Over the past five years, the Green Bay Packers have benefited from the blocking prowess of tight end Marcedes Lewis. While Lewis was not much of a weapon in the passing game, he was often referred to as a bonus offensive lineman by fans and media due to his ability to block any defender, and block them well.
Lewis, of course, will not be returning to the Packers and remains a free agent. Also not returning is Robert Tonyan, who signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason. As a result, the Packers will be relying on rookie tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft to pick up the slack at the position, both as blockers and pass catchers.
Of the two, Musgrave, who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick, is considered to be the favorite to be Green Bay’s starter. During OTA’s, Musgrave drew praise from fans and content creators thanks to his athletic catches and above-average speed. However, now that training camp has begun, there is one vital area in which Musgrave is struggling: blocking.
Green Bay Packers Rookie Tight End Luke Musgrave Is Struggling as a Blocker
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Paul Bretl, a reputable Packers beat reporter for PackersWire, wrote of the first day of training camp:
“Lined up in-line to Love’s right, Musgrave was matched up with Preston Smith. At the snap, it looked like Musgrave might have been anticipating a power rush from Smith, who instead ran around him and had what would have been a sack.”
After Thursday’s practice, Musgrave addressed his struggles in the blocking game thus far:
“The blocking is definitely different. Going up against someone like Preston Smith…it’s different. They are fast, they are big, they are physical, they are on you quick. It’s great, I want to go against those guys because those are the (type of) guys I’m going to go against on gamedays.
“They are making me better. Preston, he’s an 11-year guy, he’s really good. I’m glad I’m going against him. At times, it’s frustrating, but it’s really good.”
As much as Brian Gutekunst may have wanted to call Musgrave an “all-around” tight end when they drafted him, the fact of the matter is that he was always going to need to develop in this aspect of the game. According to PFF, Musgrave had a pass blocking grade of 45.1 and a run blocking grade of 54.3 last season.
For the record, Kraft had PFF grades of 72.5 in pass blocking and 66.6 in run blocking last season. Musgrave is too athletic and too good of a receiver to not play many offensive snaps; but it may be Kraft who ends up playing more running plays due to his superior blocking.
That being said, Musgrave will get better. No rookie is a finished product and Musgrave could end up being an incredibly special player for the Packers. Hopefully this trial by fire in the trenches helps him improve enough to not be a liability in pass and run protection.
Stay updated with the Green Bay Packers Rumors section. Get the latest insights on Luke Musgrave, Jordan Love, and the Packers’ training camp. Don’t miss out on the action!
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is Luke Musgrave?
Luke Musgrave is highly regarded in the deep and athletic tight end class. He boasts the fourth-highest overall Relative Athletic Score, solidifying his potential. Standing out with impressive speed, Musgrave's size and testing results make him a promising player according to Brian Gutekunst after Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
How fast is Luke Musgrave?
Luke Musgrave is fast, as he ran an official 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. This impressive speed was achieved by the tight end from the Oregon State Beavers.
