One overlooked concern behind Tucker Kraft could become a major Packers storyline at training camp
Green Bay major tight end depth challenge, with Luke Musgrave not fitting Matt LaFleur’s offensive structure.
The Green Bay Packers tight end room presents one of the roster’s most pressing depth questions entering training camp, with Tucker Kraft established as a top-tier weapon but significant uncertainty behind him on the depth chart.
Green Bay’s tight end depth was supposed to be anchored by the 2023 draft class of Kraft and Luke Musgrave, but only one of those investments panned out, creating a problem that’s hard to solve at this time of the year.
Kraft is the long-term answer at the position. Last season, he led all NFL tight ends in yards after the catch per reception, proving himself as one of the most efficient pass catchers in football. He broke tackles consistently, contributed as a viable blocker, and served as a reliable weapon for quarterback Jordan Love. The expectation is that Kraft will be ready to play by Week 1 after returning from an ACL injury.
The depth problem is real
Beyond Kraft, though, the picture gets murky. The second tight end by the end of last season was John FitzPatrick, but he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a Week 16 game against the Chicago Bears. Green Bay did not re-sign him, and his return remains unclear.
Musgrave can function as a backup pass-catching option, but his inability to block is a significant problem for coach Matt LaFleur’s offensive structure. When the Packers deploy 12, 13, or 22 personnel groupings with multiple tight ends on the field, blocking ability becomes essential. Musgrave’s limitations in that area restrict what LaFleur can do schematically.
One player Green Bay found last season who could fill that role is Josh Whyle, who re-signed with the Packers this offseason. Whyle is more of an H-back type, resembling the player the Packers envisioned when they drafted Josiah Deguara back in 2020. He profiles as a solid blocker with the ability to catch passes efficiently in short and underneath areas. He could eventually emerge as the second tight end on the roster.
Developmental options and a new addition
The Packers also have several developmental pieces competing for spots. Messiah Swinson spent time with Green Bay last season and returned. The team signed undrafted rookie RJ Maryland out of SMU, though he profiles more as a pass catcher than a reliable blocker. Drake Dabney, who saw some playing time with the Packers last year, is also in the mix.
The most notable new face in the room is Luke Lachey, a seventh-round pick by the Houston Texans last year whom Green Bay liked coming out of Iowa. The Packers initially claimed Lachey off waivers in May, but he was waived again after failing a physical. Lachey re-signed with Green Bay in June and enters training camp fully healthy and ready to compete for a roster spot.