The Green Bay Packers tried snagging tight end Luke Lachey back in May, only for him to fail his physical. (Parts of this are quite relatable.) Now that the Packers have circled back around and Lachey passed his physical, he can validate their continued interest by proving his worth in training camp this summer. But does Lachey have a shot to actually make the roster?
Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave are locks. Green Bay also re-signed Josh Whyle to a one-year deal in March. Whyle may have a leg up on the rest of the competition, with names like Messiah Swinson, Drake Dabney, R.J. Maryland and now Lachey filling out the depth chart behind him. Still, there’s no guarantee he’s in the final 53.
The Houston Texans drafted Lachey in the seventh round last year, and he spent the entire season on the practice squad.
His performance in college was intriguing but tough to assess. He was off to a racing start in 2023 before an ankle injury abruptly ended his campaign in Iowa. In a run-heavy scheme with zero competence at quarterback in 2024, Lachey never found a groove in the passing game.
However, Lachey has two particular traits that align with Green Bay’s preferences in a tight end.
First, he brings versatility to the position. Lachey can line up in-line at the Y or outside. Has he been star-spangled spectacular at either spot? Not necessarily, but he at least looked comfortable at both.
Secondly, while Lachey may not be a blocking menace, he embraces that part of the position and has a super-high motor to boot. Solid blocking is table stakes for a Packers TE, so Lachey’s words before the 2025 Shrine Bowl should be music to his coaches’ ears.
If you can’t block, you can’t play. Coming from Iowa, we are a very run-heavy team. And I love to block, and that’s the first thing you’ve got to be able to do. If you’re a tight end, they’re probably not going to put you on the field very much if you can’t block. So, that’s what I take pride in.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com noted these traits in his cautiously optimistic assessment of Lachey ahead of the 2025 draft.
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 experience operating underneath and as an intermediate target, using proper leverage in his routes and good body control, along with strong hands, when contested. 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. Unless that happens, he’s likely to be fighting for a role as a TE3 or TE4.
That last part is most relevant to Lachey a year removed from the draft.
Kraft is the best player in the tight end room, and by a wide margin. All signs point towards him being ready for the start of the regular season after rehabbing a torn ACL.
Musgrave has never quite lived up to the expectations after being taken a round earlier than Kraft back in 2023. Still, his spot feels pretty safe for 2026, although he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal.
After that, it’s a crapshoot.
Sure, fighting for a TE3 or TE4 spot may not be the dream scenario, but Lachey has as good a shot as anyone else. His versatility will only help his chances. Clearly they see something in him that’s intriguing enough to wait for him to pass his physical and give him a second opportunity. He’s still a bit of a mystery, but a tantalizing one for a team known for developing late-round picks into solid contributors.
