The former Iowa tight end has been on the Packers radar for quite some time.
Lachey has had an interesting path to get to the Packers.
He originally was claimed off of waivers by the Packers in May.
Lachey was then released as he didn’t pass his physical.
It seems whatever injury concerns the team had has been resolved and the Packers decided to give him a second chance.
Here’s a look at the newest Packer tight end and how he can help the Packers offense.
College Career
Luke Lachey spent four years at Iowa, a powerhosue school for Tight ends.
Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play at Iowa hurt his productivity during his time at Iowa.
When healthy, Lachey showed reliable hands, toughness after the catch and blocking abilities.
Over his college career Lachey had 74 receptions for 893 yards and 4 touchdowns.
NFL Career so far
Luke Lachey entered the NFL draft last year.
The Houston Texans took Lachey in the 7th round of the NFL draft.
But the odds of Lachey making the Texans roster wasn’t the best.
Lachey couldn’t break out of camp and didn’t have many opportunities to showcase his skills.
During the 2025 preseason Lachey caught 5 of his 6 targets for 21 yards and played mostly on special teams.
Let go at the end of Training Camp, Lachey was re-signed to the practice sqaud where he stayed the rest of the season.
With the addition though of Foster Moreau and Marlin Klein this off-season the writing was on the wall for Lachey.
What are the chances of Luchey making the roster?
Lachey walks into a similar situation with the Packers.
The Packers already have an established tight end in Tucker Kraft.
They also have very capable back-ups in Luke Musgrave and Josh Whyle.
Currently Lachey would be the forth tight end on the depth chart.
Some could say they Lachey is just a “camp body”.
But that is far from the truth.
Lachey doesn’t necessarily have to beat out all three tight ends as the Packers value their tight ends.
Based on the Packers past, the Packers tend to keep more than 3 tight ends on the roster.
That is based on the fact that the Packers don’t have a typical fullback in the backfield.
So the Packers could easily keep Lachey as their forth tight end.
What about Tucker Kraft?
There is also the case of Tucker Kraft coming off of an ACL injury.
Although Kraft has said that he will be ready for week 1, the Packers could keep Luchey as insurance to the group.
Moving on from Musgrave?
There is also the mysterious case of Luke Musgrave, who has been the talk of trade talks lately.
The Packers invested a high draft pick on Musgrave but he has yet to show why the Packers picked him in the second round.
Musgrave is on the last year of his contract and he has battled injuries during his whole time here in Green Bay.
It is very likely the Packers are losing patience with Musgrave and looking to move on.
If the Packers do decide to move on from Musgrave, the story then changes for Luchey who would have a better chance to make the roster.
What can Lachey do for the Packers?
Luke Lachey brings versatility to the Packers Tight end room.
He can block and be a receiver, something that the Packers are looking for in a tight end for their offense.
As a receiver, Lachey has shown he can find soft spots in zone coverage and make contested catches.
While he doesn’t have the speed to outrun Defensive backs, he understands how to use his size to create separation.
As a blocker, Lachey brings physicality and he isn’t afraid to engage with defenders when needed.
Lastly, Lachey can contribute on special teams as a blocker on kickoff returns or a coverage man on kick or punt returns.
If Lachey can prove that he is versatile, there is more than enough there to give Luchey a roster spot, even as the forth Tight End.
——————
Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.
——————
