Free agent market still offers strong options to solve what Packers revealed as biggest post-draft need
Green Bay’s general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted the team wants an in-line tight end. Meanwhile, players like David Njoku and Jonnu Smith are still available.
The Green Bay Packers were able to solve most of their roster needs in the draft. They selected two cornerbacks, an interior defensive lineman, a swing interior offensive lineman, a rotational edge defender, and a kicker. But there’s one position left that the front office couldn’t address whatsoever: Tight end.
“We’re in the process of doing that right now, getting our numbers for training camp ready,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft. “That was one thing coming out of this draft, it would have been nice to add a Y-tight end kind of body. We weren’t really able to accomplish that. There aren’t a ton of those guys coming out of college, not a lot of places use them. So we certainly have guys in that room that can do some of that, but that’ll be something we’ll probably continue to look at.”
The Packers have Tucker Kraft, a rising star player at the position, but there’s not much behind him to execute that in-line role. Luke Musgrave is essentially a slot receiver, and Josh Whyle is more of an h-back in their system. Even though they added RJ Maryland and Eni Falayi as undrafted free agents, the team could still get a veteran to complement the room. Gladfully for them, the free agent market is still full of good options.
Available free agents
It’s impressive that, by the end of April, there are still so many good players available at one specific position. Maybe it’s cost, maybe it’s something else, but there are plenty of impactful tight ends on the market.
The top one is certainly David Njoku, who played his first nine NFL seasons on the Cleveland Browns. He hasn’t been what his first-round status would indicate, but he was a Pro Bowler and is a viable two-way tight end. Even better, he entered the league so young that he’s not 30 yet.
Another alternative is Jonnu Smith, who knows the system pretty well — he played under Matt LaFleur when he was the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator back in 2018, and kept playing for Arthur Smith on multiple stops. Smith had some sort of career resurgence in 2024 under Mike McDaniel on the Miami Dolphins, with 884 yards, eight touchdowns, and a Pro Bowl spot.
If the Packers want more of a blocking and cheaper option, former Seahawk and Charger Will Dissly is a solid idea — however, Los Angeles released him in March with an injury designation, so that would be a question mark.
Even a guy like Darren Waller could make some sense. The Packers tried to trade for him multiple times during this decade, but it never materialized. He returned from retirement last year for the Dolphins and, despite playing in only nine games, was fairly productive with 283 yards and six TDs — he’s more of the receiving mold, though.
The Packers can still add a backup tight end to supplement Tucker Kraft — and possibly to play alongside him in 12 personnel. And they don’t lack options to add a valuable piece to the roster.
