The Green Bay Packers see elite potential in tight end Tucker Kraft and want to do a “better job” of featuring him in the passing game during the 2025 season.
Asked if Kraft could become a George Kittle or Travis Kelce type player in his offense, coach Matt LaFleur had no doubt.
“100 percent,” LaFleur said Tuesday.
The numbers support the claim. Ascending to the starting role in Year 2, Kraft caught 50 of 70 targets for 707 yards and seven scores during a breakout 2024 season. He averaged 10.1 yards per target, second only to Kittle among NFL tight ends, and his seven receiving touchdowns led the Packers and finished tied for fourth among tight ends. Packers quarterbacks had a passer rating of 134.6 when targeting him.
LaFleur expressed some regret for not featuring Kraft and the tight ends more this past season.
“I think that’s on us to find him and feature him,” LaFleur said. “When he gets the ball in his hands, you feel him. If there’s an area we have to do a better job on, it’s featuring the tight end.”
Kraft led all tight ends in average yards after the catch (9.3) and forced missed tackles (15), per PFF. He also made four contested catches and averaged over 14 yards per catch despite an average depth of target of 5.0 yards.
The comparison to Kittle is intriguing. In 2024, Kittle turned 94 targets into 78 catches and 1,106 yards. Using his own catch percentage and yards per catch, Kraft would have turned 94 targets into 67 catches and 946 yards — suggesting more volume for Kraft could turn him into one of the most productive tight ends in football.
Kraft said he’ll rest up and focus on continuing to get better this offseason.
“Personally, just continue to develop,” Kraft said. “Complacency is a constant cat and mouse game. You just have to find a way to wake up every morning and win that battle.”
