In recent years, Iowa has become Tight End University.
And it’s not just a matter of quantity. The quality is there, with alumni names like George Kittle and Sam LaPorta among the best in the business.
This year, Hawkeyes tight end Luke Lachey will enter the draft. While he may not have Kittle or LaPorta’s ceiling, he’s a fascinating prospect nonetheless, and a sneaky Day 3 option for Green Bay.
The Packers already have a stud tight end in Tucker Kraft. We’re all well aware. But having too many pass-catching options isn’t a thing in the NFL.
And there’s also looming uncertainty with tight end Luke Musgrave. The Packers drafted Musgrave a round ahead of Kraft in 2023, but he has missed 14 games in two seasons. A lacerated kidney in 2023 and ankle surgery in 2024 have limited Musgrave, opening a door that Kraft bulldozed right through.
In an ideal world, Musgrave would respond in 2025 and become the vertical threat the Packers hoped they were getting consistently when they drafted him with the 42nd pick two years ago. There’s no guarantee of that coming to fruition, though. Therefore, with head coach Matt LaFleur’s preference to incorporate some 12-personnel in the offense, another TE option isn’t a bad idea.
Lachey isn’t going to be a first-round pick; he might not even go on Day 2. Still, his Iowa pedigree speaks volumes. Even if you dismiss the idea of Lachey becoming the next Kittle or LaPorta, his head coach at Iowa, Kirk Ferentz, sees a star in progress.
A gruesome ankle injury ended Lachey’s 2023 campaign, but Ferentz noted last July just how special Lachey was in his recovery to get back for 2024 and compared him to past Iowa tight ends.
One common takeaway, if you look at all the tight ends we’ve had, they come in different sizes, speeds, makeups, but they’ve all found ways to really impact the game. Luke certainly fits that. He’s more of a conventional tight end, can block in line, but also be a real threat in the passing game.
Lachey only had 28 receptions for 231 yards in 2024, but Iowa’s passing game was an eyesore. At this point, it’s also common knowledge that the Packers don’t cherish stats at the collegiate level as much as other teams. Green Bay drafted Lukas Van Ness in the first round without him ever starting a game at Iowa.
However, Green Bay is known for taking players with high relative athletic Scores. Lachey scored 8.69 out of 10, which is a very good score.
Lachey’s 6’6” frame helps a lot, and he posted great vertical and broad jumps at the combine.
Kraft will remain the alpha at tight end for Green Bay. In two short seasons, he’s already proved that. It’s been a sight for sore eyes for Packers fans who have long watched Green Bay fail to patch up problems at the position.
Having one really good tight end is great. Having someone behind him who can be extremely reliable and line up in two-tight-end looks is golden.
Musgrave hasn’t been able to establish himself as that stalwart TE2; 2025 will be a huge year for him to do so. In an offense begging for someone to emerge as a consistent threat at wide receiver, the opportunities should be there for a tight end able to pick up the slack.
Having Lachey in the equation will only ramp up competition in the tight end room. The Packers have more pressing needs at other positions. Taking a tight end early wouldn’t make much sense, but getting someone like Lachey late does.
Lachey is far from a sure thing, but his RAS score, combined with coming from a school that has proven to be a factory for producing tight ends, makes a convincing case that he can excel at the next level.
Looking at NFL.com’s profile of Lachey doesn’t engender a lot of confidence. Here’s how Lance Zierlein summed it up:
Combination tight end capable of lining up in-line or as a move tight end. While Lachey can do both, he lacks the core strength and consistency of a typical “Y” tight end and has average quickness to escape man coverage on the next level. … He has NFL size but needs to prove he can more consistently sustain as a run blocker in order to become a trustworthy, three-down player in the league.
In summary, NFL.com has Lachey listed as an “average backup or special-teamer.”
Sound familiar? Go look at the write-up on Kittle from NFL.com from 2017. “Average backup or special-teamer.”
How about LaPorta in 2023, who went much higher in Round 2? “Good backup with potential to develop as starter.”
For one reason or another, Iowa continually has tight ends who turn into more than reliable players at the next level. Still, they get undervalued. Lachey could be next in line, and if he’s available, he’d be a worthwhile option on Day 3 of the draft.
