GREEN BAY, Wis. The Green Bay Packers signed one of the four players they worked out this week but it wasnt receiver John Brown.Instead, according to a team source, they signed tight end Sal Cannella, who recently was selected to the all-USFL team.Listed by the New Orleans Breakers as 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he ranked sixth overall and first among tight ends in the USFL with 34 receptions, which he turned into 368 yards and two touchdowns.Cannella played at Auburn from 2017 through 2019 and caught 25 pa ses during those three seasons. He went undrafted and unsigned in 2020. He was selected in the 34th round of the USFL Draft.Cannella has a good opportunity with the Packers. The units best player, Robert Tonyan, is coming off a torn ACL. He might not be Peyton Barber Jersey cleared for Day 1 of training camp. Veteran Marcedes Lewis is the blocker and former third-round pick Josiah Deguara is viewed more as a fullback than a tight end. The 25-year-old Cannella shows the importance of having a developmental league, whether its the USFL or the XFL, to give talented players a huge volume of snaps for NFL scouts to watch.Scroll to Continue , featuring thoughts of NFL talent evaluators, listed eight players competing in the USFL playoffs who were worthy of a shot in the NFL. Cannella was among them.Cannella has a long wingspan and does a nice job creating separation in confined spaces such as the red zone. And hes an able blocker in the run game, read the story.A native of Schaumburg, Ill., Cannella was the No. 1-ranked tight end coming out of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College in 2016. At Auburn, he played tight end in 2017, tight end and receiver in 2018 and receiver in 2019, when he caught 10 pa ses for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Jackson Jersey Cannella wasnt highly recruited coming out of high school and he was ignored at Scottsdale, despite his performance. He e-mailed coach after coach after coach multiple times before finally catching the attention of then-Auburn tight ends coach Scott Fountain.I remember him telling me on my visit, Yeah, I remember your email. I kept getting it, and I didnt open it until like the fourth time you sent it, . And Im like, Yeah, persistence.His attitude then should work for him now when the Packers hit the practice field for the first time on July 27.Nothings given, Cannella said in the AL.com story. Nothings given. Ive still got a lot to prove. I feel like I can show him a lot. Thats how I go about it every day. I know nothings given. I just go out there every day and just show you what I can do and give you a reason to play me.Here is everything you need to know about the offseason that was and the training camp that's coming up. Kolton Miller Jersey Departures: Led by Davante AdamsThe Packers lost six starters this offseason, none more important than the trade of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.Adams is one of the NFLs marquee players. Over the last six seasons, no receiver had more receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns than Adams. It will be impo sible to replace his combination of skill, production and leadership. The Packers gained the 22nd and 53rd selections of this years draft in the trade. Pick No. 22 was used on linebacker Quay Walker. Pick No. 53 and Green Bays choice at No. 59 were sent to the Vikings to move up to No. 34 to select receiver Christian Watson. Moreover, the monetary savings allowed them to re-sign cornerback Rasul Douglas.Thats a pretty good return, but that will matter only if Rodgers has open receivers in big moments in big games.Other starters who are no longer with the Packers: RT Billy Turner (released; Broncos)G/C Lucas Patrick (Bears)WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Chiefs)OLB ZaDarius Smith (released; Vikings)CB Chandon Sullivan (Vikings)These reserves also will be suiting up elsewhere this season.RT Dennis Kelly (Colts)WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Bears)WR David Moore (Bears)DT Tyler Lancaster (Raiders) ILB Oren Burks (49ers)P Corey Bojorquez (Browns). Additions: Led by Sammy WatkinsGreen Bay added four veterans, and they all could have key roles.WR Sammy Watkins: Watkins, the fourth pick of the 2014 draft, had a 1,000-yard season in 2015 but hasnt come close since. Injuries have played a role in his career stalling. Having turned 29 earlier in the week, this might be his last chance to earn a prime role on an offense. .Hes going to be a big part of our offense, coach Matt LaFleur predicted. Considering the state of the receiver corps, that statement must ring true.DT Jarran Reed: Reed, a second-round pick in 2016, has had only one really good season. That came in 2018, when he had 10.5 of his 24.5 career sacks and 12 of his 24 career tackles for lo ses. Still, he has been a durable, reliable performer. Other than 2019, when he was suspended for six games, hes played in all but two games in his career. Hes played 60-plus percent of the defensive snaps the last five seasons. With Kenny Clark, Reed, Dean Lowry, first-round pick Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton, the Packers could have a defensive line that will rival just about any team Las Vegas Raiders T Shirts in the NFL.CB Keisean Nixon: In three seasons with the Raiders, Nixon played mostly on special teams. Hell be a key figure in that phase, given his experience with new special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, but he also spent the offseason as the next man up behind the premier cornerback trio of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes. He has just one career pa s defensed. That is one more than everyone else, though.P Pat ODonnell: Corey Bojorquez had a great leg but lacked consistency. So, the Packers let him go and signed ODonnell, Chicagos punter from the past eight seasons. What the Packers will lose in distance, they hope theyll make up for Nate Hobbs Jersey in hang time and holding on kicks. Staff Changes: Adam Stenavich Replaces Nathaniel HackettConsidering Green Bays succe s especially on offense the past two seasons it was only a matter of time until LaFleurs staff was raided.So, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett went to Denver to be the Broncos new coach. Sharing a U-Haul was Justin Outten, with the former tight ends coach joining Hackett as offensive coordinator. Luke Getsy, Aaron Rodgers quarterbacks coach the past three seasons, went to Chicago as the play-calling offensive coordinator for new coach Matt Eberflus.In response, LaFleur promoted Adam Stenavich from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator and bumped Luke Butkus to offensive line coach. Tom Clements, with years of experience with Rodgers, was called out of retirement and brought back as quarterbacks coach. John Dunn, a former tight ends coach with the Jets, was promoted into Outtens old role.How will all of that work out? Will the offense have the same creativi
