The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
Tucker Kraft has emerged as a budding star at tight end for the Green Bay Packers. Kraft’s counterpart, Luke Musgrave has battled the injury bug during his first two seasons in the league and there is no denying his potential upside.
With those two on the roster, the Packers likely won’t add a tight end early during the 2025 NFL Draft.
As Brian Gutekunst starts to chart the future of that room, Kraft is on his way to earning a second contract and could develop into the best tight end in the league. If Musgrave can’t stay healthy the Packers may start to think about adding another tight end to serve as the immediate third tight end, with the eye on him being the long-term second option behind Kraft.
Gavin Bartholomew is a tight end that the Packers could target early on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh prospect checks in at No. 86 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A Pennsylvania native, Bartholomew caught 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns during his first season on campus. The following season he caught 21 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, he caught 18 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown.
This past season, the Panther tight end reeled in 38 receptions for 322 yards and four touchdowns.
“Bartholomew was a playmaker who might’ve just come at an off-time for Pitt’s offense,” Christopher Carter, the Pitt writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said. “His freshman year he was a young, promising playmaker buried behind an NFL tight end in Lucas Krull on an ACC Championship team. But his highlights then and over the years showed great potential. He just didn’t get many chances to show it. As his highlights like his hurdle touchdown against Tennessee in 2022 were impressive, his stats never translated to big numbers.”
Bartholomew is a good-sized athlete. He’s a controlled route runner and accelerates after the catch to create YAC. He spears the ball away from his frame and shows no issues making catches in a crowd.
“Bartholomew has good hands and offers the athleticism to make guys miss and fight through contact for hard yards,” Carter said. “He may be underrated there because he wasn’t featured a ton in Pitt’s offense, and not because he did anything poorly enough to contribute to that.”
Bartholomew is a competitive blocker, both in pass protection and as a run blocker. He’ll get after you as a run blocker and keep his legs driving at contact. He’s able to seal the edge and has physical hands.
“Bartholomew’s blocking wasn’t always top-notch, but he grew into a very good player,” Carter said. “That, if nothing else, shows his dedication to his craft. He improved as a blocker over the years and played a role in big-run game success for NFL product Israel Abanikanda in 2022 and Desmond Reid in 2024. Now, he may be one of the best blockers in his class. Even when he isn’t targeted in the passing game, he brings the physicality. NFL coaches will love that.”
Fit with the Packers
The hope in Green Bay is that Musgrave stays healthy and earns a second contract with the Packers to give Jordan Love a dynamic one-two punch at tight end with Kraft and the former Oregon State Beaver.
That’s the dream. A dream that could be crushed by the injury bug. With his ability as a blocker, Bartholomew would be a quality third tight end behind Kraft and Musgrave and could step in seamlessly if Musgrave were to get bit by the injury bug again this season.
“Bartholomew’s lack of superstar numbers may make him one of the more underrated players in the tight end class,” Carter said. “He possesses playmaker talents and athleticism while being a good blocker. If you’re an NFL general manager you can draft him in the middle rounds as a No. 2 tight end behind a good starter who you might not think will be around for much longer and reasonably plan for Bartholomew to grow into your No. 1 tight end.”
