Tucker Kraft’s Breakout Has Earned Him a New Deal - ACL or Not
The Green Bay Packers are heading into a pivotal offseason, and while there are plenty of questions about who stays, who goes, and who gets paid, one decision should be crystal clear: extend tight end Tucker Kraft.
Yes, Kraft is rehabbing an ACL injury. And yes, it’s natural to want to see how he looks post-recovery before making a long-term commitment.
But the Packers have a rare opportunity here - to lock in a rising star at a premium position before the rest of the league catches up. They did it with Christian Watson during his injury rehab, and the same logic applies here.
Kraft has already proven he’s not just a good tight end - he’s a foundational piece of this offense, and his presence helps keep Green Bay’s Super Bowl window open.
From Third-Round Pick to Game-Changer
Kraft’s rise has been fast and loud. A third-round pick who didn’t take long to make his mark, he became a go-to weapon for Jordan Love in 2025.
Before his injury midway through the season, Kraft had already racked up 32 catches for 489 yards and 6 touchdowns - leading the team in all three categories. That’s not just production, that’s impact.
And it wasn’t just volume. Kraft was averaging 15.3 yards per catch before going down, one of the best marks among tight ends in the league.
That kind of efficiency - especially from a tight end - forces defenses to change the way they play. You can’t just treat him like a safety valve.
He’s a chunk-play machine. Packers fans know it well: Tucker YAC & Cheese isn’t just a nickname, it’s a warning label for opposing secondaries.
Zooming out, Kraft’s career numbers are already impressive: 113 catches, 1,551 yards, and 15 touchdowns across 42 games, with a career average of 13.7 yards per catch. That’s not a flash in the pan. That’s sustained production - and it’s only trending up.
Elite Company, Elite Production
It’s not just Packers fans taking notice. Kraft is doing things we haven’t seen from young tight ends in decades.
Since 2000, only three other tight ends have tallied 80+ catches, 1,000+ yards, 9+ touchdowns, and averaged over 13 yards per catch in their first two seasons. Kraft just became the fourth.
In 2024, he hauled in 50 receptions for 707 yards and 7 touchdowns - and he wasn’t just padding stats in garbage time. He was one of only two tight ends in the league (alongside George Kittle) to combine that level of volume with big-play ability. That’s rare air.
You start to stack those numbers next to names like Mark Andrews, Hunter Henry, and Rob Gronkowski, and Kraft’s trajectory becomes even more clear. He’s not just a solid tight end - he’s tracking toward the top tier of the position.
And when Jordan Love targeted him this past season, the results were lethal: a passer rating north of 150. That’s elite chemistry, and it’s only going to get better with time.
More Than Just a Pass Catcher
Kraft’s value isn’t limited to what shows up in the box score. He’s a complete tight end - the kind of player who helps you win in multiple ways.
His blocking has been quietly crucial to the Packers’ offensive success, whether it’s giving Love a clean pocket or springing a run with a key seal on the edge. He’s physical, he’s smart, and he plays with an edge that sets the tone.
That mentality? It’s not just talk.
Kraft’s earned the respect of the locker room, and it shows - not just in the way teammates talk about him, but in the “C” stitched on his jersey. He’s a leader, plain and simple.
And when he went down, the offense felt it. Luke Musgrave showed flashes, and Fitzpatrick had moments before his own injury, but none brought the consistency or versatility that Kraft delivered week in and week out.
The ACL Question - And Why It Shouldn’t Delay the Deal
There’s no sugarcoating it: seeing Kraft carted off was a gut punch. But in today’s NFL, an ACL injury isn’t the career-altering setback it used to be.
Players - especially young, physically strong ones like Kraft - are returning in under a year and performing at full speed. Kraft’s game isn’t built solely on speed anyway.
His size, strength, hands, and football IQ are what make him special.
Waiting to extend him could backfire - both financially and competitively. The tight end market is heating up, with stars like Travis Kelce, T.J.
Hockenson, and Trey McBride setting the bar between $15 million and $19 million annually. Locking in Kraft now gives Green Bay cost certainty and avoids bidding wars down the road.
It’s smart business in a cap-tight offseason.
A Packer Through and Through
Beyond the stats, beyond the cap strategy, this is about identity. Kraft embodies what the Packers want to be: tough, reliable, explosive, and team-first. He’s become a cornerstone in the locker room and on the field, and his absence in the second half of the season was a reminder of just how valuable he is.
This isn’t just about rewarding past performance - it’s about investing in the future. Jordan Love is growing into his role as the franchise quarterback, and surrounding him with dependable, dynamic weapons like Kraft is how you build sustainable success.
Letting that kind of talent hit the open market? That’s how you watch another team build their offense around your guy.
The Packers have a chance to lock in a top-tier tight end, a locker room leader, and a key piece of their offensive puzzle - all before the rest of the league comes calling. They shouldn’t wait.
Tucker Kraft has earned his extension. Now’s the time to make it happen.