Packers revisit familiar solution to major offensive concern and hope for a different outcome this time
Green Bay signed tight end Luke Lachey, a player the front office tried to add a month ago but couldn’t because of a failed physical.
The Green Bay Packers have some roster concerns, but general manager Brian Gutekunst rarely taks about them publicly. Well, the GM admitted he wanted to add a Y-tight end in the draft and things didn’t go the way he desired.
So, days after the draft, the Packers claimed Luke Lachey off waivers from the Houston Texans. He failed his physical, though, and was waived again. Now fully healthy, Lachey is back. The Packers signed the former seventh-round pick on Monday. As a corresponding move, Green Bay waived wide receiver/kick returner Jakobie Keeney-James.
What the Packers can get from Luke Lachey
It’s not news that the Packers wanted an in-line tight end — Brian Gutekunst admitted so after the draft. So that’s what the Packers are getting with Lachey.
A 24-year-old player, he was a seventh-round pick by the Houston Texans last year and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. He had no regular season appearances, but played three preseason games for Houston. In those games, he was on the field for 56 passing snaps, playing in-line in almost 80% of them. Lachey had five receptions for 21 yards, generating an 81.3 passer rating when targeted.
Those two are obviously minor moves, but they clearly show that Brian Gutekunst is still trying to find value in the margins to complement what the roster currently has.
TE room
The tight end position is one of the thinnest on the roster in terms of talent. Starter Tucker Kraft is an all-around, rising star player. But outside of him, the group obviously lack versatility.
Luke Musgrave is a decent receiving option, but lacks blocking skills. Josh Whyle is essentially an h-back. The other options are bottom-of-roster types like Messiah Swinson, Drake Dabney, and undrafted rookie RJ Maryland. Lachey may or may not be an upgrade over these players, but he has the talent to fight for a roster spot.