Finley in that role following Finley's career-ending neck injury in 2013.
“I’ve talked about it since I got here: The fastest way to the end zone is through the middle of the field,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “So the bigger target you have going down the field, the better it is for your quarterback, particularly more athletic, bigger throwing radius and all of that. Jared Cook has all of those attributes. He’s been an excellent attribute to our football team.”