Packers fullback isn’t exactly a position you read a lot of articles about. Maybe back in the halcyon days of 2009 when the team had three (3!) full backs on the roster and could go to a full house package with John Kuhn at running back, but certainly not in 2024 when spread offenses have taken over the league – even the run first teams. That doesn’t necessarily mean Matt LaFleur doesn’t want to use the position.
The Matt LaFleur era is full of attempts to mimic what the 49ers have in Kyle Juszczyk and the Dolphins have in Alec Ingold. First, it was Danny Vitale, who lasted just over a season with the team. Then a third-round pick was used on Josiah Deguara, who never quite lived up to that draft spot and didn’t make a 53-man roster this offseason.
More recently, the team flirted with Henry Pearson without playing him much and then LaFleur made some interesting comments about AJ Dillon in a few different press conferences. Talking about how the team planned to use him in a different way and how good he looked last year blocking for Aaron Jones in two-RB formations.
I think LaFleur is yearning for some fullback action and probably spent time dreaming up plays to use a flexible h-back type this offseason after Dillon was signed (I’m speculating here) with the clear intent of using him in that role at least part of the time.
So who could the fullback be this season? Let’s look at a few options.
Tucker Kraft or Ben Sims
I’m going to skip Luke Musgrave because he doesn’t really have any of the traditional fullback features, but both of the team’s other tight ends probably can and will be used as an h-back this season.
Starting with Sims, who the team claimed last year. At 6’5” Sims isn’t too tall for the spot and can also boast a 4.58 40 time and the best run blocking PFF grade among the team’s tight ends last year.
Kraft, is the same height as Sims and about 10 pounds heavier and about 0.10 seconds slower in the 40. His run blocking grade wasn’t as good as Sims but his potential as a blocker is probably better.
I think if the team really wants to get the best possible person at fullback, it’s probably Kraft. Not only does he have the better size for lead blocking, but he has YAC ability that Sims doesn’t.
If they want Kraft to focus on learning the art of inline tight end (very possible), Sims is a very worthy candidate for the spot until they finally find a fulltime fullback.
Andrew Beck
Speaking of actual fullbacks, new practice squad addition Andrew Beck is one. He’s played 66 NFL games as a fullback. Mostly at a “fine” level. He does also have a lot of special teams experience, so that’s nice.
Beck will likely be promoted to the gameday roster a few times and eventually could make it to the 53. The gameday promotions could happen sooner than you’d think since he played in a very similar offense in Houston last year and for Nate Hacket before that.
La’Mical Perine
Perine is obviously a longshot. He is a career running back and is on the Packers’ practice squad because he has been so meh doing that. If I had to guess, I would say it’s more likely that he’ll be let go when Nate McCrary comes back from injury than that he’ll ever play fullback for the Packers. But…
Perine may have the right build for fullback. He’s 5’11 and came in at 216 pounds at the combine. Let’s say he’s added ten pounds since then, he could hold up in a part-time lead blocking role while also being more dynamic as a fullback than he was as a runningback. Remember LaFleur may have been designing plays for an AJ Dillon type – while certainly smaller than Dillon, Perine is still the most similar player on the roster to Dillon right now.
Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in Utah. You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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