Cory's Corner: It's Time To Lock Up Tuck
Tucker Kraft has become the heart and soul of the Packers and the Packers need to reward that.
The Packers’ top priority this offseason is Tuck.
Green Bay has to lock up Tucker Kraft.
The tight end had 32 catches for 489 and six touchdowns in eight games before tearing his right ACL. He was arguably the best tight end in the NFL and was quickly becoming his own highlight reel.
He enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and now is the time for the Packers to reward him.
“Tuck means a lot,” said Jordan Love. “His leadership role and then obviously his play on the field. He’s been playing at a high level.”
Kraft, 25, is a pillar of the team’s culture. He goes out every play — no matter if he gets the ball or not. He is a very good blocker and most importantly, isn’t taking anything for granted.
I was a big fan of the third round pick coming out of South Dakota State because he never shied away from hard work. He had his draft party at the AirKraft Spraying hangar in his hometown of Timber Lake, S.D.
He’s always been a perfect match for the Packers and he was actually my favorite pick the Packers made in the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s ahead of tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Jayden Reed — both were taken in the second round.
The key with Kraft is that he has proven that he will put the team over himself. He has already led by example and now the team needs him to be even more vocal after this next contract.
It may sound weird, but I think Kraft can be a focal point of this offense. That doesn’t make any sense because tight ends aren’t usually the focal point of anything in the NFL. More often than not, they are just a forgotten footnote or a security blanket that the quarterback always seems to find when the pocket has vanished.
“He’s a powerful dude, he runs extremely hard, I love how he finishes,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Believe it or not, Kraft tallied 15.3 yards per reception this past season, which was easily No. 1 for the best tight end, but Kraft’s smaller sample also beat out Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba — who Steve Young recently compared to Jerry Rice.
Kraft had six catches over 20 yards and two over 40. Once he gets rolling up to full speed, defensive players don’t want to tackle him because he just turns into fullback mode and wants to run people over.
He’s got the trust not just of the offense, but the entire locker room and everybody is rooting for him to make a strong comeback.
Giving Kraft a long-term deal would mean that the Packers are looking out for Tuck’s future but it also means Green Bay is looking out for their own. He desperately wants to see success for this franchise and he’s going to hold other players accountable if they don’t fall in line.
It should be pretty cut and dry for the Packers. Sign Kraft and get a guy that every head coach in the league would love to have — both for his on the field ability and his off the field mentality.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (21)
gsd3
February 07, 2026 at 06:49 am
Kraft is an example of what many of us have been pounding the table for. A football player.
It doesn't matter where these guys played, it's heart and fire . Willingness to do whatever it takes.
Although his RAS number is high, you watch film of him in college and realize that it doesn't matter what that number is.
Scatter guys like that throughout the roster and you will have a winning organization.
F#!* RAS and draft some FOOTBALL players.
TKWorldWide
February 07, 2026 at 07:07 am
The choir is listening!
TKWorldWide
February 07, 2026 at 07:14 am
Will GB say they want to see him post-ACL first? Or has modern medicine made ACL tears nothing more than the common cold?
Kraft is one pick GB really got right. I think every Packer fan is also a Tucker Kraft fan!
In other news, now that Policy has kept the “silo” structure, how do contracts work? Does MLF tell Gutey that Kraft is someone they have to keep? And then Gutey talks to Russ Ball? Or they all talk to Policy? What’s the chain of events/chain of command? Seriously, I am asking!
ricky
February 07, 2026 at 09:52 am
Will the Packers want this to be a "prove it" year for Kraft? This is the key question, and could well be a reason the Packers hesitate to sign him to a new contract. Or do they take a gamble, but structure a new contract so there is a relatively easy exit if Kraft is not the same player as he was pre-injury. Time will tell, but I think they lean toward seeing him on the field for at least half a season before making a move.
SicSemperTyrannis
February 07, 2026 at 10:53 am
I hope you're wrong. ACL surgery now has a track record of working, with players returning good as new. (Not the case with Zach Tom's injury, hopefully he returns to 100%)
I absolutely did want to see #85 utilized more before he got hurt. It's also a problem to say "they don't have YAC without him," as that's incredibly disrespectful to #8.
jannesbjornson
February 07, 2026 at 01:45 pm
If he gets an extension it will be in Nov-Dec. See how his recovery works out. They should snag at least two TEs in this draft. Secure another
move guy and a Totem pole to handle the edge rushers, chip and go to the hook zones.
Savage57
February 07, 2026 at 07:22 am
The Packers would be wise to follow the same path with Kraft as they did with Watson. The similarity in their injuries and timing would seem to support that.
