GREEN BAY – Tucker Kraft has had one goal and one goal only since he was drafted in the third round back in 2023, and that's to be the best tight end he can possibly be for the Packers.
In the process, however, the third-year veteran is quickly becoming one of the top tight ends in the entire NFL.
Thursday night was the latest example, as Kraft took over under the lights at Lambeau Field with six receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in a 27-18 rout of the Washington Commanders in front of 77,289.
It's not unprecedented production, as Kraft had a couple 100-yard performances during his time at South Dakota State. But nothing quite as memorable as this as every catch, every yard contributed in a major way to Green Bay's first four scoring drives.
"Whatever I can do to just help the team win, that is my main goal," Kraft said. "By moving the ball, moving the sticks, being aggressive with the ball in my hands, that's a way for me to bring momentum to the offense and for us to continue to keep it rolling."
Kraft's impact was immediate against Washington, catching a 15-yard pass to move the Packers off their goal line on their second possession before breaking free for 57 yards through the middle of the field two plays later.
It was the third-longest catch of the 24-year-old tight end's young career after he notched a pair of 60-plus-yard receptions last October – a 67-yarder in Jacksonville and a 66-yarder against the Los Angeles Rams.
Those three receptions of 55-plus yards since 2024 are the most among all NFL tight ends, with no other TE posting more than one over that span.
Thursday's catch-and-run down the middle keyed a 7-play, 96-yard scoring drive, a series that ended with a 5-yard TD pass to Romeo Doubs that staked the Packers to a 7-0 lead.
"I been screaming his name since last year, man," running back Josh Jacobs said. "The way that he comes in and he works his butt off and really how he step up this year as a leader, I think, is special. He didn't leave. He came the whole offseason, stayed here, he was in the building every day. Workouts and OTAs, he's first in line. He's running hard. I think that he's getting everything that he put in and I'm happy for him."
After working through a brief cramping issue, Kraft returned late in Green Bay's next series to catch a 17-yard pass on second-and-11 at the Washington 24. Two plays later, running back Josh Jacobs powered into the end zone for a 2-yard score.
Kraft had already established a new career-high with 89 receiving yards on just three catches at halftime but only kept building in the second half.
First, he refused to go down on a 19-yard pickup deep in Washington territory to help set up a 22-yard Brandon McManus field goal.
After fighting off an illegal contact penalty on Will Harris, Kraft caught a critical 8-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Love on third-and-6 at the Commanders' 45 just moments after they'd cut Green Bay's lead to 17-10 with a little less than 14 minutes left in regulation.
Kraft came right back with an 8-yard TD catch after selling a block on play-action and leaking out to the end zone. The moment Kraft saw the safety drop low to the line of scrimmage he believed Love would find for him for the score.
It's just another example of how defenses must pick their poison with this Packers offense.
"With all the playmakers we have on our offense, you might as well just call us the five-headed dragon," Kraft said. "We've got depth at wide receiver. You saw guys making critical catches today. … Just a bunch of dawgs, man, and I'm happy they're on my side."
Kraft had a stellar sophomore season in 2024, catching 50 passes for 707 yards and a team-high seven TDs. It's only reached a new level this summer given all the Packers' options at receiver and the return of Luke Musgrave from injury.
Adding in Musgrave's two catches for 32 yards, the Packers' tight ends tied for their most receiving yards in a game as a position group (156) since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Green Bay's tight ends had the same vs. Minnesota on Oct. 5, 2009.
Individually, Kraft's numbers Thursday were the top yardage total by a Green Bay tight end since Richard Rodgers had 146 yards at Detroit on Dec. 3, 2015.
So, what's next?
"We've got practice on Monday, I guess," said Kraft with a smile. "Hopefully, I can keep stacking games like that. It's the first time I've ever gotten over 100 yards ... I'm feeling it now. You just get tackled that many more times. I'm excited, but it's over."
