Packers Select Tight End Tucker Kraft in Third Round

The Green Bay Packers drafted another tight end, this time on South Dakota State star Tucker Kraft, an FCS All-American in 2021.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Apr 28, 2023 10:08 PM EDT
Original:
Apr 28, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers have doubled up on tight ends, selecting South Dakota State star Tucker Kraft with their third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday night.

Coming on the heels of the second-rounder used on Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave, Kraft adds a potential three-down element to the offense as a receiver and blocker. He was an FCS All-American in 2021 – and was offered a lot of money to transfer – before an injury-plagued final season.

“He’s going to work his butt off in the run game,” Sports Info Solutions scout Nathan Cooper said. “He’s not one of those guys who’s just ‘doing enough.’ He’s a guy that drives guys off the line. He’s a lot of fun to watch in the run game and definitely has enough as a receiver.”

The Packers sent two scouts to the SDSU pro day - a big number for a smaller program.

He was one team’s third-ranked tight end; Musgrave was No. 6.

Here’s more on Kraft.

Measureables: 6-4 3/4, 254 pounds, 10 hands. 4.69 40, 4.29 shuttle, 9.67 RAS.

Stats and accolades: Kraft was a first-team FCS All-American in 2021 with a monster season of 65 receptions for 773 yards (11.9 average) and six touchdowns in 15 games. He tuned out some big-school overtures and returned to SDSU for 2022. In a season detoured by an ankle injury, he caught 27 passes for 348 yards (12.9 average) and three touchdowns in nine games for the FCS national champions.

Analytical stats: None available for the FCS product. According to NFL Draft Bible, he had nine drops and was guilty of nine penalties during the 2020-2021 seasons.

How he fits: Kraft is one of the few ready-to-go three-down tight ends in what’s a strong overall class.

“He makes a huge impact,” quarterback Mark Gronowski said before the FCS title game. “He’s one of the best run-blockers on our team. And as a receiver, he changes the game. He’s a huge target – I can put it anywhere within five yards of him and he’ll catch it. And after a catch you know he’s going to get an extra five, 10, 15 yards because he’s so hard to tackle.”

NFL Draft Bible says: Kraft lacks elite speed and burst, but his large frame, upside as a blocker, and ability to win contested catches suggest he’ll contribute to a team in several ways early in his career.

Personal touch: After his All-American 2021, college football’s big fish descended on the small pond that is South Dakota State. Kraft was offered six-figure NIL deals but voted for loyalty rather than his wallet.

“At one point I was one click away from entering my name in the portal,” he told Hero Sports. “But the last few conversations I had … made me realize that I built relationships in the last three years that are insurmountable compared to a six-figure deal to go play somewhere else. And my draft stock isn’t going to rise if I went and played in the SEC or the Pac-12. I was already at that point as a top tight end in the next year’s draft.”

While he didn’t get rich, he did win a national championship.

“There’s a lot of lessons and stories that will be shared from Tucker’s situation,” said coach John Stiegelmeier. “Tucker’s a small-town kid who’s had a great career at South Dakota State, had an opportunity to go on and make a lot of money with other schools and he chose to be loyal and stay committed to South Dakota State football.

"When those things come up in the future we’ll point to Tucker and say, ‘Look what he did and still had an opportunity in the NFL.’ He’s a great teammate and has a great future in football.”

The testing numbers listed above are from the Scouting Combine. He beat them at pro day; his vertical, for instance, went from 34 inches to 36 and he lopped about one-tenth of a second off his 40.

“Well, I wanted to run a faster 40 because that’s where the money is made,” Kraft told The Brookings (S.D.) Register. “I feel like I made myself a little bit of money today. And then I wanted to jump higher because I know I can.”