GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – After a pretty average rookie season as an NFL tight end, Tucker Kraft came out of nowhere in year two as one of the Packers’ leading offensive weapons.
Kraft recorded over 700 receiving yards (second only to wide receiver Jayden Reed), while also leading the team with seven receiving touchdowns.
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At the end of last season, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur, when asked if he thought he had gotten the most out of his big receiving target, admitted he wished he had made Kraft a larger part of his offense. Before practice on Tuesday, LaFleur referenced Kraft’s ceiling as a player.
“Certainly we all know the kind of player he [Tucker Kraft] is, and can be,” LaFleur said.
According to Pro Football Focus, in 2024, Kraft’s 14.5% target rate was the fourth-lowest among the 28 tight ends with 300 or more routes.
“He’s a guy that has that ability to be one of the top pass catchers in our offense,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “Now I just think it’s about the coaches trying to scheme up ways to get him the ball.”
Kraft’s 14.1 average yards per reception last season was good for No. 2 among tight ends in the league, and his 9.1 yards after catch not only led his position group but was the second-best single-season mark by an NFL tight end since 2000 (behind only George Kittle in 2018).
“I don’t do fancy drills. I just run routes. I run hard, I run at 100%, and I believe that’s going to put me in the best position whenever my number’s called,” Kraft said.
Looking ahead, Kraft recognizes his role on the team has changed, and it’s not just about being the team’s leading tight end now; it’s about being a leader in the Packers locker room.
“I go out there and I play every play because I love the guys on the field,” Kraft said. “When you break it down and you make it that simple, I think it’s easy to take it upon yourself to try and lead the men in that room.”
It’s no secret that last season the Packers fell short of their ultimate goal, a championship. Losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, 22-10, at Lincoln Financial Field.
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And like last year, as it is every year, the Super Bowl is the goal for every NFL team at the beginning of the football season. For Kraft, he says getting back to that championship standard starts now, in camp, working on the small details, which can ultimately turn into wins on Sundays.
“It’s going to come down to the small details, and just taking it one day at a time. And that breaks down to our championship play style, our practice habits, and holding each other accountable,” Kraft said.
