The Green Bay Packers are making a strategic move to shore up their tight end depth, claiming Luke Lachey off waivers from the Houston Texans on Tuesday, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 251 pounds, Lachey was a seventh-round pick (No. 255 overall) by the Texans in the 2025 NFL Draft. After being waived during final roster cutdowns last August, he spent his entire rookie campaign on Houston's practice squad, gaining valuable experience without seeing regular-season action.
Before entering the NFL, Lachey built a solid résumé at the University of Iowa, where he hauled in 74 receptions for 893 yards and four touchdowns across 42 games. His 2023 season was cut short by an ankle injury after just three games, but he bounced back strong in 2024, catching 28 passes in 12 contests. At his pre-draft workouts, Lachey showcased impressive athleticism: a 4.85-second 40-yard dash, a 35-inch vertical leap, and a 10-foot broad jump, earning him a Relative Athletic Score of 7.42 out of 10.0.
According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein's scouting report, Lachey is a "combination tight end capable of lining up in-line or as a move tight end." However, Zierlein notes that he "lacks the core strength and consistency of a typical 'Y' tight end" and has "average quickness to escape man coverage." On the positive side, Lachey uses "proper leverage in his routes and good body control, along with strong hands, when contested." The key for Lachey will be proving he can "more consistently sustain as a run blocker" to become a reliable three-down player. For now, he's likely competing for a role as a TE3 or TE4.
The Packers have been actively seeking additional tight end depth since the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. Lachey joins a crowded position room that includes Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Josh Whyle, Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson, and undrafted rookie RJ Maryland. With that mix of veterans and young talent, Lachey will need to prove his worth in practice and preseason action to carve out a spot on the final roster.
In a separate transaction, the Packers also claimed cornerback MJ Devonshire off waivers from the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, continuing their efforts to bolster depth across the roster.