When it was reported earlier on Tuesday that international kicker Lenny Krieg was signed by the Green Bay Packers, but that Krieg wasn’t designated as the Packers’ international exemption player moving forward, it raised some eyebrows. That role, apparently, was going to go to tight end Thomas Yassmin following the release of edge rusher Dante Barnett, who previously served as the Packers’ exemption player.
In total, here were the moves that the Packers made on Tuesday, following a nine-man workout
on Monday:
- Signed K Lenny Krieg
- Signed TE Thomas Yassmin (international exemption)
- Waived EDGE Dante Barnett
- Waived K Lucas Havrisik
Below is the blurb we wrote about Yassmin yesterday:
Yassmin is a former rugby player who is eligible to be designated as an international exemption player (currently a spot taken by edge rusher Dante Barnett). Yassmin transitioned to football in South Wales before joining Utah’s football team. After six years of college football, he got his NFL start with the Denver Broncos and was also a member of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. He was drafted in the CFL’s global draft as the 14th overall pick in the 2024 class, becoming the second tight end off the board (five of the first nine picks were kickers or punters, for perspective).
When the Broncos signed Yassmin, he received $47,000 in guarantees. For reference, the Packers signed R.J. Maryland to $15,000 in guaranteed money this offseason. Yassmin’s initial signing cost dwarfs more than half of Green Bay’s 2026 UDFA signings.
Between being let go by the Broncos and signing with the Chargers, Yassmin also worked out with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. Yassmin was waived by Los Angeles in May.
Notably, the Packers worked out three tight ends (and four running backs) on Monday out of the nine players they brought in. Green Bay placed both Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp.
On paper, the following tight ends are healthy at the start of camp, following the addition of Yassmin:
- Josh Whyle
- Luke Lachey (signed post-draft this offseason)
- Messiah Swinson
- Drake Dabney
- R.J. Maryland (UDFA rookie)
- Thomas Yassmin
For what it’s worth, the Packers can add the international exemption status to Krieg in the future if they would like to. This is to say that if the team wanted to move on from Yassmin once Kraft and/or Musgrave get healthy, Krieg can slide into the international exemption slot and free up another roster spot for an American player.
