Packers TE Tucker Kraft Rated Among NFL’s Best Tight Ends in 2025 Despite Season-Ending Injury

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The Green Bay Packers entered the second half of the 2025 season believing they had finally unlocked their offensive identity. Much of that confidence came from the emergence of tight end Tucker Kraft, who evolved from promising young player to full-blown matchup nightmare. But in Week 9, everything changed. Kraft suffered a season-ending ACL tear, abruptly halting what was shaping up to be one of the most dominant tight end seasons in the league.

Without him, Green Bay’s passing attack regressed dramatically. The Packers went 4–7 to finish the year, including postseason play, and the absence of Kraft’s explosiveness was impossible to ignore. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, with rare agility for his frame, he had become the player opposing defenses had to account for on every snap.

And even though his season was cut in half, analytics reveal just how elite his performance truly was.

Kraft Ranked Among NFL’s Top Tight Ends by Pro Football Focus

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In their annual grading system, Pro Football Focus rated Kraft as the No. 8 tight end in the entire NFL for the 2025 season, despite the fact he played only eight games.

PFF explained:

“Before the torn ACL ended his year, Kraft was having a career season and likely heading toward an All-Pro selection. His ability to create yards after the catch separated him from every other tight end. He led the position with an astounding 10.8 yards after catch per reception, turning almost every touch into a chain-moving play.”

That number wasn’t just good — it was historic. Kraft’s average depth of target ranked just 42nd among 49 qualifying tight ends, meaning he wasn’t being targeted deep down the field. Yet he still led the NFL at the position in total yards per reception, proving he could transform short throws into explosive gains at a level seen only from elite hybrid tight ends.

Through eight games he recorded:

• 32 receptions

• 489 yards

• 6 touchdowns

He was well on pace for:

• 68 receptions

• 1,039 yards

• 13 touchdowns

Had he stayed healthy, he would have joined a tiny club of tight ends in NFL history to surpass 1,000 yards and 10 scores in the same year — remarkable company for a third-year player.

Even more impressive, Kraft nearly matched his 2024 production in half the games, falling only 18 receptions, 218 yards, and one touchdown short of last year’s totals.

Why the Packers’ Offense Struggled Without Him

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With Kraft on the field, the Packers’ offense operated differently. His presence dictated coverage, forced mismatches, and opened passing windows for receivers. Coordinators used him as:

• a seam-stretching vertical threat,

• a bully in the red zone,

• a safety-valve in the flats, and

• a motion piece to clarify defensive structure.

Without him, Green Bay lost its schematic multiplier. Defenses no longer needed to shade safeties toward the middle, and linebackers no longer had to account for Kraft’s dominant yards-after-catch ability. This constricted the offense, resulting in fewer explosive plays and more stalled drives.

The numbers told the story:

Before Kraft’s injury:
• Packers ranked top 10 in explosive pass rate
• Jordan Love posted one of the league’s highest passer ratings when targeting TEs

After his injury:
• Explosive pass rate plummeted
• Third-down efficiency and red-zone scoring declined sharply

To put it simply, Kraft wasn’t just a piece of the offense — he was the engine of many of their most successful concepts.

Contract Extension Looming: Has Kraft Shown Enough?

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With three NFL seasons completed, Kraft is now eligible for a contract extension. Despite the injury, he remains one of the most critical components of the Packers’ long-term plan. General manager Brian Gutekunst addressed Kraft’s future just weeks ago:

“He’s a really important part of this football team. His impact — as a player and a leader — is enormous. We’ve already been in contact with him about how much we value him, and we’ll see where things go.”

Those comments make it clear: Green Bay considers Kraft a foundational franchise player.

Independent salary-cap expert Ken Ingalls went even further:

“Before his injury, it would’ve been foolish for Kraft to play in 2026 without a mega-extension. Now, the Packers may wait slightly longer to see how he looks in practice — but unless there’s a major setback, Kraft is on track to become one of the highest-paid, if not the highest-paid, tight ends in football in 2026.”

That aligns with league trends. Tight ends who can:

• stretch the field,

• create yards after the catch,

• block at a high level, and

• serve as primary receivers

are incredibly rare. Players like Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews reset the market because they fundamentally change offensive capabilities. With his size, athleticism, production efficiency, and schematic versatility, Kraft has now entered that tier of impact — even with last season cut short.

What’s Next for Tucker Kraft in 2026?

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The major question now is health. ACL recoveries vary widely, but modern sports medicine has dramatically improved outcomes for tight ends with Kraft’s profile. Green Bay expects him to be available during training camp, but they will not rush him.

When he returns, he’ll rejoin a young offense still ascending around Jordan Love. The Packers believe they are building something sustainable — and Kraft is central to that vision. His chemistry with Love was growing rapidly in 2025, and the franchise sees an All-Pro ceiling for the duo moving forward.

If Kraft comes back healthy:

• He immediately returns as the Packers’ No. 1 target

• The offense regains its mismatch nightmare

• Love gets his most reliable security blanket back

• Green Bay’s red-zone efficiency projects to spike upward

For a team that barely missed its chance to make another deep postseason run, Kraft’s return could be the single biggest factor determining their 2026 success.

Final Thoughts: A Rising Star Poised to Become the League’s Next Elite Tight End

Even with only half a season played, Tucker Kraft proved he belongs in the conversation with the NFL’s top tight ends. His athletic dominance, elite yards-after-catch production, and seamless fit in Green Bay’s offense made him one of the breakout stars of 2025 — a fact confirmed by PFF’s top-10 ranking.

Now, as he works his way back from injury and positions himself for a major long-term contract, the Packers appear committed to him as a future cornerstone.

If Kraft returns at full strength in 2026, the NFL may soon see exactly what his eight-game sample hinted at:

Green Bay has a superstar tight end in the making — and he’s just getting started.