Packers’ Trio of Second-Year Tight Ends Could Take Offense to Another Level
By markoldacres
Green Bay’s offense enjoyed a terrific 2023 season, as the young group, led by first year starter Jordan Love, improved consistently throughout the year and showed the ability to score points against anyone.
The second half surge was aided by the impressive performances of rookie receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, as well as second-year wideouts Romeo Doubs and, when healthy, Christian Watson.
There is a justifiable belief that these receivers will continue to trend upwards as they gain more experience in the NFL, and could take a significant leap this season. But in fact, improved play from Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft could be the catalyst for a powerhouse offense in Green Bay.
It is generally accepted wisdom that tight end is one of the more difficult positions to transition from the college game to the NFL, and compared to Green Bay’s rookie receivers, this turned out to be the case for Musgrave and Kraft, who were selected one round apart in the 2023 draft.
Musgrave showed his explosive athleticism in glimpses, catching long passes (before often falling down) fairly regularly, but head coach Matt LaFleur was visibly frustrated with the rookie at times as he committed mental errors.
His unusual lacerated kidney injury also curtailed his progress late in the season, but Musgrave is a top tier athlete and has the ability to stretch the seam of defenses. He is the rare tight end that can actually run away from cornerbacks downfield.
Kraft is the more rounded player, and while he may not have the long speed of Musgrave, is an equally impressive athlete.
This really shows after the catch, when the former South Dakota State tight end can break tackles, make people miss, and occasionally, against his coaches wishes and to the detriment of his ability to have children, hurdle defenders.
He is also the stronger blocker of the two and can be an asset in the run game as a result. Kraft’s torn pec left him with ground to make up in training camp, but after returning to the practice field in early August, appears ready to go to start the season on Friday night.
And don’t forget about Ben Sims, who was picked up off waivers from the Vikings as a rookie and played a cameo role during the season, catching a touchdown in the December win over Kansas City.
Sims was a reliable presence when called upon, and with him sitting third on Green Bay’s depth chart, they have real depth at the position.
LaFleur will have the option to deploy multiple tight end sets, and combined with his gaggle of talented receivers, the possibilities for creative play designs are endless, and the Packers can afford to lose a player or two to injury and not have to fundamentally change the offense.
If Green Bay’s tight ends can take a sizable step forward in 2024, the offense as a whole could be truly dominant.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (25)
LambeauPlain
September 02, 2024 at 11:57 am
Many believe the Packers will be one of the teams employing the most frequent "12" personnel sets.
They should. It gives the IOC more unpredictability and potential for "Chunk Plays".
My view is Kraft is going to become the #1 TE and be on the field in more "21" and "11" sets due to his blocking, performance during the 2nd half of 2023...and his camp performance.
Ya_tittle
September 02, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Gute has done a great job restocking positions that were weaknesses: TE, WR and safety to name a few. Our OL, while not deep, also has some impressive young talent.
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 08:42 pm
Nice thing about OL- its pretty typical to always take a lineman or two each year in the draft in the middle to late rounds regardless what your roster looks like. I expect the Packers will continue to add young talent to compete yearly and that should eventually shore up the depth.
MooPack
September 02, 2024 at 01:24 pm
Love the Packers TE's. That draft had a pretty loaded TE class. I thought Michael Mayer was very overrated but probably top 5. I had Darnell Washington No.1, as did many, but the Packers knew better with Musgrave and Kraft and I think the Packers TE's will outperform him in their careers. I had Kincaid ahead of Musgrave, but only because of injury bug it seemed. If he can overcome that he will be best TE of the bunch. I had Kraft top 5 and he has ability to have as good or better career. I liked LaPorta being a native Iowa Hawkeye fan, but didn't think he'd do as well as he did. With Hockenson traded and their explosive offense it propelled him to the front of the class. And Ben Sims I was hoping the Packers would grab him as UDFA. I think that Packers TE draft will ultimately become the best TE core group in the league. I played TE so have a special affinity for the position. It can be a forgotten position, but devastating when used correctly. Can't wait to see how well they do this year.
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 08:45 pm
I strongly believe when it's all said and done Tucker Kraft will have had the longest career in the NFL, if not the flashiest. He's a workman like TE with far more athletic ability than many seem to notice. His big body and long strides mask his speed and shiftiness. He's a baller for sure.
