Long have we waited, for the Green Bay Packers to have a game-changing tight end. We’ve had to sit back and watch Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, or George Kittle carve their way through defenses with their size and physicality. We'd sit and watch them barreling through would-be tackles and hurdling or stiff-arming defenders. While all the while we can only wish to one day have that ourselves. Well, on April 28, 2023, those wishes may have been granted. With the 42^nd overall pick in the 2^nd round of the NFL draft, the Packers selected tight end, Luke Musgrave. And then, 36 picks later, they doubled down on their tight end selection by picking another one in Tucker Kraft. It was obvious that tight end would become a position of emphasis in the Packers' offense moving forward.

Musgrave and Kraft impressed early in training camp when they showed they weren’t afraid to put in the work. Staying late after meetings to go over details, grinding away over the playbook, they wanted to make sure they were ready for the roles set in front of them for the start of the season. Musgrave hit the ground running from the start. In the first three games of the season, he was already showing his capabilities as a pass-catcher, hauling in 11 catches for 124 yards. Musgrave was also showing to be an asset in run-blocking paving the road for Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon a time or two. For Kraft, it wasn’t a pretty start getting on the field for 13% of offensive snaps for the first three games and not seeing a single passing target until week 4.

Each rookie tight end had their peak showing off their playmaking potential seemingly splitting the season in half between them. After Luke Musgrave sustained a lacerated kidney in week 11, Kraft got his opportunity to see more playing time and make the most of it. Musgrave finished the regular season with 34 catches for 352 yards and a touchdown, 6 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs. While Kraft finished with 31 catches for 355 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season, and 5 catches for 24 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs. Musgrave tied the Packers’ rookie tight end receptions record and Kraft was not far behind.

Polishing the game of these two tight ends in the offseason and getting them both on the field for a full season could be a major key in the future success of the Packers’ offense.

Alright, let’s look to 2024. First off, let’s put those tight-end receiving stats aside. Who was the most impactful player on the Packers’ offense this past season? Aaron Jones. Guess who will probably still be the top weapon this coming season? Aaron Jones. And how do you ensure a good running back has his way with a defense? You plow that road ahead of them. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft showed a great ability to be a nuisance as run blockers. Three weeks ago I was sitting in the south endzone as the Packers were taking on the Bears in the regular season finale. There was a 15-yard Aaron Jones run from midfield that caught my eye. Tucker Kraft was lined up to the right, and when the ball was snapped, he pulled to the left. The Chicago outside linebacker came around the line very tight, and Kraft was right there to get outside of the defender and push him inside allowing Aaron Jones to loop right around them and break a 15-yard gain. When Marcedes Lewis departed in the '23 off-season, many worried we'd take a step back in tight end blocking ability. Well, Brian Gutekunst knew what he was doing grabbing two well-rounded replacements in the draft. Aaron Jones is likely a lock to be a backfield ball carrier in 2024, after him, we're not sure who will top off the Packers' running backs room. But whoever it ends up being, will have two great blocking tight ends to help pave the way.

So, we've got the running game set, how do we improve the passing game?

Alright, a quick disclaimer: I loved number 12. While Brett Favre was the quarterback of my childhood, Aaron Rodgers took over when I turned 21 years old and became the quarterback of my "young adulthood." Whenever A-Rodge returns to Lambeau to have his name and number placed on the facade, I'll be screaming my lungs out in support and triumph.  But I can admit, the four-time MVP got picky in his later years wearing a Packers uniform. Spreading the ball around wasn't exactly an emphasis of his later years. Rodgers tended to focus on those he knew and trusted rather than give the new faces a chance. Jordan Love was almost the exact opposite in his first season as the starter seeming to not care at all if you'd been around two years or two games. He'd still throw you the ball and give you a shot to make a play. So, when it comes to these young tight ends, more opportunities could be coming. 

So how would I do it?

Both tight ends showed an ability to make plays between the hash marks and along the sidelines. But with receivers that can stretch the field on the outside and leave the middle of the field fairly open, I could see Musgrave and Kraft seeing a larger workload between the hashes. It's time to bait defenders on the outside and deep while leaving the 10-15+ yard passes inside wide open for the taking. The Packers have field stretchers in Watson, Doubs, Reed, and Wicks. Even Bo Melton could gain some respect next year from defenses to help stretch the field a bit. This could leave these big-bodied and quick tight ends matched up with smaller or slower defenders in the middle of the field. 

Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing a two-receiver, two-tight-end set with receivers on the outside and Musgrave and Kraft lined up in the slots. Either they'll match up against a smaller-bodied DB and use their physical traits to outmatch them, or they'll draw a slower outside linebacker and run right passed them for a catch. Luke Musgrave's first career touchdown came off a double-fake to the running backs on a screen or swing pass. The outside threat caused the Rams' defenders to bite leaving Musgrave wide-open in the middle of the field to just waltz right in. This could be the future of the Packers offense. Pick your poison. Either stop the receivers on the outside, stop the running backs, or stop the tight ends up the middle. It's their choice, but hopefully, that choice becomes too overwhelming and the Packers take advantage. 

The success of the Packers' offense in 2024, and even in years to come, could rest on the shoulders of Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. I think both young tight ends are ready, and I believe they will find success for many years to come. Go Pack Go.