The addition of Smith brings several tangible benefits. First, he is a reliable pass catcher who already understands the Packers’ offensive framework. Smith has familiarity with the scheme from his time with Matt LaFleur in Tennessee back in 2018, as well as experience with variants of the same system under Arthur Smith and Mike McDaniel. His productive 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins, where he posted 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, demonstrates his ability to function as a meaningful receiving threat in modern tight-end-centric offenses. This level of production provides a blueprint for how Green Bay can deploy 12 personnel to create favorable matchups and rhythm for quarterback Jordan Love.
Second, Smith offers a reasonable blocking presence. While he may not be regarded as a mauler in the run game, throughout his career he has shown enough competence to contribute to effective run schemes. Early in his career with the Titans, he was a solid run blocker, and while those responsibilities shifted in later years, he has enough versatility to hold up in various packages. For a head coach and coordinator who emphasize scheming and mismatches, having a tight end who can contribute in the run game while also running routes creates valuable flexibility. Smith’s presence helps broaden the Packers’ arsenal, making it more difficult for defenses to predict the personnel and alignments Green Bay will use.
The strategic value of aligning two tight ends on the field—often in 12 personnel—extends beyond simple personnel counts. With Smith joining Kraft, Green Bay gains a duo capable of both receiving and blocking, which can alter how defenses respond. Kraft’s return from an ACL injury is a significant development for the team. Kraft is a versatile option who can contribute as a pass catcher and huddle-friendly target, creating a dynamic where the Packers can deploy multiple configurations to keep defenses off balance. Smith’s experience and established skill set complement Kraft, potentially elevating the overall effectiveness of the position group.
From a schematic perspective, the use of 12 personnel can unlock advantageous scenarios for Love. The Packers have faced offensive line challenges, and deploying two tight ends can enhance pass protection by providing extra bodies at the point of attack. This alignment can force defenses into base packages, typically featuring linebackers and linemen, which in turn can create opportunities for the Packers to exploit with play-action passes, quick strikes, and intermediate routes. The presence of two capable tight ends also opens the door for more diverse run schemes, including power and gap schemes that rely on blocking versatility and option opportunities.
In terms of matchup dynamics, the personnel combination of Kraft and Smith offers multiple avenues for Green Bay. If defenses respond with base packages, the Packers can exploit the physicality of Kraft and Smith as blockers, creating run lanes and sustainable ground gains. If defenses counter with nickel or lighter fronts to match the increased speed on the field, Kraft and Smith can still present a receiving threat that stretches the defense horizontally and vertically, enabling Love to target open windows in the middle of the field or along the seams. The wide receivers—Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, both known for speed and route-running ability—can further stress defenses by providing vertical and horizontal stretch.
The broader implication is a more complete tight end room that changes the equation for Green Bay’s offense. The team does not necessarily rely on a dominant offensive line to establish a successful ground game; instead, it can create confusion and mismatches through personnel grouping and movement. By pairing Kraft and Smith on the field, the Packers gain a spectrum of options: Kraft as a primary receiving threat and Smith as a versatile blocker-receiver who can execute routes with precision. The combination allows LaFleur to design plays that leverage both players’ strengths, keeping defenses uncertain about which player might be targeted and how the play will develop.
In summary, the signing of Jonnu Smith provides a strategic upgrade to Green Bay’s tight end room at a time when depth and versatility were needed. Smith’s receiving capability, familiarity with the team’s scheme, and competent blocking ability create a balanced duo with Kraft that can contribute to a more dynamic and unpredictable offense. If both tight ends stay healthy and develop a strong on-field rapport, the Packers’ 12 personnel packages could become a more reliable and productive cornerstone of the offense heading into the upcoming season. This development has the potential to help Jordan Love operate more efficiently by presenting defenses with harder choices, ultimately contributing to more consistent production for the Green Bay offense.