RobinsonDavis
September 02, 2024 at 02:14 pm
Mark's comment about Musgraves feet are spot-on! If his feet are improved, how can we not be better!? There were questions about his toughness last year, from some, but no more!! ...lacerated kidney...ouch!!
A full year of both Kraft and Musgrave should be quite entertaining. Can't wait!!
Sims is underrated and the addition of Andrew Beck is under the radar, IMO. Both will play a crucial role eventually. Solid, Solid, Solid group!
RobinsonDavis
September 02, 2024 at 02:16 pm
Mark's comment about Musgraves feet are spot-on! If his feet are improved, how can we not be better!? There were questions about his toughness last year, from some, but no more!! ...lacerated kidney...ouch!!
A full year of both Kraft and Musgrave should be quite entertaining. Can't wait!!
Sims is underrated and the addition of Andrew Beck is under the radar, IMO. Both will play a crucial role eventually. Solid, Solid, Solid group!
Leatherhead
September 02, 2024 at 03:08 pm
Unless the Packers dramatically depart from previous Packer teams, particularly LaFleur teams, the TEs will be targeted about 6 to 7 times per game (102-119 targets per season)
You could choose to target them more, of course. Who would you target less so that we could throw more to the TE?
You can believe we have Gronkowski and Kelce and that we should throw it to them a bunch, but the Packers are constructed so that the TE is a blocker on most plays. You throw it to him a couple of times a game to keep the defense honest. These are the Green Bay Packers, and this is how they roll.
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2024 at 03:34 pm
Change is hard. It will be ok.
Leatherhead
September 02, 2024 at 09:05 pm
Facts are hard too, apparently.
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 09:28 pm
Not to harp, but you are completely missing the 'fact' that this isn't the same Packers offense and the same Packers personnel.
At the end of the day, maybe it's exactly the same, or, check this out.. maybe it's not.
The offense has already changed a great deal since 2022. The personnel has also changed. The coach now has a QB that works within his offense instead of working actively against it; we have more talent at the TE position than we've had since perhaps Chmura and Jackson. Let's see how it shakes out.
Leatherhead
September 02, 2024 at 09:36 pm
Actually, it’s the same offense, HC, OC, It’s the same people.
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2024 at 09:57 pm
Past is prologue, which really is that the past sets the stage for the present, it doesn't dictate it. You seem to be stumbling on that. But do go on (and on, and on, and on)
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 10:04 pm
It is clearly not the same offense.
If this statement was coming from some random poster, I could assume you were just ignorant, but it's you, not a random poster, and you're a close observer of the Packers.
That means you're being intentionally disingenuous for the sake of attempting to strengthen your position, and frankly, I expect more from you.
The 2023 offense was shockingly different from anything we've seen from LaFleur's offense prior. Personnel, sets, pre-snap motion, gadget-y type plays.
We don't have to agree, but don't pee down my back and tell me it's raining. We're all close observers of the Packers around here. This is clearly not the same offense being conducted, and we all have a pretty good idea why that is.
Pizzadoc
September 03, 2024 at 02:07 pm
We have no idea if anything will change with TE targeting.
GregC
September 02, 2024 at 04:47 pm
I compared 2022 to 2023, adding up the stats of the TEs, including Josiah Deguara:
2022:
Targets: 96
Receptions: 76
Yards: 676
TDs: 4
2023:
Targets: 100
Receptions: 77
Yards: 793
TDs: 4
So the numbers are extremely close except for yards, which significantly (although not dramatically) increased in 2023. Unfortunately in 2022 we did not have a TE group who could pick up the slack from a depleted WR group. In 2023, it took half the season for Tucker Kraft to get up to speed, and then Luke Musgrave missed several games with an injury, so there is potential for both of them to be more productive this year. It's true that the Packers have a lot of good WRs to go along with these TEs, and there is only one ball, but on the other hand, it is not a zero sum game. If the offense is improved, there will be more receptions and yards for everybody.
Leatherhead
September 02, 2024 at 09:04 pm
Look back further. Go to 2019. Go to 2000. Packers prefer throwing to WRs. TEs
If you throw to the TEs more, you’re going to throw to somebody less. Our Top 4 WRs scored 25 TDs; the TEs scored 4. So we should throw to them less so we can throw to the TE more??
