The Green Bay Packers addressed a definite need Thursday when they signed tight end Jonnu Smith to a one-year deal. The Florida International alum will give the Packers some experienced depth at tight end behind starter Tucker Kraft. We’ll examine how Jonnu Smith fits into the Green Bay offense, how he impacts the tight end room and how it changes the team’s roster decisions.

How Packers TE Jonnu Smith Fits in the Packers Offense: Smith’s Career

The Tennessee Titans selected Smith in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. That means he played for Matt LaFleur in 2018 when the Packers head coach was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. That season, Smith had a career-high 12.9-yard average per catch.

After four seasons with the Titans, Smith spent two years with the Patriots, followed by one each with the Falcons, Dolphins and Steelers.

Last season with the Steelers, Smith caught 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. The 5.8-yard average per catch was by far the lowest of Smith’s NFL career. This was largely due to the offense the Steelers were running, which emphasized short pass patterns and quick releases because of the lack mobility of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

In 2024, Smith earned Pro Bowl honors when he caught a career-high 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns with Miami.

Smith’s Skill Set and Fit

Smith will give the Packers an experienced possession receiver at tight end. He is not a field stretcher like Luke Musgrave when he’s healthy.

Smith can line up in different positions. According to Pro Football Focus, the veteran tight end played 626 offensive snaps last season. He lined up in the slot 254 times, on the offensive line 198 times, lined up wide 148 plays and in the backfield 26 times. He even carried the ball nine times in 2025 and gained 70 yards.

Blocking is not Smith’s strong point. PFF has always graded Smith as a below average blocker, so his addition does not alleviate the Packers need in that area.

The Packers top two receiving tight ends will now be Kraft and Smith. We know LaFleur likes to utilize two tight ends, and these two players have similar skill sets. Kraft would be the better blocker of the two, but having two receiving tight ends gives LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love some interesting options.

It also means that if Smith replaces Kraft in the lineup, no major changes need to be made to the way the Packers utilize their tight ends. This could happen a bit more in the first few games of the season, if the Packers gradually ramp Kraft up as he returns from last season’s season-ending torn ACL injury.

How Packers TE Jonnu Smith Fits in the Packers Offense: The Tight End Room

What does this mean for the Packers tight end room? Well, it certainly appears to indicate that we will not be seeing Musgrave back on the field any time soon. Expect Musgrave to start the season on the PUP list or the possibly the season-ending IR depending on the severity of his injury.

Since this is the final year of Musgrave’s contract, he may have played his final game with the Packers. The Packers could also place him on IR with a designation to return. What GM Brian Gutekunst does will be telling.

Right now, Kraft and Smith are the top two tight ends while Josh Whyle will slide into the number three spot. Of the three, Kraft is the best blocker.

Will the Packers keep a fourth tight end on the initial 53-man roster? Prior to the signing of Smith, Drake Dabney was the leading candidate to be the third tight end. Will the Packers still keep Dabney, or will they seek a blocking tight end as their fourth tight end? Or will the Pack just keep three tight ends and add one or more likely a pair to the practice squad?

Smith solves one problem for the Packers for this season. The team now has more depth at tight end and LaFleur has more flexibility at the position. If the 31-year-old Smith has more left in the tank, the duo of Kraft and Smith will give the Packers offense two very reliable targets this season.

 

 

 

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