"Pre-draft picture" is a position-by-position look at the Packers' roster heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The series continues with the tight ends and receivers.
GREEN BAY – As soon as the Packers selected Luke Musgrave in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Tucker Kraft scratched Green Bay off his list of potential NFL landing spots.
I mean, there was no way the Packers would come knocking after filling a major need at tight end with the uber-athletic Musgrave…right?
Well, sure enough, the "920" area code popped up on Kraft's phone a couple hours later and the native of Timber Lake, S.D., was Green Bay-bound as a third-round pick (No. 78 overall).
What a gift it turned out to be for the Packers.
Although Kraft and Musgrave together represent a bright future for the tight end position in Green Bay, the Packers were forced to turn exclusively to Kraft in 2024 after Musgrave was lost for more than half the season due to ankle surgery.
Kraft responded with one of the best all-around seasons for a tight end in Packers history. A hammer in a relentless search for nails, Kraft pounded his way to 50 receptions for 707 yards (14.0 yards per catch) and a team-high seven touchdowns.
In doing so, he joined Paul Coffman as the only Green Bay tight ends since the 1970 merger to register at least 50 catches, 700 receiving yards, seven touchdowns and average 14.0-plus yards per reception in the same season.
The Packers feel as though the 24-year-old Kraft is only getting started. In addition to adopting a more pragmatic approach to his aggressive, never-say-die playstyle, the 6-foot-5, 259-pound tight wants to expand his leadership in 2025.
He won't have to do it alone, as Musgrave returns to full health after playing seven regular-season games. With both choosing to stay in Green Bay after the season, Kraft and Musgrave were able to train together throughout the winter months.
For Musgrave, it was an opportunity to build back his body and regain his footing. According to Head Coach Matt LaFleur, that's exactly what the 6-foot-6, 253-tight end pound has done after getting "bigger, stronger and faster" during his extended offseason in Green Bay.
While limited to 18 games through his first two NFL seasons, Musgrave has shown plenty of promise. In 2023, he tied Bubba Franks' team record for most catches by a rookie tight end (34).
The Packers hope Musgrave's injuries are behind him, and he may help contribute to a downfield passing game that lost Christian Watsonto a torn anterior cruciate ligament in January.
The Packers also brought back veterans Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick at tight end. Six-foot-7 Messiah Swinson returns as well after splitting his rookie season between Carolina's active roster and Green Bay's practice squad.
At receiver, the Packers are looking for a bounce-back from a diverse and talented unit that struggled with drops last year. The room still blooms with potential despite Watson's injury, beginning with 2023 second-round pick Jayden Reed.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound wideout not only led Green Bay in receiving the past two years but also is the only player in league history to post 750-plus receiving yards, 55-plus receptions, six-plus receiving TDs, 100-plus rushing yards and a rushing TD in each of his first two NFL seasons.
Former fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs brings experience after starting 35 of his 43 NFL appearances, catching 147 passes for 1,700 yards and 15 TDs over the past three seasons.
A year after unearthing Doubs on Day 3, the Packers discovered former Virigina standout Dontayvion Wicks in the fifth round. While Wicks struggled to build on an impressive rookie season, the 6-foot-1, 206-pound receiver still finished his sophomore campaign with 39 receptions for 415 yards and five TDs.
Three-time Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman also was signed as an unrestricted free agent last month. He rounds out the receiving corps with the returning Bo Melton and Malik Heath, who have each had their moments the past two seasons.
Day 2 has been a popular spot for the Packers to find pass-catchers, with all four tight ends General Manager Brian Gutekunst has drafted coming in the second and third rounds.
Green Bay rides a unique streak into next week's draft, as it's been 23 years since the last time the team selected a receiver in the first round (Florida State's Javon Walker, 20th overall).
Gutekunst could have a decision to make, though, if either Arizona's Tet McMillan or Texas speedster Matthew Golden is available when Green Bay goes on the clock.
Pre-Draft Roster Series:
