The Green Bay Packers have made a pair of waiver-wire claims to bolster their cornerback and tight end rooms as they prepare for OTAs later this month.
According to the NFL’s daily transaction wire for May 12, the Packers claimed former Las Vegas Raiders seventh-round cornerback M.J. Devonshire and former Houston Texans seventh-round tight end Luke Lachey off waivers on Tuesday afternoon.
Devonshire — a 2024 seventh-round pick — has spent time with four teams over his first two seasons in the NFL, but he has yet to play a regular-season snap. Most recently, he closed out the 2025 regular season with a practice-squad role for the Buffalo Bills, who extended him a reserve/future contract in January but waived him earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Lachey — a 2025 seventh-rounder — comes from a similar situation, having spent his rookie season on the Texans’ practice squad without playing a regular-season snap. The 6-foot-6, 251-pound tight end caught five of his six targets in the preseason, though, and had 74 receptions for 893 yards and four touchdowns in four years at Iowa.
The Packers have now filled the only two empty spots on their 90-man offseason roster, bringing them to capacity before they hold their nine organized team activities (OTAs) between May 26 and June 18 and their mandatory veteran minicamp from June 9-11.
Can M.J. Devonshire Push for Spot With Cornerbacks?
Devonshire lands in Green Bay with an open door to competing for a depth spot in their cornerback rotation for the 2026 season, but can he get his NFL career back on track?
When he came into the league as a seventh-round selection, Devonshire seemed to have the upside to become a regular contributor in multiple phases. He made use of his long arms and aggressive coverage tendencies to rack up good ball production over his three seasons at Pittsburgh, recording eight interceptions and 30 pass breakups in 38 games.
Devonshire also showcased blazing-fast speed with a 4.45-second time in the 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine, which helped him reach the end zone on four different returns — three pick-sixes and one punt return — in his final two seasons at Pittsburgh. He averaged 7.5 yards per punt return over his career, gaining 347 yards on 46 returns.
Even still, Devonshire has struggled to break through in the NFL. He was gouged for yardage in his first preseason with the Raiders, giving up six receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown on just seven targets. He fared better in his second preseason with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, but he still failed to make their initial 53-man roster.
If Devonshire can show improvement over the next few months, though, there is a good chance he can push for one of the bottom roster spots in the Packers’ cornerback room. Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste and 2026 rookie draft picks Brandon Cisse (second) and Domani Jackson (sixth) all seem likely to make the team, but the sixth cornerback spot is up for grabs — and may go to a special teams guy.
Luke Lachey Could Win Packers’ No. 3 Tight End Job
Devonshire isn’t the only one of the Packers’ two waiver claims who could potentially challenge for a spot on the team’s 53-man roster during training camp later this year.
Lachey didn’t work out with the Texans after spending his entire rookie season on their practice squad, but the big-bodied former Hawkeye has an opportunity to stick with the Packers, who have been searching for more tight end depth throughout the offseason.
Packers starter Tucker Kraft is still recovering from an ACL tear in his right knee that he sustained during Week 9’s loss to the Carolina Panthers on November 2. While there is optimism that he could be ready in time for Week 1, given that he will be roughly 10 months removed from his injury at the time, it is unclear exactly when he will return.
Even if Kraft is ready, the Packers lack clarity for their No. 3 tight end role. They have Luke Musgrave, a 2023 second-round pick, penciled in as their top backup, but Josh Whyle, Drake Dabney, Messiah Swinson and undrafted rookie RJ Maryland are all in the mix for the third spot with Lachey. With a strong camp, he could make a real push.
Packers Add Ex-Raiders Cornerback Off Waivers in Pair of Roster Moves