Insurance Idea: David Njoku as a Packer
Packers could look to shore up their tight end position between injury and uncertainty with proven David Njoku
By Luke Leavitt
An offseason of focusing on addressing needs and seemingly doing so up to this point. Still however, the Green Bay Packers may have a couple positions still lacking depth heading into the summer. Due to both injury of key members in the room and injury prone back-up options leave questions at running back and tight end for the green and gold.
Between the two, tight end appears more of a question mark. With Josh Jacobs still manning the backfield, and Chris Brooks brought back this off-season. Along with the hopeful emergence of long-awaited Marshawn Lloyd who could provide a boost where it’s needed.
Tucker Kraft tore his right ACL in week 9 of the 2025 season, remarkably still GM Brian Gutenkunst noted this month that Kraft is ahead of schedule in his rehab. As well as being expected to be ready for training camp and likely active for the start of the season. While we all hope that is true, putting the weight of all snaps between blocking assignments and route running on a recovered Kraft may not be the best idea to start the year.
Back-up tight end Luke Musgrave has had some moments in his 3 seasons with Green Bay, but the flashes haven’t signaled they were irreplaceable or worth extending out of his rookie contract. Potentially this could be proven wrong in the 2026 season, however based on this off-season’s decisions from the front office, it doesn’t seem like uncertainty and wishful thinking from players is enough any longer.
Potential Solution: TE, David Njoku
When the tight end is a true dual threat someone who can stretch the seam, create mismatches against linebackers and safeties, and block in the run game, Matt LaFleur's system succeeds. In addition to all of that, Njoku gives the Packers the physicality and yards-after-catch skills they currently lack.
What else does Njoku give the Packers? A bridge starter while Kraft returns to form. 9-year veteran who can reduce pressure on Kraft to rush back, maybe for a 1-year contract and you can go from there.
Instead of entering 2026 hoping Kraft is ready, Njoku ensures the offense has a dependable tight end from Day 1. Njoku’s versatility allows LaFleur to call the offense the way it was designed, something the team lacked from week 9 and onward last season.
Following week 9:
Decreased Explosiveness: In YAC (Yards after catch) the Packers fell to the bottom of the league.
Modified Play-calling: Love's targets were miscast into station-to-station, shorter underneath routes because his backup options, such as Luke Musgrave, found it difficult to generate yards after the catch.
What this move would be is a calculated investment in stability, adaptability, and offensive continuity rather than a luxury. Green Bay cannot afford to start a new season in the hopes that the tight end room will work itself out.
TOUCHDOWN BROWNS! 🐶
Dillon Gabriel 👉 David Njoku pic.twitter.com/3EGpzFratO
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) October 5, 2025
Former Browns TE David Njoku taking free agent visit with AFC competitor https://t.co/dCPC03uPRJ
— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) May 3, 2026
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Luke Leavitt is a Contributor for Cheesehead TV, covering the Green Bay Packers. A Manchester by the Sea, Massachussetts native, Luke is a lifelong Packer fan, and 16-year shareholder. Keep up with Luke on X @LukeLeavitt7
__________________________
Comments (29)
dobber
May 10, 2026 at 11:34 am
It's hard to figure how much the Packers should invest in the TE position at this stage with a big contract to Kraft looming, but they do need a capable in-line blocker--and that's even if Kraft is back relatively early. The market has a couple blocker-only guys still available who can leak out and catch an outlet pass (Nick Vannett comes to mind). Zach Ertz could be attractive as a less expensive dual purpose guy, but he's coming off an ACL of his own even though he seems to be in a similar spot to Kraft in his rehab.
I feel pretty confident that Njoku--who hasn't played a full slate of games in 5 years--is still probably looking for a multi-year deal with some guarantees. I don't think the Packers are in that market when they're about to pony up for Kraft. A Jonnu Smith might be a slightly less expensive but effective option here--he's not a great in-line blocker but is capable, and can play all over the formation, too. He's into the stage of his career where he's looking at one and two-year deals only.
