The Green Bay Packers seemed to be on top of the world last season. After trading for Micah Parsons, they were just as dominant as anticipated. But a torn ACL for the superstar edge rusher derailed their season, and they didn’t win a single game thereafter.
This year, as they try to get back on track, the roster needs some improvements. Now, they’ve made one key addition in the form of a former Pro Bowler, drawing widespread acclaim on social media.
Packers Are Making the Right Choices
The Packers’ offense has some questionable depth in the wide receiver room. Despite a bunch of exciting options, they don’t have a true number one on the team. And now their tight end depth is also compromised.
Last season, Tucker Kraft went down with a torn ACL before Luke Musgrave suffered a neck injury during the offseason. As a result, the team needs more depth in that room. They might finally have addressed that need.
Insider Jordan Schultz confirmed on X, “Sources: The Packers are signing former Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith to a 1-year deal. One of the NFL’s most respected veterans, Smith has amassed 345 career catches and 30 TDs.”
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
Nearly a decade into the league, Smith has been a factor for every team he’s suited up for. Last year, he was valuable for the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing 17 games, starting seven and totaling 222 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
As a result, the excitement is palpable for his arrival in Green Bay, with Eli Berkovits of 247 Sports explaining, “Jonnu Smith to the #Packers! This is a fun signing and desperately needed, considering the current TE depth.”
Jonnu Smith to the #Packers!
This is a fun signing and desperately needed considering the current TE depth. https://t.co/aWdT9rJI37
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) August 27, 2026
However, a lot of people were quick to read between the lines about what the signing truly means. Cameron Ezeir of CBS Sports was among them, breaking down the depth of the tight end room.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
“The #Packers bolster their TE room despite Tucker Kraft being back ‘without limitations’ and Josh Whyle impressing, plus other depth at that position, just not very experienced depth,” Ezeir wrote. “Could mean something about Luke Musgrave’s undisclosed neck injury that still hasn’t produced a timeline.”
The #Packers bolster their TE room despite Tucker Kraft being back “without limitations” and Josh Whyle impressing, plus other depth at that position, just not very experienced depth. Could mean something about Luke Musgrave’s undisclosed neck injury that still hasn’t produced a… https://t.co/abah0BOjmn
— Cameron Ezeir (@camezeir) August 27, 2026
Zain Dhanani, formerly of ESPN, also read the tea leaves, explaining, “Makes sense – Luke Musgrave has been TBD with his injury, and a team that likes to utilize 2TE sets needed another guy in the room. Still believe they’ll go 11P a lot more this season, but this makes them more versatile to reliably use 12P still.”
Makes sense – Luke Musgrave has been TBD with his injury and a team that like to utilize 2TE sets needed another guy in the room
Still believe they’ll go 11P a lot more this season, but this makes them more versatile to reliably use 12P still https://t.co/GvdkCRdPHD
— Zain Dhanani (@DhananiZain) August 27, 2026
However, even as the Packers faithful were celebrating, some fantasy football managers were understandably peeved about the signing: “Welp, my Brock Bowers WR1 with Michael Mayer as TE1 & Jonnu Smith as TE2 Dream is dead.”
Some fans, though, quickly turned to jokes, as Daire Carragher claimed, “This is spiritually a Rodgers-McCarthy era Packers signing.”
Kraft ranked fourth on PFN’s TE Impact Rankings last season, so having a quality backup was a priority for Green Bay.
It remains to be seen whether Smith will be enough for the Packers to overcome the potential loss of Musgrave. But for the time being, fans can be understandably excited about the reinforcements the team is bringing in to continue as an NFC contender.
