The Learning Process Begins for the Packers Rookie Tight Ends

The Green Bay Packers are planning to rely heavily on two rookie tight ends this season in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. When you spend a pair of day two draft picks on players, you don’t expect them to sit on the bench for too long. But day one of training camp showed both the potential of the two rookies and how far they still have to go.

The Packers have not had a tight end who could stretch the field since Jermichael Finley’s career ended due to injury back in 2013. GM Brian Gutekunst sought to change that this year in a draft that featured one of the deeper tight end classes in recent memory. He selected Musgrave in the second round before adding Kraft one round later.

Both rookies are athletic and have the speed necessary to make plays downfield. They also now have a quarterback in Jordan Love who is willing to throw the ball to the middle of the field, something his predecessor was reluctant to do.

Head coach Matt LaFleur also likes to use multiple tight ends in his offense and would ideally like to feature that position more in his offense than the team did under Aaron Rodgers.

But rookie tight ends typically struggle to adjust to life in the NFL. Scouts consider tight end to be one of the most difficult positions to learn because players need to be able to run pass patterns, pass protect, and run block depending on the play call.

To show how difficult the transition for rookie tight ends typically is, in the more than 100-year history of the Packers franchise, the record for catches by a rookie tight end is just 34. First round pick Bubba Franks set that record in 2000. Franks started 14 games that season and gained 363 yards receiving and caught just one touchdown pass. The Packers are optimistic that both Musgrave and Kraft will have the chance to exceed that total this year.

Musgrave showed how dangerous he could be during Wednesday, the first day of practice at training camp. He ran a sideline pattern downfield and found himself a few steps ahead of cornerback Corey Ballentine. Getting open on patterns like that can help create big plays. It can also create time and space for other receivers on a given play by drawing defensive backs away from them.

But on the same day, Musgrave showed how much he still needs to learn. He attempted to block veteran edge rusher Preston Smith on that play and Smith just ran right past him and had an unimpeded path to the quarterback for what would have been a likely sack in a game.

Musgrave made an immediate first impression on head coach Matt LaFleur at OTAs. “He’s a really, really intelligent player,” LaFleur told reporters. “If he makes a mistake, he hasn’t made many of the same mistakes twice because he’s super into it. Very intentional. Deliberate about his work. Invested. He continues to show progress every day.”

He also said that Musgrave, “Can flat fly. And he’s a big, long target. We’re really excited about him and the progress he’s made up to this point, and we have to keep pushing him.”

Gutekunst praised Kraft shortly after the draft. “I will say, Tucker is very good with the ball in his hands after the catch,” Gutekunst told reporters after day two of this year’s draft. “He’s a really good basketball player coming out of high school. I think he has really good balance and strength to break tackles to keep himself alive.”

The talent is there, and the opportunities are there. The question for this season is how quickly can these talented young tight ends learn the offense and how much of an impact can they make in their first NFL season?

The Packers have a young group of wide receivers and tight ends and a quarterback with only one NFL start under his belt. They are hoping the group will grow and develop together and become a dangerous and high-powered offense. Whether that will happen in time to impact this season will be a big factor in determining how effective the Green Bay offense will be in 2023.

You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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6 points
 

Comments (33)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
SJPack's picture

July 27, 2023 at 12:33 pm

The 2 TE rooks, together, will accumulate 70 receptions, 750 yards, and 6 TDs. They'll have their ups and downs but MLF will have them on the field alot.

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GilMartin's picture

July 27, 2023 at 01:11 pm

I think the coaching staff will do cartwheels of joy if those are the combined numbers for the two rookies. Thanks for the comment, SJPack.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

July 27, 2023 at 02:11 pm

Thanks for the article Gil!

If these young men stay healtht he coaching staff had better start practicing their cartwheels. Love is going to his TE's a lot this year. Additionally, Musgrave will be periodically playing the Slot & out wide periodically as well.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 28, 2023 at 07:27 pm

I'd love to see TEs be a primary target this season, especially early. It just makes so much sense as a strategy.

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dobber's picture

July 28, 2023 at 09:01 am

Tonyan caught 50+ in 2023 running mostly short outs and dumpoffs. If these guys can't run those routes and catch at least 60 between them, something's wrong.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 28, 2023 at 07:28 pm

That's entirely dependent on the opportunities they're given.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

August 02, 2023 at 02:38 pm

I totally agree Dobber!

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stockholder's picture

July 27, 2023 at 01:09 pm

After Lewis, Tonyan, Sterberger, Deguara , Graham, Etc.
I understand the excitement.
And if you're going back to Finley.
Then Bennet and Richard Rodgers go on the list.
But before you praise anyone.
Think of the Past money spent.
I get there might be something about these two.
And Thats the production for the price.
The upside isn't far fetched.
It's what TT would have done.

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GilMartin's picture

July 27, 2023 at 01:13 pm

I agree the upside isn't far fetched, the question is will they be able to do enough this season? Will be exciting to see how they pan out. Thanks for the comment.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 28, 2023 at 07:30 pm

A career isn't determined by one season. Of course we'd love superstars right away, but if these guys can both have at least 5 good years in GB? That's much more important IMHO.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 27, 2023 at 08:53 pm

Who are you and what have you done with SH? 😉

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greengold's picture

July 28, 2023 at 04:03 am

Like, High Plains Drifter style “WHO ARE YOU???!!!”

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Packers0808's picture

July 27, 2023 at 01:33 pm

Bet if M Lewis isn't signed he will be back with Packers sometime before or during season!

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GregC's picture

July 27, 2023 at 03:58 pm

I sure hope it doesn't come to that!

