The Green Bay Packers and star tight end Tucker Kraft reportedly have extension talks underway, which should not come as a surprise considering Kraft was on his way to an All-Pro-caliber season before tearing his ACL against the Carolina Panthers in November. With a new deal potentially getting done as soon as this offseason, it would naturally raise some questions about Luke Musgrave’s future.
It feels like every conversation surrounding Musgrave eventually comes back to potential. The 2023 second-round pick has occasionally flashed as a vertical threat and brings an athletic skillset that can stress defenses down the seam. However, production and availability have been issues early in his career. Musgrave has topped 350 receiving yards only once, and injuries have consistently interrupted his development, making it difficult for him to establish a larger role in the offense.
Notably, Josh Whyle and John FitzPatrick outsnapped Musgrave in the New York Giants game last season. It was a brutal game for Musgrave, who finished with one catch for minus-one yard, lost a fumble, and had another play originally ruled a fumble changed to a drop.
For a player still trying to turn potential into consistent production, it felt like another frustrating setback, and perhaps the moment the writing started to appear on the wall for his future in Green Bay.
Another reason Musgrave saw his role reduced is that it has been difficult to rely on him as an effective blocker, an area where FitzPatrick and Whyle have offered more value. Matt LaFleur demands his playmakers to contribute as blockers in the run game. If a player becomes a liability in that regard, it’s hard to keep him on the field consistently. That is largely what happened with Musgrave.
It’s hard to clearly envision what Musgrave’s role is supposed to be in the current version of Green Bay’s offense. He’s not even the second-best blocking tight end on the roster right now. While he is built more like a receiver than a traditional tight end, his passing-game production has not been nearly consistent enough to justify building around that skillset, either.
Looking ahead to 2026, how often will Green Bay use 12-personnel (one running back, two tight ends)? The Packers have frequently used two-tight-end sets recently. Still, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Kraft healthy, it’s difficult to imagine LaFleur prioritizing a higher percentage of 12-personnel over keeping his best playmakers on the field in 11-personnel.
However, Musgrave’s skillset still aligns with what many modern NFL offenses look for at the position, which may create opportunities elsewhere. He’s an athletic vertical threat who can stretch the field. Therefore, theoretically, he can create mismatches in the passing game, which means another team could still convince itself that Musgrave still has untapped upside.
Still, it’s hard to imagine the Packers getting much in return for him. Between his injuries, inconsistent production, and limited role, his trade value is probably, at best, somewhere in the mid-to-late Day 3 range unless he shows significant improvement this season.
The most likely scenario is probably Luke Musgrave playing out the remainder of his rookie deal before hitting free agency next offseason. The Packers could explore moving him near the trade deadline or potentially recoup a late compensatory pick down the line, but the reality is fairly clear at this point. Tucker Kraft is the future of the position in Green Bay, while Musgrave is likely entering his final season in Titletown.
