Tucker Kraft is already drawing major respect from around the league, and the latest nod comes with some real weight.
Bleacher Report’s scouting department ranked the Packers tight end third among NFL tight ends, putting him just ahead of Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders and just behind Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals. For a player coming off an ACL tear, that kind of placement says plenty about how highly he’s viewed.
Before the injury ended his season, Kraft was tracking toward a breakout year. Bleacher Report pointed to more than just the numbers, noting how he fits into Green Bay’s offense in multiple ways.
The scouting report described him as a reliable in-line option, someone who moves around the formation, gets used as a lead blocker on screens and quarterback keepers, and contributes as a blocker across the board. His biggest impact, though, has come in the passing game.
“Before the ACL injury that ended Tucker Kraft's season, he was not only on pace for a career season but also one of the best seasons for a tight end in the NFL,” Bleacher Report wrote. “While being a good in-line option for the Packers, Kraft is moved around the formation, pulled to lead block on screens and quarterback keepers, and does it all as a blocker. His real value has come from being a three-level threat in the passing attack.
“While he isn't the most fluid route-runner, he's one of the best tight ends in the league after the catch with finesse and power, has a varied route tree menu, and the ball skills to go and get it when asked. Kraft is an ascending player in the NFL, and coming off an injury, hopefully, it doesn't take him too long to find his footing.”
Kraft is now in the final year of his rookie deal, and both sides have made it clear they’d like to get something done soon, possibly before the season starts. Kraft said Wednesday, “I think it would be best if we got it done as soon as possible,”
He’s working back from the ACL tear he suffered on November 2 against the Carolina Panthers. The Packers activated him from the physically unable to perform list as he continues his return.
In eight games last season, Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns. Since Green Bay drafted him 78th overall in 2023, the South Dakota State product has piled up 113 catches for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier last week, “He's still at about that 8½-month mark,” before adding, “But the way he looks, you'd think he's ready to go, because when you see him out there, it's a little bit like Christian [Watson looked last year]. Those guys, they look really, really good early. But there's a lot of science behind the nine-month mark, and so we'll be very cautious as we head into it.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur also made clear the team is easing him back in. “It'll be no team [drills],” LaFleur said before last Friday's practice, via ESPN.
“So, we're just going to kind of get him back ingrained into the process and into individual. What's great is when they do come off PUP, then now he can partake in some of the walk-through periods, especially that we do in the evenings, just to get him back hearing the call, lining up and then just going through that.”
The Packers finished 9-7-1 last season and were eliminated by the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round.
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