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 09:24 pm
Maybe if we throw to TEs more, they score more TDs. Just.. you know.. something to consider.
I believe Untylu's comment is pertinent as well. You are looking at historical data from a time when Matt Lafleur's offense wasn't trully being run; largely by a QB who was/is very set in his ways. Past results may not indicate future performance, and all that.
LambeauPlain
September 03, 2024 at 08:59 am
I believe you are discounting a very key factor of who gets the targets, LH. WR or TE targets will be dictated more by WHO will be throwing to them and WHO is open...not game planning targets.
Love is very content to throw to the open receiver. I believe that faith is contagious among the receivers, including the RBs. The message, get open and ball is likely coming your way!
Rodgers was very content to throw to his trusted receivers, even when someone less trusted was wide open.
And, the quality in the TE room was lacking. Gutey kept trying with Mind Mess Marty, Crumbling Graham, Tease Tonyan, Spacey Sternberger. Meanwhile, Rodgers just did his own thing and Matt mostly let him ignore the IOC.
No longer. Love loves this IOC offense and ability to get guys open for a target.
Wisma Packer
September 03, 2024 at 10:18 am
"Gutey kept trying with Mind Mess Marty, Crumbling Graham, Tease Tonyan, Spacey Sternberger."
Martellus Bennett was with the Packers in 2017.
Brian Gutekunst became the Packers GM in Jan 2018.
So yes, if you are a Gutey hater, blame him for the other TEs, but not Martellus Bennett.
#ingutewetrust, #gopackgo
Oppy
September 02, 2024 at 09:00 pm
Matchups should be dictating targets, not some concept of only targeting certain player groups a certain percentage of downs. That's counter productive.
I would expect past Packers teams to have similar distribution to TEs over the years because of the personnel we had on the roster. This is probably the first time we've had two TEs of this relative caliber on the roster. Both are capable of big plays down field and both can be utilized in the run game. That makes them interchangeable chess pieces in this offense. In 2023, Musgrave and Kraft were rookies learning the ropes, and due to various injuries to both young men, we rarely had them both healthy and on the field together.
With all that beining said- I fall back to matchups dictating the distribution. If we are facing a team with a strong and deep secondary but we feel we can stress the defense by putting both Musgrave and Kraft on the field together- forcing the defense to choose between adding a LB/S at the expense of a CB (or vice-versa), we could have games where the TEs get fed steady targets.
It's all about the matchups and the personnel. Nobody on that sideline is intentionally limiting how often they target TEs because they're worried about limiting WR opportunities. TE utilization in the passing game is going to come down to how well our OL holds up without extra assistance, and the opponent we're facing / favorable matchups for the TEs.
Untylu1968
September 02, 2024 at 09:16 pm
Call me crazy, but maybe old #12 had a little something to do with the lack of TE production?
LambeauPlain
September 03, 2024 at 09:01 am
So did the quality of the TE room. It is far better today than at any time during Matt's IOC Offense.
Rory P Scrotem
September 03, 2024 at 05:24 am
If our Achilles heel on defense is our line backers as some are inferring, what is the Achilles heel of the Eagles? I'm not trying to be coy here knowing the answer. Where do we best exploit the Eagles defense? What is "their" Achilles heal?
Leatherhead
September 03, 2024 at 11:20 am
OK, I've been convinced by these wonderfully well-reasoned and researched opinions......we're going to throw the ball to the TEs more. Now, what I'd like to know, is who is going to get it less? Jacobs? Reed? Doubs? Wicks? Watson?
This team was assembled to move the ball and score points in a certain way. That's not going to change just because we got some production out of Kraft and Musgrave.
When we put 3 WRs on the field, the opponent has to decide if he's going to nickel or not (he will, because we'll torch him for long passes if he doesn't. That leaves 6 run defenders against Jacobs and SIX blockers. That's good Math for us. Occasionally, about 6 or 7 times a game, we're going to throw it to the TEs so that the opponent has to remember to cover them.
A million downvotes won't change that. We're not going to change what we've done for a LONG time (not just since last year, or since LaFleur arrived. Go back to 2000, when we drafted Bubba, and total up how many targets the TEs get every year and you'll see. Even when we had Finley.
I'm genuinely sorry that this distresses some of you, who would like the Packers to be a team that throws to the TE more. They aren't.