Packers’ third-year player predicted to take major jump from last season

When the Green Bay Packers picked Luke Musgrave in the second round and Tucker Kraft in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the idea likely was that at least one would develop into a reliable safety net for Jordan Love.

Last season was a challenging one for Musgrave, who suffered an ankle injury, resulting in him undergoing surgery. As a result, the 24-year-old appeared in seven games, posting seven receptions and 45 receiving yards. Due to the injury, Musgrave’s sophomore year in the NFL was a wash, but it did lead to Kraft having a more prominent role.

Being the security blanket for Love, Kraft played in 17 games, recording 50 receptions, 707 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. It was a solid second season in the NFL for the 24-year-old.

Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Channel 3000’s Jason Wilde previewed the Packers’ tight end position. While only in his third year in the NFL, Wilde noted that Kraft is coming into his own as a leader on the Green Bay squad.

“We already know how good Kraft is and how good he potentially could become,” Wilde wrote. “But the area he’s shown the most growth over the last several months has been in terms of his leadership.”

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Furthermore, he offered a bold prediction regarding Kraft, as Wilde believes the Packers’ tight end will lead all NFL tight ends in touchdown catches this year.

“The truly top-flight tight ends are game-changers with their red-zone production and reliability when points are at a premium, and that’s another area where Kraft can get even better,”

“Last season, Baltimore’s Mark Andrews (11), San Francisco’s George Kittle (eight) and Miami’s Jonnu Smith (eight) were the only tight ends in the NFL with more TD catches than Kraft.”

With Christian Watson expected to miss a large chunk of the 2025 season after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in the Packers’ 2024 finale against the Chicago Bears, Kraft has the opportunity to emerge as one of Love’s go-to red zone targets and become a potential leader among tight ends in touchdowns.