An offseason of focusing on addressing needs and seemingly doing so up to this point. Still however, the Green Bay Packers may have a couple positions still lacking depth heading into the summer. Due to both injury of key members in the room and injury prone back-up options leave questions at running back and tight end for the green and gold.
Between the two, tight end appears more of a question mark. With Josh Jacobs still manning the backfield, and Chris Brooks brought back this off-season. Along with the hopeful emergence of long-awaited Marshawn Lloyd who could provide a boost where it’s needed.
Tucker Kraft tore his right ACL in week 9 of the 2025 season, remarkably still GM Brian Gutenkunst noted this month that Kraft is ahead of schedule in his rehab. As well as being expected to be ready for training camp and likely active for the start of the season. While we all hope that is true, putting the weight of all snaps between blocking assignments and route running on a recovered Kraft may not be the best idea to start the year.
Back-up tight end Luke Musgrave has had some moments in his 3 seasons with Green Bay, but the flashes haven’t signaled they were irreplaceable or worth extending out of his rookie contract. Potentially this could be proven wrong in the 2026 season, however based on this off-season’s decisions from the front office, it doesn’t seem like uncertainty and wishful thinking from players is enough any longer.
Potential Solution: TE, David Njoku
When the tight end is a true dual threat someone who can stretch the seam, create mismatches against linebackers and safeties, and block in the run game, Matt LaFleur's system succeeds. In addition to all of that, Njoku gives the Packers the physicality and yards-after-catch skills they currently lack.
What else does Njoku give the Packers? A bridge starter while Kraft returns to form. 9-year veteran who can reduce pressure on Kraft to rush back, maybe for a 1-year contract and you can go from there.
Instead of entering 2026 hoping Kraft is ready, Njoku ensures the offense has a dependable tight end from Day 1. Njoku’s versatility allows LaFleur to call the offense the way it was designed, something the team lacked from week 9 and onward last season.
Following week 9:
Decreased Explosiveness: In YAC (Yards after catch) the Packers fell to the bottom of the league.
Modified Play-calling: Love's targets were miscast into station-to-station, shorter underneath routes because his backup options, such as Luke Musgrave, found it difficult to generate yards after the catch.
What this move would be is a calculated investment in stability, adaptability, and offensive continuity rather than a luxury. Green Bay cannot afford to start a new season in the hopes that the tight end room will work itself out.
TOUCHDOWN BROWNS! 🐶
Dillon Gabriel 👉 David Njoku pic.twitter.com/3EGpzFratO
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) October 5, 2025
Former Browns TE David Njoku taking free agent visit with AFC competitor https://t.co/dCPC03uPRJ
— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) May 3, 2026