The Green Bay Packers found themselves in a tight end bind midway through the 2025 season - and it wasn’t just a depth issue, it was a full-blown drop-off in production after Tucker Kraft went down.
Kraft was in the middle of what looked like an All-Pro caliber campaign before tearing his ACL in Week 9 against the Panthers. His absence didn’t just leave a hole in the lineup - it altered the entire dynamic of Matt LaFleur’s offense. The Packers suddenly lacked the consistency and versatility at tight end that had become a key part of their identity.
With Kraft sidelined, Luke Musgrave and John FitzPatrick were asked to step up. Green Bay even promoted Josh Whyle from the practice squad to try and patch things together.
But let’s be honest - none of them came close to matching what Kraft was bringing to the table. The offense lost a reliable chain-mover, a red-zone threat, and a blocker capable of holding his own in Green Bay’s run-heavy looks.
Then things got worse. FitzPatrick suffered an Achilles injury later in the season, and with his contract expiring, he’s headed toward unrestricted free agency.
That likely spells the end of his time in Green Bay. Meanwhile, Musgrave enters the final year of his rookie deal, and unless something changes dramatically, it’s hard to picture him as part of the long-term plan past 2026.
All of that puts tight end squarely on GM Brian Gutekunst’s offseason radar. This is no longer just a depth concern - it’s a roster-building priority. Enter: Lake McRee.
The USC product is a name to watch as the Packers scan the draft board for a value pick with upside. At 6'3", 251 pounds, McRee has the frame and the production to warrant serious Day 3 consideration. Over five seasons with the Trojans, he hauled in 97 passes for 1,142 yards and seven touchdowns - numbers that don’t leap off the page at first glance, but his final season told a different story.
McRee broke out in 2025, not just in terms of volume but in efficiency and impact. He posted career highs across the board - targets, receptions, yards, touchdowns, and yards per route run - and became a go-to option in USC’s passing game.
Of his 30 receptions, 21 moved the chains. That’s the kind of situational reliability that translates at the next level.
And it wasn’t just the box score. McRee showed natural body control, soft hands, and the ability to pluck the ball away from his frame. He became a trusted target for Jayden Maiava, helping re-establish the tight end position as a meaningful part of USC’s offense after a 2024 season that saw Trojan tight ends shut out of the end zone entirely.
What makes McRee particularly intriguing for Green Bay is how his skill set meshes with LaFleur’s scheme. The Packers lean heavily on 12-personnel - two tight end sets - and they demand versatility from their TEs.
McRee checks a lot of those boxes. He can line up inline, shift across the formation, and contribute in both outside-zone and split-flow blocking concepts.
He’s also effective off play-action, finding space quickly and finishing catches - a must in Green Bay’s rhythm-based passing game.
The fit makes sense. But there’s a catch.
McRee’s blocking still needs work. While the effort is there - and he’s no stranger to the physicality of the run game - his technique and point-of-attack strength are still developing.
His best run-blocking grade in college came back in 2021, and even then, it was a modest 58.7. That won’t cut it in a Packers offense that expects tight ends to hold their ground.
That said, he’s not starting from scratch. Early in his USC career, McRee was primarily used as a run blocker, especially during a stretch when the Trojans lost their top two backs to injury. That gave him a foundation to build on, and he showed he could at least hold his own when asked to help keep the ground game moving.
Green Bay’s offensive identity - playing under center, leaning into the run, and using physical linemen to control the line of scrimmage - hinges on tight ends who can do it all. That’s why FitzPatrick saw more snaps than Musgrave down the stretch. If McRee can take the next step as a blocker, he has a clear path to carving out a role as TE2 behind Kraft, with the potential to grow into something more.
The Packers don’t need another tight end just to fill a roster spot - they need someone who can contribute in multiple phases of the game. Lake McRee may not be a finished product, but he’s got the tools, the production, and the scheme fit to become a valuable piece in Green Bay’s evolving offense.