The Green Bay Packers are 5-2-1 following their loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Not only did they suffer a defeat in a game that they should have easily won, but they also lost tight end Tucker Kraft for the rest of the season.
Kraft tore his ACL, which paved the way for many tight ends getting linked to them ahead of the trade deadline. One of them is David Njoku, a player the Cleveland Browns could potentially part ways with.
Latest on Packers’ Interest in David Njoku
Ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, CBS Sports’ NFL insider Jonathan Jones provided clarity on the Packers’ tight end situation.
“Once the news on Tucker Kraft’s ACL tear came through, my phone lit up with sources wondering if Green Bay would look to add a tight end,” Jones wrote. “The obvious choice was David Njoku in Cleveland. But the word I’m getting is the Packers may sit tight, increasing the role of Luke Musgrave and relying on the ground game with Josh Jacobs and their receivers group.”
“Green Bay made its big trade with Micah Parsons,” He continued. “And it’s not a franchise that makes a desperate move just before the deadline.”
The Packers selected Musgrave with the 42nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In 26 games so far in his career, the Oregon State product has recorded 50 receptions for 485 yards and a touchdown on 66 targets.
Luke Musgrave🟢
Rostered in 1% of Leagues
Under the radar player but with Kraft out for the season, he slides into his role
And I’ve always been a Musgrave fan so now is his time to shine
Plus TEs have been disappointing so it’s worth a shot🤷♂️pic.twitter.com/1rC1LylErx
— Bryce DeGroat (@NFL_Convo) November 4, 2025
Musgrave’s role in the Packers’ offense decreased after Kraft’s ascension into stardom. However, he now has the opportunity to prove his worth to the franchise.
MORE: 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Tracker
The Packers fans believe he is talented enough to contribute in Kraft’s absence. Moreover, given that the NFC North franchise has already traded two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) to acquire Parsons, it would be better for them to find an in-house solution at tight end instead of getting someone like Njoku.
It will be tough for any tight end to match Kraft’s production, as he had 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before his injury. The Packers star is also ranked as the best tight end in the league based on PFSN’s TEi metric.
However, with Christian Watson back on the field, the Packers will still have enough playmakers on the field to help out Jordan Love. Musgrave has nine receptions for 88 yards this season, and it’s now time for him to become a household name in Green Bay.
The Packers offense is currently ranked fifth in the league based on PFSN’s OFFi metric, and they are averaging 25.8 points per game. Star running back Josh Jacobs is surprisingly averaging just 3.8 yards per carry this season, and for Green Bay to overcome Kraft’s injury, Jacobs has to play like he did last season.