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Packers0808's picture

July 27, 2023 at 04:12 pm

I do one year minimum deal and 2-3 best blocker on team. Love is going need the time and protection!

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LeotisHarris's picture

July 27, 2023 at 09:01 pm

That ship has sailed. Love the Big Dawg, but as Ron Wolf said, "it's better not to sign a 56 year-old TE one year too soon rather than after lunch, even if he can block out the sun."

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Since'75's picture

July 28, 2023 at 10:32 am

Lol..Leo

That man was a well paid hood ornament for some years.

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dobber's picture

July 28, 2023 at 09:03 am

I think it would take an injury in camp.

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jannes bjornson's picture

July 28, 2023 at 04:31 pm

2022 was his swan song--turn the wheel Forward.

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splitpea1's picture

July 27, 2023 at 03:22 pm

The one we may be relying on a little more, at least in the early going, is Kraft. From Athlon Sports: "Kraft has more of a George Kittle-type of approach to the game, thriving on physicality with the ball in his hands and eagerness to mix it up as a blocker....As a blocker, he can hold his own in-line and has enough functional strength to hold up against edge defenders." That's the kind of stuff I want to hear. It's going to be tough to replace the blocking of Lewis, but in Kraft we're getting a guy who should be able to get down and dirty with the added bonus of making catches over the middle to keep those chains moving.

Both players can line up in multiple spots, but you obviously want to take advantage of Musgrave's straight-line speed and overall athleticism. He should have a huge advantage against shorter defenders in the red zone. However, he wasn't greatly experienced coming out of college and his play strength was routinely noted as an area needed for improvement. So while Musgrave may have more upside, the development may take a bit longer.

We need to finish the preseason will both guys fully intact and ready to go vs. the Bears.

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MainePackFan's picture

July 27, 2023 at 04:05 pm

Astute observations splitpea. Well done!

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ko40489's picture

July 27, 2023 at 03:38 pm

Everyone is optimistic this time of year. That's to be expected. But let's be realistic. It's unlikely the TE's will be setting records with a new, inexperienced QB. And that's okay. If they collectively grow and improve as they gain experience, that should be considered a success even if they're not overly productive. If they really produce, that's just a bonus. We often talk about which players will make a big leap up in their sophomore season. Let's see what these guys are doing next year before we cast judgment.

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dobber's picture

July 28, 2023 at 09:05 am

I think the 5-7 yard dumpoffs and short outlets will be used heavily this season, and the TEs have been the beneficiaries in this offense the last few years.

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greengold's picture

July 27, 2023 at 04:53 pm

I think Bubba Franks’ 34 receptions record will be shattered this season. Shredded. Blown to pieces.

Never before have the Packers had so many 4.3 WRs, especially combined with 2 of the NFL’s Top RBs. Musgrave and Kraft will get open underneath coverage, a lot.

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GregC's picture

July 27, 2023 at 05:03 pm

Yes, it's not a very high bar. The Packers haven't drafted many TE's in early rounds. Finley was a third round pick but was considered to be something of a project. Deguara was a third rounder, but he's not a full-time TE. And with all due respect to Mercedes Lewis, I've always thought that a TE should be more than a slightly more mobile O-lineman. This is a grand experiment, and I'm eager to see how it turns out.

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greengold's picture

July 27, 2023 at 05:50 pm

Great way to put it, Greg. Not a high bar, at all. As for Musgrave & Kraft being a grand experiment, I see both having been available as a grand opportunity. Both players were highly regarded picks, and I think both will make significant contributions in 2023, and for years thereafter.

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Swisch's picture

July 27, 2023 at 05:50 pm

Maybe both of our rookie tight ends get about 30 catches apiece -- which would seem to be like a shattering of Franks's record of 34.

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GregC's picture

July 27, 2023 at 08:13 pm

I would take that!

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Fubar's picture

July 30, 2023 at 05:43 pm

Let's hope these players can play.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 27, 2023 at 08:56 pm

Hard to predict how the passes will be distributed this season, but excited to see so many dynamic young targets. GPG!

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packerfanroy's picture

July 27, 2023 at 09:01 pm

It is definitely gonna be interesting to see the rookie TE's take on a larger than normally expected role in this offense and I will be keen to see how it works out. Given how drafting is a crap shoot (JaMarcus Russel #1 overall, Tom Brady a 6th rounder lol) having one of these two stick around the league and contribute to the Packers would be considered a modest success but that doesnt mean that one of them cant be a good find while the other is solid, serviceable player. Even if they both under perform this year doesnt mean that they are bust though, its definitely gonna be 2-3 years of waiting for them to develop and see what they are about if they dont flash and show some juice right away. Everybody is constantly talking about how it takes 2-3 years to develop as a tight end which is why Im curios about a different TE on the roster....Tyler Davis. I get that he might not have the same potential or tools as the rookies and that he had a horrible camp last year. At the same time he is, at this point in camp, the teams best blocking TE (gonna get some snaps from that alone) he has at time shown good hands (not consistently though). He should know the system (and more importantly how the coaches want that system ran), the timeline is right as he has had 2-3 years to learn his job I dont think its unrealistic that he makes a jump and gives us tonyan like production for a year or two. Then again sometimes flashes of potential are just that, flashes. There for a second and gone just as fast.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

July 28, 2023 at 07:37 pm

I'd much rather see slow and steady development turn into a great career for 8 years than a flash in the pan.

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Fubar's picture

July 30, 2023 at 05:46 pm

Ah Jarmarcus, how could we not remember. Don't forget the big goon the pack took that is right in the top ten of worst all time

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