Bump him for a year so both sides of the equation can see where things stand in his return year, and make the best long term decision.
PackEyedOptimist
February 07, 2026 at 08:01 am
"It may sound weird, but I think Kraft can be a focal point of this offense. That doesn’t make any sense because tight ends aren’t usually the focal point of anything in the NFL."
Gronk and Travis Kelce would like a word...
Savage57
February 07, 2026 at 08:09 am
George Kittle approves this message.
Brewcity_BearsFan
February 07, 2026 at 09:26 am
Colston Loveland is also on board
pantz_bURp
February 07, 2026 at 10:39 am
Who?
Since'75
February 09, 2026 at 06:30 am
Pantz!! 😁
Missed you buddy!
When did they let you out?
pantz_bURp
February 09, 2026 at 11:57 am
As soon they caught word of my underwear modeling gig in town.
Go, go, Gooooo,
PB
golfpacker61
February 07, 2026 at 09:25 am
Tucker Kraft was my favorite TE in the 2023 class behind Sam LaPorta. I wasn't sure LaPorta would fall far enough where we could grab him though. My other fave TE was one we have now, Josh Whyle-Cinncinnati. I think Whyle has a great chance to stick in GB. Musgrave, was the 2nd "Headscratcher" pick after we took Van Ness in the 1st round. Both Musgrave and Van Ness were overdrafted by GB based on "Potential."
Darnell Washington, the TE everyone mocked to GB that year, fell into the 3rd round and was picked by Pittsburg after we got Kraft. Funny how it works but hindsight says Washington would have been the much better pick instead of Musgrave. The Steelers haven't used him as much as a pass catcher, but the dude can block and hasn't missed games like Musgrave has. He also does have great hands.
Before last season I predicted GB was wrong to rely on Musgrave as our #2 TE, in case Kraft got hurt and missed time. I wish I hadn't been so right. We needed a cheap veteran TE last year but overpaid on a OG & Slot CB instead. Pay Kraft the money, his future is so bright in GB. He could easily catch 80 passes per year.
Starrbrite
February 08, 2026 at 03:52 pm
Yep—agree. I’m very curious how Whyle’s career will unfold. I’m very optimistic.
Ferrari-Driver
February 07, 2026 at 10:15 am
This is what I found regarding the success rate of injuries similar to Kraft's:
Key Success Factors for Professional Athletes
Patience and Re-injury Risk: Research indicates that athletes who return before the 9-month mark are significantly more likely—up to 7 times more likely—to sustain a second ACL injury.
Position Demands: Requirements vary by role; for example, NFL quarterbacks return at a higher rate (92%) than running backs or wide receivers (roughly 79%), who rely more heavily on explosive cutting.
The "Second Year" Rule: While many players return to the field within a year, statistics often show they do not reach their full pre-injury performance levels until their second season back.
Starrbrite
February 08, 2026 at 03:53 pm
Good post Ferrari.
Since'75
February 09, 2026 at 06:37 am
Don't tell Peterson or Jordy they can't produce the 1st year after ACL surgerys.
Peterson.....2,000 yards rushing
Jordy....1,200+ yards...14 TD's to lead the league.
stockholder
February 07, 2026 at 12:53 pm
No - Cory , Not so fast.
The packers have been a "tight end by committee”.
And if you remember Jermical Finley
( spinal cord injury)
And even Robert Tonyan.
It's a position that doesn't rebound fast from injuries.
Musgrave's hip.??
Kraft is now damaged.
Until we see if he can recover, to his old self.
I'm a No, because Gute isn't fiscal responsible.
And I'm sure it will cost Love other weapons.
RobinsonDavis
February 07, 2026 at 02:55 pm
I suggest the Packers heed Ferrari's comments (above). If you like Kraft, let's not rush him back, please! In the meantime, let's do a Christian Watson-type deal at the very least, for Tucker, once we get to training camp.
A true #2 TE is in a sneaky need because of Tucker's injury. However, the soonest we may see the Packers draft a TE would be the 6th round IMO, due to other needs. While looking for players that fit the Packers types that can block and catch the ball, Dallen Bentley and John Gyllenborg (look at film other than the tipped pass at the Senior Bowl) come to mind. Gyllenborg played a lot in the H-back slot role, AND BLOCKS. Maybe Lance Mason or Sam Roush, though I like the other 2 better....still reviewing players. But, I am interested in another year of Josh Whyle, Drake Dabney & McCallan Castles.
.
GreenandBold
February 08, 2026 at 10:49 am
There’s that name again JSN the symbol of Gutes first round drafting skills . TK deserves a contract worthy of his skills and leadership . Hopefully he comes back bigger stronger and even faster .