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Tucker Kraft was one of the NFL’s most efficient pass-catching tight ends on short throws during the 2024 season, but the tackle-breaking Green Bay Packer wants to take his game to the next level by becoming a better weapon down the field in 2025.
Including the postseason, Kraft caught 47 of his 55 passes on targets thrown under 10 yards in the air last season, per Pro Football Focus. But he was only targeted 10 times on passes 10 or more yards in the air, highlighting his limited opportunities as a downfield receiver.
The Packers leaned on Kraft in the short game, using him as a check down option, in the flat on short routes or on screens to get the ball in his hands quickly and easily and make the most of his incredible ability to break tackles after the catch.
But there’s a next step for Kraft as a third-year player with huge potential.
No tight end in the NFL is a consistently dominant threat on throws over 20 yards down the field, but the intermediate range — between 10 and 19 yards — is where the best of the best do most of their damage. Five tight ends had 300 or more receiving yards in that intermediate area in 2024: George Kittle (second-team All-Pro), Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce (Pro Bowl), Trey McBride (Pro Bowl) and Zach Ertz. Kraft, meanwhile, ranked 22nd among tight ends in receiving yards and tied for 34th in receptions in the intermediate area.
This past week, Kraft said he wanted to get better at separation against man-to-man coverage and reading coverage schemes pre-snap to help power an improvement as a downfield receiver in 2025.
Kraft did plenty of damage when given the opportunity downfield last season. He caught eight of his 10 targets on throws over 10 yards in the air, creating 270 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks had a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting him on throws of both 10-19 yards down field and 20 or more yards, so there’s evidence of what Kraft can do when provided the opportunity.
Winning more against man coverage would provide more opportunities. And it’s clear the Packers want to make Kraft more of a focal point of the passing game after he turned only 70 total targets into 707 receiving yards and seven scores in 2024.
The game’s best pass-catching tight ends can beat linebackers and safeties to all areas of the field when defenses elect to play man coverage, get into passing windows and find soft spots in zone coverages, and make plays in the scramble drill when quarterbacks extend plays.
Kraft can catch the short pass and make magic happen after. To become a truly elite tight end, Kraft must become a higher volume target in the downfield parts of the field — a goal he’s set and ready to chase in 2025.
Tucker Kraft, downfield receiving stats in 2024 (PFF)
- 10-19 yards: 4 receptions, 5 targets, 128 yards, 2 TDs, 158.3 passer rating
- 20+ yards: 4 receptions, 5 targets, 142 yards, 1 TD, 158.3 passer rating
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