Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft showcased elite speed on his long touchdown catch against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.
In fact, no player at his position has been faster on a scoring play this season.
According to Next Gen Stats, Kraft’s top speed on his 66-yard touchdown — 19.70 miles per hour — is the fastest speed from a tight end on a touchdown-scoring play so far through five games in 2024.
Tucker Kraft reached a top speed of 19.70 mph on his 66-yard touchdown reception, the fastest speed by a tight end on a TD this season.
Kraft now leads all tight ends in yards after the catch (172) and YAC over expected (+54) this season.#GBvsLAR | @Packers https://t.co/ad0HLod7lg
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 6, 2024
Kraft ran the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds coming out of South Dakota State in 2023. Relative to his size, Kraft came into the NFL with elite speed at the position.
Now we have on-field confirmation.
The Packers had Kraft mic’d up during Sunday’s win in Los Angeles. The second-year tight end said he wasn’t happy that he let a defensive back tackle him in the first half. When he got a chance at redemption in the open field in the second half, he made the most of it.
On a deep crosser off play-action, Kraft sprung wide open to make the catch, and he bounced off one tackle and ran past another defender on his way to the end zone.
“Wonder how fast I was going,” Kraft said on the sideline following the touchdown. “My legs hurt. My glutes. My glutes are on fire.”
Tucker Kraft, the man you are
This is our formal request to mic him up every week pic.twitter.com/3JGj3oZBhS
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 8, 2024
Now Kraft knows. He was cruising at elite speeds. Through five weeks, he’ll hold the crown as the fastest-moving tight end on a touchdown-scoring play.
While Kraft was flying, the NFL is full of athletic freaks. Kraft’s top speed didn’t even crack the top 20 fastest ball-carriers in the NFL during Week 5. The fastest player was Brian Thomas Jr., who hit 22.15 miles per hour on his long touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
