Spotlight Potential: Tucker Kraft
Searching for realistic expectations on the Packers starting tight end heading into year three.
How much upside potential does Tucker Kraft really have? To put it simply, a lot. In his first two seasons, Kraft has ascended from a 3rd round draft pick out of South Dakota State to a reliable target for Jordan Love, a crazy impressive yards after the catch playmaker, one hell of a blocker in the pass and run game, and a bona fide fan favorite among cheesehead nation.
In a game against the Rams this last season, Kraft reached a top speed of 19.70 mph on a 66-yard touchdown reception. To put in perspective, Cowboy’s receiver KaVonte Turpin hit the fastest speed mark running 22.36 mph. Turpin weighs roughly 152 lbs at 5’ 10” while Kraft weighs roughly 258 lbs at 6’ 5”. Makes you wonder like a Vince Lombardi quote, what in the superhuman hell is going on out there?
It is the little things he does that makes him a special player.
The intangibles go a long way. I have been lucky to watch him live in a couple games and let me tell you, I am convinced that the ceiling is so high on Kraft it is equivalent to a rocket orbiting the moon in space. You can not convince me otherwise. I am invested in the Kraft stock with no intention of selling it.
In the two games I have seen him live, one against the 49ers in the divisional round playoffs and the other against the Seahawks in week 15, he has accumulated a total of 5 catches for 44 yards with his longest reception being 26 yards and 1 touchdown. He arguably had the block of the game against San Francisco leading the way setting up that 57 yard “how did he not score?” run by Aaron Jones. Against Seattle, he was a menace on the offensive line as an additional key contributor to Josh Jacobs running for 136 yards.
Taking a look at the history books.
Since 1992, some of the best Packers tight ends in my lifetime to name of few have been Robert Tonyan (2018-2022), Jermichael Finley (2008-2013), Bubba Franks (2000-2007), and Mark Chmura (1993-1999). Here are stats of what their best seasons looked like compared to Kraft’s 2024 campaign:
- Chmura in 1995 played in 16 games catching 54 passes for 679 yards and 7 touchdowns leading the league in that category while making the Pro Bowl. Team won the Super Bowl.
- Franks in 2001 played in 16 games catching 60 passes for 642 yards and 9 touchdowns leading the team in that category while making the Pro Bowl. Team lost in the Wild Card round.
- Finley in 2011 played in 16 games catching 55 passes for 767 yards and 8 touchdowns while leading the league in reception yards for a tight end. He is second on the Packers all-time in reception yards for a season. Team lost in the Divisional Round.
- Tonyan in 2020 played in 16 games catching 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns leading the team in that category while tying for the most in a season by a tight end in Packers history. Team lost in the NFC Championship.
- Kraft in 2024 played in 17 games catching 50 passes for 707 yards and 7 touchdowns leading the team in that category. His receiving yards is fourth all-time in Packers history for a tight end. Team lost in the wild card round.
What are some common things we notice?
Every tight end who had their best season resulted in the team making the playoffs. Tight end production is a key to Green Bay’s engine on the road to success. No doubt Kraft has all the elevating factors to be a top tight end in the league.
Another observation is that each tight end played in every game of the season, the best ability is availability. Also, every tight end caught 50 plus passes, had over 580 yards and at least 7 touchdowns resulting as a legit red zone threat. Kraft accomplished these milestones in only his second season.
Paul Coffman in 1983 led the Packers in receiving yards recording 814 on only 54 catches with 11 touchdowns. This is considered the greatest season in Green Bay's history for a tight end. It is not unfathomable that Kraft can break these records and get over the 1,000 yard mark with how he is able to gain yards after the catch. I think it is a favorable bet Kraft will eventually break Coffman’s receiving yard record along with his and Tonyan’s 11 touchdowns in a season. How do you see Kraft’s potential?
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Mitchell Adams is a passionate lifelong Packer fan bringing a unique West Coast perspective, and also produces multiple podcast platforms, is a published author, and a proud Packers shareholder. Follow him on X at @mitchadams209.
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Comments (25)
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LLCHESTY
May 06, 2025 at 10:20 pm
Pretty little liar though.
dblbogey
May 06, 2025 at 02:36 pm
Use Kraft early and often. The OL looks solid with a big improvement at Center and finally some depth. With Kraft, Jacobs, Marshawn Lloyd, Golden and Jayden Reed and maybe Wicks, Love has a good cast. It depends on injury luck, and how well Love plays.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 06, 2025 at 09:24 pm
I consider the biggest single variable this season to be MLF. Can he develop everyone? Evaluate talent? Call plays that utilize it all? He utterly failed in that singular goal last year and I'm afraid he has yet to take that to heart. I'd like to believe he has it within him to step it up, but recognizing that there's a problem is always the first step. Marry the pass and run games and fool at least one opponent on one play in one game, you can do it, Coach!
GPG
T7Steve
May 07, 2025 at 06:23 am
I still believe that Love and thus the play calling were hobbled more than they let on. For instance, how many time was he under center in the last 3 games and playoff? That's the biggest tell that we used to bitch about ARod about.
GregC
May 06, 2025 at 02:40 pm
Enjoyed the video clip. That's exactly how I get up off the ground when I'm lying on my back.
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 03:35 pm
Kraft has earned a chance at a bigger role in the offense.
Savage57
May 06, 2025 at 04:14 pm
The biggest factor in Kraft's ascendance is going to be how well Matt game plans the offense around Kraft, and features him in the offense vis a vis a Kittle, Kelce, or Gronkowski.
Should that occur, the onus then transfers to Kraft to deliver upon the faith and confidence he'sbeen shown.
