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Packers TE Tucker Kraft’s surge up ESPN rankings not stopped by ACL tear
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- Packers TE Tucker Kraft’s surge up ESPN rankings not stopped by ACL tear
Packers TE Tucker Kraft's surge up ESPN rankings not stopped by ACL tear appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft 's 2025 season was cut short due to a brutal ACL injury. But before going down, Kraft was proving to be one of the better tight ends in the entire league.
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Heading into the 2026 season, Kraft was ranked as the sixth-best tight end by NFL coaches, scouts and executives. One fully recovered from his injury, they wouldn't be shocked to see him climb up the rankings, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
"His speed and [run-after-catch] ability really stand out," an NFC exec said. "He was just scratching the surface before the injury. And he's a high-level blocker."
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"Kraft's steady improvement from Year 1 to Year 3 was impressive," Fowler added. "Kraft was pacing for 1,000-plus yards and 10-touchdowns before going down in Week 9 with an ACL tear in his right knee. His 124-yard Week 2 performance on a Thursday night was his coming-out party. Six weeks later against Pittsburgh , he became the first Packers tight end in franchise history to post 140 receiving yards and multiple receiving touchdowns."
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In the eight games before his injury, Kraft caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns. Despite missing so much time, he still tied for the team lead in touchdowns.
A year prior, Kraft set career-highs across the board with 50 receptions for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. His three games, encompassing 42 games, have resulted in 113 catches for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The first order of business is simply getting the tight end back on the field. But when he does make that return, the NFL is expecting Kraft to continuing making a name for himself.
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