Problem is: the Packers really don't know how to feature the TE. They were only just getting to the point where they were turning Kraft loose last year when he got hurt--blocking, of course. I don't know that GB would be an attractive landing point for a TE looking to try to turn in a payday earning performance.
Guam
May 10, 2026 at 02:07 pm
Since it appears Musgrave may be in his last year as a Packer and Kraft will likely need some time to fully recover his skills (most guys with ACLs do), why not a multi-year deal with Njoku? He would be a block and catch TE2 and with the number of multiple TE looks nowadays, I don't see the problem with a multi-year deal as long as the price is reasonable.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 10, 2026 at 04:06 pm
I’m thinking the price isn’t reasonable or he would have been signed by someone already. Browns fan say he was not good at all last season and GB certainly doesn’t want to overpay for a 30 year old TE who is declining.
Guam
May 10, 2026 at 06:57 pm
Price is always the determining factor.....
golfpacker61
May 10, 2026 at 05:53 pm
Njoku is projected to get $10 million per year. I highly doubt the Packers are going to want to pay $25 million per year to their 2 top TEs.
It's ridiculous to even think GB would do this. As Dobber said Njoku will want a multi year contract and it will be $9-10 million annually. I wish Ertz was healthy, he would be a good option, but 2 TEs coming off knee surgery is pushing it.
Guam
May 10, 2026 at 06:56 pm
If Njoku wants that much he is too expensive given his performance last season. However since he is still on the market (even after he visited LAC who were interested and left without a contract) he may have to settle for less. I am open to any options, but the Packers need a Y TE other than Kraft.
Brewcity_BearsFan
May 11, 2026 at 08:03 am
He signed a one year deal with the Chargers.
dobber
May 11, 2026 at 08:12 am
Seeing 1 year, $8M
Coldworld
May 10, 2026 at 12:41 pm
We know what they don’t really do, which is ask any but their lead TE to do much other than block. If Kraft is in, that’s what he does at least half the time too. Any solution starts with blocking not move capability, or should do. Since Lewis not a single one of the TEs we’ve had has been a decent blocker. Therefore, paying for another so-so blocker makes no sense to me at all.
Njoku is a bit undersized for a true Y. That’s part of his injury history perhaps, though he’s tough, playing through burns can’t be fun. Because he is now a good blocker, he’d be an excellent stand in for Kraft and could play TE2. Splitting the blocking role may be what he needs.
However, as you point out, at his age he probably does want a multi-year commitment that could be at a cost that we are unable or unwilling to make given the need to extend some key players. If his price becomes reasonable, I’d take him seriously. He would resolve a lot of TE issues and, as a blocker at least, his age shouldn’t be a problem even in his early 30s.
TKWorldWide
May 10, 2026 at 01:29 pm
If GB can afford the $ that Njoku can command, why not? My concern would be that GB’s offense is so highly intricate that even a veteran like DN couldn’t get “up to speed” in time to start the season.
gsd3
May 10, 2026 at 01:40 pm
Will Dissley is available. Decent blocker. This doesn't move the needle, but Deguara and Tonyan are available as well.
Maybe move Musgrave plus something in a trade for Darnell Washington. Wouldn't hurt to give Pittsburgh a call.
Coldworld
May 11, 2026 at 09:03 am
I’d be happy to add a guy like Tucker Fisk. He’s a block first TE and likely fairly cheap. He is a blocker first and second, but he’s a good one, in line and lead. 6’4 and 285. He would give Swinson some competition and probably help both run and pass as well as free up Kraft. You could also maybe make something of Musgrave if you had a guy like Fisk out there with him.
dobber
May 11, 2026 at 09:11 am
I like Dissly for this kind of role a lot. He fits what the Packers need--he's actually a really good, physical blocker, and he can leak out and catch passes, but he's not going to get much m ore than that. He's good in the red zone. He's had some issues with injuries over the years, though.
