The Green Bay Packers filled out the 91-man roster with a pair of signings off waivers earlier this week: cornerback M.J. Devonshire and tight end Luke Lachey. The latter addition should have the attention of Josh Whyle, RJ Maryland, and others further down the depth chart as the Packers seek a traditional blocking tight end to pair with high-level pass-catchers in Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.
Whyle is also a pass-first tight end, and Maryland is an undrafted free agent. While that's not to say that Lachey will steal someone's roster spot, he'll have a fair opportunity. His background at a positional powerhouse like Iowa, where Lachey spent five college seasons, is a point in his favor.
Clearly the Packers saw enough to like when they scooped up the 2025 seventh-round pick of the Houston Texans.
Luke Lachey walks into wide-open opportunity at backend of Packers' TE rotation
At 6-foot-6, 251 pounds, Lachey fits right in among Green Bay's tight ends. He was never a prolific producer in college, compiling 74 catches, 893 yards, and four touchdowns in 42 games for the Hawkeyes, but that's not what the Packers are looking for. They already have Kraft and Musgrave to handle pass-catching duties. What they really need is someone who can do the dirty work as a full-time blocker.
Lachey might not be that, either, but that's exactly what Green Bay will have a chance to determine in training camp. His arrival keeps the heat on Whyle, the projected TE3, and in the scrum for a TE4 bid, likely as a member of the practice squad.
While the first is Whyle's job to lose, there is also some uncertainty regarding Kraft's return timeline following ACL surgery. He could be back for Week 1, or he could need some extra time to recover. That could create an opportunity at the tight end position early in the season.
In addition, the Packers elected not to bring back John FitzPatrick in free agency after he tore his Achilles in Week 16 last season. After Kraft got hurt, Fitzpatrick was the third man in line behind Musgrave and Whyle. His departure leaves the TE4 spot wide open.
Maryland, an undrafted free agent out of SMU and the depth chart's most compelling candidate outside the top three, is a bit undersized for his position. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he is almost like a supersized wide receiver. While there could certainly be a place for him in the Packers' offense - Whyle better watch out - he won't make the roster as a blocking tight end.
If Lachey wants to carve out a role, it will be in the latter capacity. How the Packers address their blocking needs at tight end - or whether they continue to prioritize receiving skills at the top four spots - could throw an intriguing wrinkle into the competition this summer.
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