In the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, the ongoing debate will be centered around Green Bay’s biggest roster needs, starting with cornerback, defensive line, and offensive line.

Rightly so, I might add. A lack of talent and underperformance in those three position groups were a big reason the 2025 Packers suffered yet another early playoff exit. Right behind those, another position on the roster needs an influx of talent to its depth chart: tight end.

Green Bay’s depth, or lack thereof, was exposed midway through last season once budding superstar Tucker Kraft went out for the season with a torn ACL during the Week 9 game against the Carolina Panthers.

Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick, and Josh Whyle were the three primary backup options at tight end. The Packers elevated Musgrave and FitzPatrick to higher roles while promoting Whyle from the practice squad. Each player brings something to the table, but none does anything particularly well. Without Kraft around to hide their deficiencies, their lack of developmental depth is exposed.

Looking at the list of options currently on the roster before free agency, it’s not great. FitzPatrick tore his Achilles tendon late in the season, a brutal blow for the third-year player. Due to his blocking ability, FitzPatrick was essentially Green Bay’s starting tight end once Kraft went down, logging more snaps than Musgrave. He’s also scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, meaning his injury all but guarantees his next snaps won’t come in Green Bay.

While Whyle proved to be a decent pass-catcher, he didn’t show he could hold up well enough in the blocking game to be a prominent part of the offense. Whyle performed pretty much as expected of someone who got called up midseason, but he isn’t someone the Packers should bank on as a significant contributor in 2026. He’s scheduled to become a restricted free agent this offseason, and it would make sense for the Packers to bring him back as training camp competition for the third tight end job, because his price tag will be low.

Musgrave might be the most frustrating Packers player. The Packers drafted Musgrave a round before Tucker Kraft, and he was supposed to be the superstar. However, his blocking is subpar, and his receiving, which was supposed to be his strong suit, has been extremely inconsistent. Given the opportunity to get his career back on track in just his third season post-Kraft, he could not take advantage.

Musgrave finished the season with 24 catches for 252 yards and no touchdowns. For a little bit of context, Kraft played in half the games and finished with 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns.

In the Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears, Musgrave ran 36 routes but finished with just one catch for nine yards. A team that relies on its tight end as much as the Packers do needs better production than that. Picture a world in which Kraft has a setback, and they run it back with Musgrave as the starter. That is not championship-level production.

I’m in the camp that thinks the Packers should move on from Musgrave. If they can find a team that believes Musgrave needs a change of scenery, then maybe a player-for-player swap works out.

At the very least, getting a late-round pick might be the best option. Let each side get a fresh start and focus on replenishing the depth chart and finding Kraft the running mate he hasn’t had yet. At worst, Musgrave plays out the final year of his rookie deal and leaves next offseason, leaving no players under contract behind the soon-to-be-extended Kraft.

Adding in the fact that No. 85 is, at a minimum, going to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list — and might even start the season there — compounds the need for an infusion of talent in the room. Young tight ends are coming in and making an impact right away for teams across the league.

Just look at the Chicago Bears and their rookie tight end Colston Loveland. He finished the season with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. Fellow rookie Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren finished with 71 receptions for 791 yards and four touchdowns. Granted, both of them were taken in the upper half of the first round. Still, it shows that a tight end can come in and have a significant impact if their team uses them properly.

The Packers likely won’t draft one within the first few picks of their draft based on the lack of a first-rounder and other more significant roster needs. Still, even walking away with a fourth-rounder could be a wise investment. After all, they took Kraft with the 78th pick in the third round three years ago.

Matt LaFleur loves using tight ends and running two-tight-end sets. If the Packers can find a player who can mirror Kraft with his blocking and receiving skill set, it can unlock another level that LaFleur hasn’t had in his seven-plus years as head coach and offensive play caller.

One name to keep an eye on is Stanford’s Sam Roush. Listed at 6’5” and 260 lbs., he projects a lot like Kraft did coming out of college. Smart, physical, and reliable, with the natural tools to develop into a solid NFL tight end, he could be the perfect complement to Kraft and allow the Packers to run the offense they want, regardless of who’s lining up at TE.

The Packers need to come out of this year’s draft with a tight end with high upside and who helps stabilize their depth, because they cannot have a repeat of 2025.