Green Bay’s General Manager Brian Gutekunst sought two game-breaking difference-makers at tight end before the draft.
Since Jermichael Finley’s unfortunate career-ending neck injury in 2013, the Green Bay Packers haven’t had a tight end who could stretch the field. Sure, Robert Tonyan had one good year in 2020, but outside of that, Green Bay hasn’t done well in drafting and developing tight ends that made an impact on offense.
That was until the 2023 NFL Draft, where Gutekunst hit on two tight ends, Luke Musgrave out of Oregon State and Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State.
Not only have those two have been difference makers on offense, but recently, they joined elite company.
Green Bay Packers rookie tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave have been top-performing rookies at the tight end position this season.
This was a good year for GM Brian Gutekunst.
Not only getting two high-end tight ends, but hitting on younger skill position players such as Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, and throwing in players playing a massive role coming off the practice squad (Bo Melton) or undrafted (Malik Heath.)
Recently. Kraft and Musgrave became the second pair of tight ends to do this.
(Via Jacob Morley) Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave are the second rookie tight end combo since the 1970 merger to both have 25+ catches, 300+ receiving yards, and at least one receiving touchdown since Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez did it in the 2010-11 NFL season.
Kraft and Musgrave are the second rookie TE combo since the 1970 merger to both have
25+ catches
300 + receiving yards
at least one receiving TDThe other pair:
Rob Gronkowski
Aaron HernandezPer @packers dope sheet. pic.twitter.com/607Gfsx8gz
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) January 3, 2024
That stat is crazy, considering Musgrave has missed over a month with a lacerated kidney but is hopeful to return in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears.
Meanwhile, Kraft has stepped up and served as a battering ram at tight end for the Green Bay Packers. Kraft had his best performance on Sunday, catching six passes for 48 yards against the Minnesota Vikings.
Kraft came into Green Bay as a blocking tight end. The expanded role for Kraft on offense has been one of the catalysts for their success this season and why they are in a position to potentially lock up a playoff spot with a win on Sunday.
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