With the Green Bay Packers losing breakout tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season with a torn ACL just days before the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the team has a difficult decision to make: Stick with Luke Musgrave, or get aggressive on the phone.
Just days ago, the Packers would have been more comfortable making a move to boost the defense, particularly on the backend, at the deadline. But without many draft picks to bargain with thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, the Packers have to be calculated in which moves they do make, if any, in the trade market.
Still, Kraft wasn't just breaking out this season. He was playing a key role in the offense as someone who could turn a short catch into a long gain. He led the NFL among tight ends in yards after the catch; only two wide receivers had more, and one was by a measly four yards. With such an effective role, Green Bay may feel the urgency to find a suitable replacement before the deadline.
The Steelers' tight end logjam could be Packers' trade deadline opportunity
It's hard to replace a talent like Kraft in the middle of the season, but if there is one tight end rumored to be on the trading block who could give the Packers their trusted strength at the position, it's Pittsburgh Steelers veteran Pat Freiermuth.
On the surface, Freiermuth is having a down year in Pittsburgh. He's sixth on the team in targets and receptions. However, he's second on the team in yards and touchdowns.
A significant portion of his production has occurred over the past three weeks. Still, even within that time frame, the Steelers have begun to target players like Darnell Washington, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III more frequently each week. In the Steelers' last outing, Washington, Austin, and Jonnu Smith all had more targets than Freiermuth.
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The Steelers are at a crossroads themselves. Freiermuth is a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, but Washington is emerging as a pass-catcher, and Smith is a volume receiver. Pittsburgh is making as strong an effort as any team ever has to keep three tight ends involved in the passing game, but it hasn't always been easy for them.
It took until Week 7 for Freiermuth to have his second game with at least four targets this season, and that was after he had a three-week stretch with two catches on four targets for 17 yards, including a game where he was shut out entirely. Of course, since Week 7, Freiermuth has had at least four targets and three receptions in every game while scoring all three of his touchdowns.
The Steelers aren't going to shop Freiermuth willingly, but they ought to be willing to listen to offers. Whether the Packers package a wide receiver like Dontayvion Wicks or send a couple of mid-round picks, Pittsburgh could use the extra ammunition to make moves elsewhere. They need help at wide receiver and in the defensive secondary, and Freiermuth is one of the few expendable players on their roster contractually and circumstantially.
As a number one tight end in an efficient offense, Freiermuth has shown the spark in the past to possess the potential to be a top tight end in the league. The Steelers' heavy investment at the position in recent years wasn't an effort to replace Freiermuth, but to utilize differing skillsets at the position since the offense utilizes so much 12 and 13 personnel.
In the Packers' offense, Freiermuth would be able to excel in a way that he hasn't been able to in Pittsburgh for years, with their unstable playcalling and quarterback situations limiting his statistical development. Freiermuth may not offer the same type of value as Kraft with respect to creating big plays with his run-after-catch ability, but he's reliable in a pinch. And there's no denying that Green Bay's offense is in a pinch without Kraft in the lineup.