Packers’ recent addition may be the missing piece that unlocks a hugely impactful offensive strategy
Jonnu Smith signing has potential to unlock Matt LaFleur’s offense in ways Green Bay desperately needs.
The Green Bay Packers signed tight end Jonnu Smith in free agency last week right before the regular season, and the move has the potential to transform an area of the offense that has underachieved.
Green Bay has leaned heavily on 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers), but the Packers have been undermanned at the tight end position for months. Late last season, after Tucker Kraft went down with an ACL injury, the rotation featured a combination of Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick, and Josh Whyle. Throughout the offseason program and training camp, the situation didn’t improve much.
The tight end room needed reinforcement
During team periods this offseason program and training camp, the Packers were deploying 12 personnel with Josh Whyle and Drake Dabney as the tight end duo. Dabney didn’t even make the roster, getting waived on cutdown day. The offense needed an upgrade.
Kraft’s return from his ACL injury is the most significant part of the equation, but with Luke Musgrave out due to a neck injury, Green Bay needed another capable body. Smith is that player for several reasons, and probably an upgrade over a healthy Musgrave as well.
Smith is a reliable and proven receiver who already understands the scheme. He played under Matt LaFleur with the Tennessee Titans back in 2018, giving him direct familiarity with the system. He also played under variants of the same offensive structure with both Arthur Smith and Mike McDaniel. Smith had his best NFL season with McDaniel in 2024 for the Miami Dolphins, catching 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That adds an element as a receiving tight end that is impressive on its own.
He’s also a reasonable blocker. While Smith isn’t necessarily known for his blocking ability, he has shown throughout his career that he’s good enough to make the system work. During his time with the Titans early in his career, he was an above-average run blocker. That dimension became more of an afterthought in recent seasons, but the idea that he can at least do it competently helps the Packers create the kind of schematic uncertainty LaFleur wants.
What 12 personnel unlocks for Jordan Love
The Packers have had problems along the offensive line, so playing with two tight ends on the field at the same time is a smart way to protect quarterback Jordan Love and create situations where the run blocking gets extra bodies. With Green Bay potentially playing a heavy dose of 12 personnel, the goal is to force the defense into base, potentially with three off-ball linebackers or three interior defensive linemen. That creates extra passing lanes Love can exploit.
The wide receivers in those 12 personnel sets would be Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, both explosive and fast. Golden in particular is a strong route runner as well. They can attack the fragility that base defenses present against speed on the outside.
If the defense instead stays in its nickel package with five defensive backs on the field, the Packers gain an extra body with Smith and especially with Kraft to run block and create efficiency on the ground against lighter personnel. That’s the chess match LaFleur wants to create with two tight ends who can both run routes and block to a certain extent.
A more complete tight end room changes the equation
Green Bay doesn’t necessarily have the offensive line to build a dominant run game on its own. If the Packers can create confusion for opposing defenses through personnel groupings, that would be impactful for this version of the offense.
That’s why the Packers ultimately signed Smith. They needed a more competent tight end alongside Kraft, especially with Musgrave out. Smith adds a dual-threat element in terms of blocking and receiving that the offense lacked late last season, when the tight ends had very specific and limited roles: Musgrave as the receiver, FitzPatrick as the blocker (a role that fellow recent acquisition Mark Redman will execute this year), and Whyle as a sort of H-back player.
With Kraft and Smith on the field together, the Packers can do a little bit of everything. Kraft is the more complete player, but Smith brings enough versatility to make the 12 personnel package a legitimate weapon for LaFleur’s offense heading into the 2026 season.
