Green Bay Packers sign TE Luke Lachey

Luke Lachey's one-year, $892,500 signing earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI) — fair value for a depth tight end on a prove-it deal that carries no long-term cap burden. At less than $1M annually, the floor is high; the Packers are betting minimal dollars on a backup-to-depth role, which aligns the financial risk with the upside opportunity. For context, this is replacement-level salary in the NFL tight end market, the kind of contract teams deploy on camp bodies and third-string contributors who may develop into useful rotational pieces without forcing cap strain. The one-year structure means there's zero dead-cap tail and full optionality heading into 2027, so even if Lachey doesn't stick on the active roster, the financial hemorrhaging is contained. Whether he justifies the dollars depends entirely on whether he emerges as a legitimate tight end rotation piece or remains a special-teams reserve; at this price, the Packers have constructed a low-risk, modest-reward bet that reflects fair market value for a depth signing during the offseason. The C grade reflects neither a bargain nor an overpay — it's a straightforward, uneventful transaction at the right price for the tier of player and opportunity being offered.