Taking advantage of a deep tight end class, the Green Bay Packers doubled down at the position, selecting Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State with the 78th overall pick in the 2023 draft.
The Packers believe they have gotten one of the more well-rounded tight ends in the draft as Kraft finished his college career with 99 receptions for 1,211 yards and nine touchdowns while also proving to be a capable blocker.
Want to learn more about Kraft, who has a chance to follow in the same footsteps as former Jackrabbit Dallas Goedert? Here’s what several prominent draft analysts said about Kraft during the pre-draft process:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide): “A three-year starter at South Dakota State, Kraft was a hybrid tight end (inline, wing and slot) in the Jackrabbits’ balanced offense. After passing on lucrative NIL offers from programs like Alabama, he returned to Brookings in 2022 for what NFL scouts expected to be his breakout season, but an ankle injury in the first quarter of the opener vs. Iowa curtailed that plan (he still returned and helped the program win the 2022 FCS National Championship). As a pass catcher, Kraft is an outstanding catch-and-go creator with fluid adjustment skills and balanced feet. As a blocker, he might not be polished, but he gets after it with the body control and desire to sustain and finish blocks. Since 1976, South Dakota State has only produced two top-100 draft picks and both were tight ends (Dallas Goedert, the No. 49 pick in 2018 and Steve Heiden, No. 69 in 1999); Kraft should be the third. Overall, Kraft needs development time to refine his route running and blocking techniques, but he is big, strong and athletic with the ball skills and blocking tenacity to evolve into an NFL starter. His play style and talent are reminiscent of Foster Moreau.”
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Combination tight end with the projectable skill set to handle pass-catching and run-blocking duties at the next level. Currently, he’s a more effective blocker in space than in-line, but that is correctable with better hand usage and proper angles of entry into his base blocks. Kraft provides formational versatility that will be appealing for teams that make heavy use of 12 personnel (two tight ends). He has the body control and catch toughness to be more than just a traditional Y tight end. Kraft has Day 2 talent and should see the field early with a chance to become a TE1.”
Mike Renner, Pro Football Focus (draft guide): “Kraft is a raw physical athlete who possesses all the traits evaluators are looking for in a tight end. He has an excellent combination of size and speed but can definitely improve as a route runner. His best season came in 2021, when he put up 770 receiving yards and six touchdowns en route to an 89.1 PFF receiving grade. Unfortunately, Kraft got injured earlier this season, so he was not able to play as much as a junior. Nonetheless, his upside potential is still there. Believe it or not, Kraft is a very similar tight end to Dallas Goedert, who is also a South Dakota State product.”
Bleacher Report Scouting Department: “Tucker Kraft is a bet on an NFL-ready body type with a bundle of dangerous athletic traits. At 6’5″ and 254 pounds, Kraft is a matchup problem with the way he moves. His acceleration and speed aren’t quite elite, but they’re great for a player his size. Kraft can get a step on most linebackers and will give plenty of safeties issues as well. Kraft is also a smooth mover for his size. His change of direction is effortless, especially with the ball, and he has the explosiveness to leave defenders whiffing at nothing. Kraft’s blend of size and easy athletic ability allow him to move all over the formation, finding success at multiple tight end alignments as well as wide receiver alignments. He can be a bit of a skeleton key for his future NFL offense. Kraft is also a suffocating blocker. Though there are times where he plays a bit high, he generally has the foot speed and mobility to make up for it without toppling over. Kraft’s length, strength, and physical demeanor go a long way in allowing him to win most blocks, be it versus a defensive end or a linebacker at the second level. Kraft can block both in-line and as a moving wing piece, and he’s even shown good pass-protection reps on film. Unlocking Kraft’s potential comes down to the finer parts of the pass-catching realm. As of now, he is a clunky route-runner. Kraft clearly has the movement skills to improve, but he too often moves like he’s thinking about every step he takes, which slows him down. Sharp-breaking routes often take too many steps for him to finish off and explode out of. On top of that, Kraft’s ball tracking comes and goes. His hands are good when he finds the ball well, but his hand-eye coordination can fail him when throws aren’t straight in front of his facemask. Kraft is an exciting prospect. Tight ends with his size and athletic profile are exactly what the NFL is looking for, and he’s also stepping into the pros as a ready-made blocker. Better yet, it’s reasonable to expect Kraft to improve his deficiencies as a route-runner with good coaching. Kraft should fit into any offensive system, though he would probably be best-valued in an offense that prioritizes his yards-after-catch skills.”
The Draft Network: “Tucker Kraft looks to follow in Dallas Goedert’s footsteps and be the next South Dakota State tight end to be an early draft pick. Kraft entered the season with some hype as he was extremely productive as a sophomore in 2021, producing 780 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 65 receptions. Unfortunately, Kraft suffered an ankle injury during his junior season, which knocked him out for five games, so he wasn’t able to replicate his 2021 success. That said, as a prospect, Kraft didn’t fall in my eyes. Even though Kraft went to a small school, he has top-tier physical traits. He has excellent size and is very well built, possessing a wide upper body and thick lower half. Kraft lines up all across the formation—with snaps in-line, in the slot, and outside—and is relied upon heavily both in the run and passing game. He is an excellent athlete for his size, showcasing good speed, fluidity, and short-area quickness. A productive receiver, Kraft flashes very good body control and ball skills. He is a strong and physical runner who is tough to tackle after the catch. Kraft is just an average route-runner. He is best used on short and quick routes which get the ball in his hands early. That allows him to make things happen with his athletic ability. He has above-average hands overall but will have some drops, which are a concern. In the run game, Kraft is a willing player who does flash some power at the point of attack if he wins the leverage game early. While he has strength and effort, he must improve his pad level when blocking as well as his hand placement. He certainly is a plus player in the run game and will only get better at the next level. At this point in time, Kraft is more athletic than a nuanced football player, but his skill set is easy to project at the next level. He will be a complete tight end that has the athleticism to be a high-volume pass target who can make plays on his own thanks to his run instincts and strength while also being a solid run blocker.”
33rd Team: “Kraft is a very good athlete with great size and build. He has very good speed for the position and is a fluid, effortless mover. As a receiver, he shows solid route-running ability with a good stem at the top of his routes to separate, but does not run a wide variety of routes. He has a good ability to use his size and box out smaller defenders. He has just okay hands, he has some drops, but shows good technique not allowing the ball to get in on his body. He does have the ability to make big plays with open-field speed and run after the catch ability. As a blocker, he has traits but needs a lot of work. Tucker Kraft shows a good base and strength at the point of attack but his hands are all over the place and oftentimes he plays high.”
