The Green Bay Packers received more pass-catching production out of rookies in 2023 than any team in recorded NFL history.
A combination of second-round pick Luke Musgrave, second-round pick Jayden Reed, third-round pick Tucker Kraft, fifth-round pick Dontayvion Wicks, undrafted rookie Malik Heath and undrafted rookie Ben Sims led the Packers to some receiving numbers never before seen in Packers or NFL history.
A few things to know on the rookie class of pass-catchers, from either the NFL, the team’s Dope Sheet or our own research:
— The Packers set NFL records for catches by rookies (191) and receiving yards by rookies (2,250).
— Jayden Reed set the Packers rookie record for catches (64). He also became the first Packers rookie to lead the team in catches and receiving yards since Sterling Sharpe in 1988.
— Jayden Reed became the first rookie in NFL history to produce 60 or more catches, 750 or more receiving yards, eight or more receiving touchdowns, 100 or more rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns.
— Six different rookies caught touchdown passes, the most by one team in the Super Bowl era.
— Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks became the first rookie pair to both go over 500 receiving yards since 2014.
— Luke Musgrave tied Bubba Franks’ team record for catches by a rookie tight end (34).
— The Packers had four rookies catch at least 30 passes for the first time in team history. It’s the first time this has happened in the NFL since at least 1970.
— Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft became the first rookie tight end duo to each catch at least 30 passes, 350 receiving yards and at least one tight end since Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2010.
— The Packers became the first team to have rookies produce at least 200 receiving yards in four different games during a regular season. The Packers did so in Week 10 (at PIT), Week 11 (vs. LAC), Week 15 (vs. TB) and Week 18 (vs. CHI). The 19 catches for 235 yards by rookies against the Buccaneers were both team records.
— Among players picked in the fifth round or later, Dontayvion Wicks finished second in team history in receiving yards (trailing only Max McGee’s 614 yards). He’s one of only three fifth-round picks or later to produce 500 or more receiving yards in team history, and just the 16th in the NFL since 2000.