And imagine how it could open up the Packers dowfield game, should Love find a way of improving his deep ball accuracy.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 06, 2025 at 09:29 pm
MLF should design plays in the order of our playmakers: #8 85 and 11, in that order. So yes, Kraft should be given a key role. There's not a doubt in my mind that he'll deliver, well over and above all reasonable expectations. (With it a given that #11 might be beaten as our top WR before the first preseason game in this extremely competitive WR room. I still believe in him but he should have to PROVE it)
JL10 is extremely accurate at all levels including deep. He hasn't been CONSISTENT. A leaky O line is the single biggest variable there. His bad habits did not exist in TC before he was always harassed in the regular season. I'm frankly more concerned with his inconsistency tossing very short, which should be easy layups; I think that has to be a concentration error, taking completions for granted instead of employing the necessary mental activity which we very much HAVE seen him do on some GREAT short passes. He's completely capable of it, we just need him to produce like a machine. (Even though I used the word "extremely" for his accuracy, he's still not as accurate as AR12 in his prime. But who is?)
GPG!
GregC
May 07, 2025 at 09:43 am
Actually, Love's bad habits DID exist in training camp last year. He threw way too many interceptions in spite of not having to deal with the threat of being hit. He needs to clean up his act in training camp this year so the bad habits don't bleed into the regular season again.
BuckyBadger
May 08, 2025 at 07:14 am
JL10 is not accurate with the football. His mechanics are poor and he has a tendency to miss even short targets because of it. To say he is extremely accurate just isn't true. JL has had bad habits that have existed since college and he hasn't improved on them. The O-line rates as one of the better units and he through a lot of INTs in camp last year. He needs to improve or he will be on shaky ground at the end of the year.
BuckyBadger
May 08, 2025 at 07:17 am
Kraft has plays for him, he doesn't need the coach to cater to him specifically. Just go out there and do your job and you will get the ball. The onus is always on the player so the coach can be comfortable with him. It is on the player, not the coach, to prove he is worthy of more of the offense. As Kraft shows that he will get the job more. He had a real good 2nd year and I expect that to get even better.
dobber
May 08, 2025 at 09:57 am
I like this approach best. I'll be interested to see what personnel groupings the Packers tend to favor as the season goes on. Kraft is an effective blocker, and the run game's progression last season meant Kraft just didn't get the opportunities he deserved.
Unlike past QBs funneling passes to their favorites, it seems 10 so far is willing to look across the offense to different players. He likes to throw the floaters outside the numbers, so guys who run those routes are going to get the flashy chances.
PeteK
May 06, 2025 at 07:10 pm
I believe Musgrave will return to his 2023 form, and be part of an excellent TE duo.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 06, 2025 at 09:43 pm
I sure hope MLF at least tries it! I'd also love to see sets with 1 WR, 2 RBs and 2 TEs. Also 6 O linemen.
I think part of getting JL10's completion rate up is using fewer WRs per game, giving those thrown to a chance to "get in the game," go to the hot hand, etc.
dobber
May 08, 2025 at 10:16 am
I like the idea of varying personnel groups is very attractive to me...and I think Savion Williams creates some real versatility in how they use people. They're likely to need to scheme him some very specific looks early, but that also helps to make him a very effective decoy.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 06, 2025 at 09:19 pm
Welcome!
I point out that #85 sustained a very major injury requiring surgery, with complicating injuries following. You simply do not play every game in an NFL season and have injuries to a pec and later a shoulder, and have any of it actually heal back to 100%. Maybe you recover some strength, maybe it bothers you a little less, but more likely you just get accustomed to the suffering and the additional new aches and pains incurred throughout the season drown out the old more major injury.
In other words, last season #85 played at some fraction of his actual ability, and could STILL put together a season like that?!? Ok, what can he do without a major injury to any major muscle group affecting upper body strength? And don't forget he rubs elbows with #8 and his 500+ pound bench press ...
I think our proven playmakers are, in order, #8 85 and 11. (With JL10 of course being involved in every play, making it all go) I hope to see play selection reflect that this season, with the exception that it's a whole new season with legendary competition in the WR room.
GPG!
PS I'd love to see Marshawn Lloyd as our return man on both kickoffs and punts. This would mean he's proven that fumbling is a thing in his past and his ability in the open field proves to translate to the NFL. I would hate to see any of our WRs risked in that role, with the possible exceptions of Micole Hardman (if that's really primarily why Gutey brought him here and he can't otherwise get on the field due to merit, something I do NOT see as a foregone conclusion) or maybe Savion simply because he's built far more durably than the typical WR but again only IF he can't earn his way onto the field otherwise. Again, that's not a result I expect, even if that gives him a redshirt rookie season.
LeotisHarris
May 06, 2025 at 09:50 pm
I think if we look at some common things we notice, the ceiling is so high on Kraft it is equivalent to a rocket orbiting the moon in space.
LLCHESTY
May 06, 2025 at 10:11 pm
Kraft needs 50% more targets than he got last year, at least two more a week. That's roughly about the average targets of the top 10 TEs.
Coldworld
May 06, 2025 at 11:49 pm
He also needs to not be chipping as much, which will allow more opportunities for fully developed routes and pass of a check down variety.
dobber
May 08, 2025 at 10:30 am
His tenacity and RAC ability means that even short check-downs can become bigger gains.
LambeauPlain
May 07, 2025 at 07:40 am
Chewy had a great season in 1995 but the Packers did not win the SB that year. That happened after the 1996 season.
It would be great if Musgrave started playing like he did as a rookie. His injuries seem to have caused a long hangover. If something happens to Kraft...Trouble!
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