This is not a love letter. It\u2019s more of a like letter.<\/p>\n
Among Green Bay Packers fans, tight end Luke Musgrave has been a bit of a punching bag. He\u2019s the guy who \u201cfalls down after every catch,\u201d the draft pick forever tied to Tucker Kraft. And in that comparison, Musgrave loses every time.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m not here to compare Musgrave to Kraft. I\u2019m here, humbly \u2014 a simple man who enjoys rooting for tight ends \u2014 to say that the Packers could do a lot worse for a number two tight end.<\/p>\n
Statistically, Musgrave\u2019s 2025 season looks a lot like what other solid second tight ends around the league produce. Roughly two dozen catches, around 250 yards, zero or maybe one score \u2014 numbers that land him in the same neighborhood as players like Tommy Tremble, Jeremy Ruckert, or Austin Hooper in similar(ish) roles. None of those guys are featured weapons. All of them are functional pieces. At this point, that\u2019s his job.<\/p>\n
Musgrave remains a tremendous athlete who can run real routes, stretch a seam once in a while, and keep defenses from ignoring half the formation. Pressed into duty after Tucker Kraft suffered a season-ending injury, all Musgrave did was exactly what he was told while averaging 10.5 yards per catch. Not bad! Not elite, but not bad!<\/p>\n
Yes, he goes down quickly sometimes (or often). Yes, Kraft is more productive (and more fun to watch). And yes expectations on him have been very high. But that\u2019s not his fault. He\u2019s not broken. He\u2019s just a complementary player doing complementary things.<\/p>\n
I like you, Luke Musgrave.<\/p>\n