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It may take some time before John FitzPatrick<\/span><\/span><\/strong> receives his next opportunity in the NFL. The former Green Bay Packers<\/span><\/span><\/strong> tight end remains unsigned in free agency, and there has been little league-wide buzz surrounding his potential landing spots.<\/p>\n After spending the past two seasons in Green Bay, FitzPatrick now finds himself waiting while teams address the tight end market with bigger names.<\/p>\n The 2025 season forced the Packers into a difficult situation at tight end. Starter Tucker Kraft<\/span><\/span><\/strong> suffered a season-ending injury, creating a significant gap in the offense.<\/p>\n At first, the expectation was that Luke Musgrave<\/span><\/span><\/strong> would see the largest increase in playing time. However, the situation also gave FitzPatrick a chance to earn more snaps and potentially improve his value heading into free agency.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the opportunity did not translate into a breakout performance. FitzPatrick later suffered a season-ending injury of his own, cutting short any momentum he might have built.<\/p>\n FitzPatrick entered the league as a sixth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, but his career has largely been defined by blocking duties rather than receiving production.<\/p>\n Over the last two seasons with Green Bay, he appeared in 24 games<\/strong>, including four starts<\/strong> during the 2025 campaign. His overall numbers remain modest:<\/p>\n 13 receptions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 74 receiving yards<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 1 touchdown<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Those statistics reflect the role he typically played in the Packers offense\u2014serving primarily as a blocking tight end rather than a pass-catching threat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n According to Pro Football Focus<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, FitzPatrick\u2019s average depth of target was only 2.8 yards<\/strong>, indicating he was mostly used as a short outlet option for the quarterback.<\/p>\n He averaged:<\/p>\n 6 yards per catch<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 4.6 yards after the catch<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n While he occasionally helped extend plays, he was rarely involved in downfield passing concepts.<\/p>\n Although his receiving numbers were limited, FitzPatrick did show value as a blocker.<\/p>\n Pro Football Focus graded him at:<\/p>\n 73.6 in pass blocking<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 66.0 in run blocking<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Those numbers suggest he can still contribute in offenses that emphasize physical running games or two-tight-end formations.<\/p>\n For teams looking strictly for a blocking specialist, FitzPatrick could still represent an affordable option.<\/p>\n One of the biggest challenges for FitzPatrick is that the tight end free-agent market is already filling up.<\/p>\n Several prominent veterans have drawn interest across the league, including:<\/p>\n Dallas Goedert<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, who recently re-signed with the Philadelphia Eagles<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n David Njoku<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Jonnu Smith<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Zach Ertz<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n With those bigger names drawing attention, teams may wait until later in the offseason before considering lower-profile options like FitzPatrick.<\/p>\n According to contract projections from Spotrac<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, FitzPatrick\u2019s next deal is expected to be modest.<\/p>\n His projected contract is roughly:<\/p>\n 1 year<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n $1.2 million<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n For most NFL teams, that type of deal would be financially manageable, which suggests that health and upside<\/strong> may be the primary factors influencing his current lack of interest.<\/p>\n Despite the quiet market, FitzPatrick\u2019s career may not be over.<\/p>\n Teams often sign veteran depth players later in the offseason when:<\/p>\n Injuries occur during training camp<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Roster competitions create openings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Coaches decide they need additional blocking help<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If FitzPatrick can prove he is fully healthy, he could still land with a team looking for a reliable blocking tight end<\/strong>.<\/p>\n For now, however, the former Packers player appears likely to wait until the major free agents are signed before receiving his next opportunity in the league<\/strong>. \ud83c\udfc8<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Former Packers TE John FitzPatrick Facing Quiet Free Agency Market It may take some time before John FitzPatrick receives his next opportunity in the NFL. The former… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":165365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-165364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nInjuries Opened the Door in Green Bay<\/h2>\n
\nLimited Production in Three NFL Seasons<\/h2>\n
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\nBlocking Remains His Strongest Skill<\/h2>\n
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\nTight End Market Moving Without Him<\/h2>\n
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\nProjected Contract Value<\/h2>\n
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\nWaiting for the Right Opportunity<\/h2>\n
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