Dragon5
May 10, 2026 at 02:38 pm
Currently in HORSE🐎 year while Njoku was born in a RAT🐀year
🐎&🐀 = enemy signs⚠️
Would only compound Gute's mistake of acquiring 🐀Zaire Franklin
HARD PASS ‼️
Spock
May 10, 2026 at 03:35 pm
Hard pass on your horoscope b.s. "Would only compound Gute's mistake of acquiring Zaire Franklin," MISTAKE because of his SIGN? WTF.
GreenandBold
May 10, 2026 at 05:59 pm
Yep I’m sure Gute and MLF already talked about that this morning and came to the same conclusion .
Pizzadoc
May 10, 2026 at 07:20 pm
These hilarious posts give me infinite joy
nagawicka
May 10, 2026 at 05:56 pm
"shore up." It's shore up.
Oppy
May 10, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I came here for this. The world misses active editors as part of the writing and publishing process.
dobber
May 11, 2026 at 07:45 am
"The world misses active editors ..."
How about passive-aggressive nit-pickers?
Oppy
May 11, 2026 at 09:56 pm
I do my best to make sure nobody is lacking their daily dose of passive-aggressive nit-pickers. Although, I don't think my particular brand of nit-picking is passive-aggressive. It's pretty straight forward.
nagawicka
May 12, 2026 at 04:39 am
Agreed! Volunteering an editorial note is really only 'helpful' or useful when no personal judgement, and no passive or aggressive tone is involved. Just nitpicking is never acceptable. One serves the author & his purposes; the other just gets in the way of the message. Me, I'm nobody's Mom, but I'd rather spare my man the author here the indignity of being abused by the Mike Roykos of the world &etc. Having dealt with too many Giants & Jets fans, I'd hate to give say, the *nitpickers* who once inhabited the old Lion's Head Tavern at 59 Christopher Street-- now home to the Kettle of Fish Packers Tavern--> the opportunity to look down on the dairy literary.
Note: Obvsly as a wisconsinite I don't give a rip what new york thinks, this is for any unlicensed grammarian anywhere.
ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/the-1960s-heyday-of-village-bar-the-lions-head/
kettleoffishnyc.com/
golfpacker61
May 10, 2026 at 06:14 pm
Thank you Spock, you beat me to it. And now back from LaLa Land. Njoku is too expensive for what he produces, and he misses too many games so you can't count on him.
The Eagles have a ton of TEs and will be trading, cutting some good ones. The Cowboys have a very solid blocking TE in Luke Schoonmaker that is falling down the depth chart, they are rumored to want to move him. He makes around $400,000 less than Musgrave . He has been about as productive as Musgrave but Dallas hasn't thrown to him much. He at least offers more than just being a great blocker and he hasn't missed a game in 3 years, and was drafted about 12 picks after Musgrave in the same draft.
Alberta_Packer
May 10, 2026 at 08:40 pm
I think that a wide body in-line TE still ranks very high on Gutekunst's shopping list. Understanding, somewhat, Gutekunst's MO - he's just waiting for the end -of-season (off) clearance sales and recyclables.
gsd3
May 11, 2026 at 08:02 am
Dead issue. He just signed with the Chargers. 1 year, up to 8 million.
TKWorldWide
May 11, 2026 at 08:38 am
Dead and moot.
Or
Moot and Dead.
Sounds like a good tag team name.
LeotisHarris
May 11, 2026 at 10:30 am
Definitely from parts unknown.
BuckyBadger
May 11, 2026 at 09:05 am
Hope he didn't spend too much time on this article. He was always going to sign with the Chargers.
PhantomII
May 11, 2026 at 07:51 pm
A STUD blocking TE would be what we need with the OL being, so far ....unimpressive in that arena.....though they may improve....Hopefully...I like the Eagles type TE's, if it were me. Offense would not be horrible, but ML can barely use KRAFT, our Bad Ass TE as it is.