South Dakota State Tight End Tucker Kraft - Photo by Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – On Friday night, the Green Bay Packers made significant moves to address the tight end position.
The Packers selected South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft at 78 overall after picking Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrove in the second round.
Kraft, like Musgrave, is an outstanding athlete. At 6-foot-5, 254-pound physique he ran a 4.69 forty-yard dash and had outstanding all-around numbers at South Dakota State.
He can contribute early on as a run blocker as an in-line “Y” tight end, a position where Musgrave will most likely need to develop. This tight-end combo should be an exciting pairing for Jordan Love as the Packers are likely to play 12 personnel groupings in 2023 and beyond.
Sporting News graded the pick a C saying, “The Packers made a curious move here to get Kraft after also drafting Luke Musgrave in the second round because they are similar players. They are hoping that one pays off as a key intermediate athletic target for Jordan Love, but it came at the expense of defensive needs.”
Pro Football Network also weighed in on the Kraft selection giving it an A+ saying, “Kraft passes all the physical thresholds, and he’s also an instinctive catcher in space. He’s not quite the dynamic vertical threat that Musgrave is. Rather, Kraft does most of his damage working up the seam, as well as catching short passes in stride over the middle of the field. He’s one of the class’ best RAC threats with his contact balance and physicality, and he’s also a terrific blocker.”
The Packers went from having just two true tight ends on the roster with a total of 48 career receptions to adding two excellent athletes who will hopefully play significant roles on this team for many seasons to come.
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