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Tucker Kraft Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers‘ offense took a massive hit when tight end Tucker Kraft sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Week 9.
The passing attack wasn’t the same without him, which contributed to the Packers going 4-7 (including the playoffs) to close out the season. Kraft is one of the most athletic pass catchers in the NFL, and is a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds.
If he would have remained healthy, Kraft was on pace to catch 68 passes for 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. It would have been a breakout season for the third-year tight end, and would have established him as one of the elite players at the position.
Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft Is Pro Football Focus’ Eighth-Highest Graded Player at the Position in 2025
As they roll out their annual season grades, Pro Football Focus revealed that Kraft was their eighth-highest graded tight end in 2025 despite his year getting cut short due to injury.
“The season started strongly for Packers tight end Tucker Kraft until a torn ACL cut it short after just eight games. Before that, Kraft was having a career year and likely heading toward a potential All-Pro selection. Through eight games, Kraft had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns, and was the top receiver for Green Bay.
“Kraft’s dynamism and ability to create yards after the catch are what set him apart. His 4.8-yard average depth of target was 42nd out of 49 tight ends, but Kraft led all tight ends in yards after the catch per reception with an astounding 10.8 yards. He turned almost everything into a first down, and he led all tight ends in total yards per reception. An unreal feat.”
Kraft wasn’t far off from matching his 2024 production in half the amount of games played, recording just 18 less receptions, 218 less yards, and one less touchdown.
Tucker Kraft Could Receive Contract Extension From Packers Despite Injury
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
With three seasons now under his belt, Kraft is eligible for a contract extension. The question is, has he proven enough to receive one? Here’s what Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had to say about it a couple of weeks ago:
“Obviously, he’s a really important part of this football team,. Certainly, the impact that he has on our football team, not only as a player but as a leader, is very important to us. We’ve obviously already been in contact with him and just let him know how we feel and we’ll kind of see how it goes.”
Independent Packers salary cap expert Ken Ingalls thinks it may take some time:
“Prior to his season-ending injury I said it would be foolish for Kraft to step onto a football field in 2026 without a new mega-contract, however, now the Packers will probably wait a little longer to see how he looks in practice before putting pen to paper on a new deal. But make no mistake – outside some major setback, Tucker Kraft is set to be one of the highest paid, if not the highest, tight end in the league sometime during the 2026 season.”
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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