The Green Bay Packers are bringing back young tight end Robert Tonyan for the 2019 season.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers used the exclusive rights tender to keep Tonyan on a one-year deal worth $570,000.
Exclusive rights free agents are players with expiring contracts and fewer than two accrued seasons in the NFL. Tonyan, 24, played his first NFL season in 2018, catching four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
A converted receiver, Tonyan impressed throughout training camp and then caught a pair of touchdown passes during the preseason – helping him win a spot on the 53-man roster last summer. He played in all 16 games for the Packers in 2018.
His big moment came in Seattle, where he caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers during a Thursday night game against the Seahawks.
Although still raw at his new position, Tonyan could be an important piece of the puzzle at tight end for new coach Matt LaFleur. To prepare for 2019, Tonyan has been living and working out with 49ers tight end George Kittle, who broke out as a Pro Bowler for Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco last season.
The Packers also re-signed defensive end Fadol Brown and tendered guard Justin McCray, who were both scheduled to be exclusive rights free agents.
