Reflect on the situation from a year and a half ago, and you’ll recall the buzz surrounding tight end Luke Musgrave among Green Bay Packers fans. Known for his impressive height and speed, his rookie year held great promise until a lacerated kidney hindered his progress.
During the NFL Meetings in Florida, head coach Matt LaFleur expressed optimism about the former second-round pick’s contributions to the team. “I’m thrilled for Luke,” LaFleur shared with Packers.com. “He’s had an outstanding offseason, training right here in Green Bay. He’s become bigger, stronger, and faster, tackling his challenges head-on.”
When Musgrave was drafted by the Packers two years ago, his unique blend of size and agility impressed everyone. Although his second season fell short of expectations, with his yards per route dropping from 1.28 as a rookie to 0.66 in 2024, Musgrave still possesses the ability to offer something unmatched on the roster, particularly with Christian Watson sidelined due to an ACL injury.
His primary strength lies in his vertical game, an exceptional trait for a tight end. Throughout his NFL tenure, Musgrave has maintained an average depth of target of 7.4 yards, ranking 36th out of 119 tight ends last year. In contrast, Tucker Kraft’s 5.0 ADoT placed him 74th. And that was during a challenging year.
In 2023, Musgrave was on track to surpass Bubba Franks’ franchise record for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end. Unfortunately, his injury derailed this achievement, but his performance remained promising, including a 105.0 passer rating when targeted and a playoff touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys after his return.
Currently, Tucker Kraft is undeniably the starting tight end—rightly so, given his reliability as a blocker and explosive playmaking after catches. However, Musgrave’s particular skill set still holds value and shouldn’t be overlooked too quickly.
