news-engine

← american_football

Packers’ Jonnu Smith makes strong statement on Tucker Kraft’s place among TEs

ClutchPoints · Gerard Angelo Samillano · 2026-09-02T12:14:57+00:00 · nguồn gốc

The Green Bay Packers have one of the best tight ends in the league in Tucker Kraft. A potential breakout candidate last season, Kraft's 2025 campaign was cut short after he suffered a torn ACL midway through the season. In the short time he played, though, Kraft showed his potential as a legitimate receiving threat for the Green Bay offense Outside of Kraft, though, the Packers are a little thin at the tight end position. Because of that, they signed veteran tight end Jonnu Smith as a potential curveball in the offense. Smith had nothing but praise for the star tight end, saying that he's the best player in their position group. “Man, I told Tuck as soon as I, the first day I met him in person that I thought he was the best guy up until, you know, obviously,” Smith told reporters. “Unfortunately he went down, you know, at our position, I thought he was the best guy, you know, in a run and pass game. So, you know, for him to be at that age that he's at and putting that product to work out on the field, you know, it's good to see.” Kraft was injured in the middle of the 2025 season. Prior to suffering his injury, the Packers tight end was playing the best football of his young career. He caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games, averaging a career-high 61.1 yards per game. Kraft is currently embroiled in contract negotiations with the Packers regarding his new contract. Despite the current noise surrounding him and the franchise, the star tight end is committed to playing for Green Bay this season. “I will be on the field to play for the Green Bay Packers, regardless of any contract situation, because I love this team, and you can't replicate this locker room anywhere else in the NFL,” Kraft said. As for Smith, the veteran tight end last played for the Steelers in 2025. He caught 38 passes for 222 yards last season as a depth option for Pittsburgh between Darnell Washington and Pat Friermuth.