Green Bay's Tucker Kraft, the rookie third-round pick, didn't waste much time diving into his NFL career. A few months in, he found himself in Nashville attending the renowned "Tight End University" (TEU), a summit for tight ends looking to learn from those who have mastered football's distinct position.
At one of the bonding events, Kraft came face-to-face with Kansas City's Travis Kelce, seven-time All-Pro and co-founder of TEU. Kraft, a rookie from small-town South Dakota, felt a thrill at meeting the NFL star for the first time. Little did he know, he and Kelce would soon be the starting tight ends for their respective teams when the Packers and Chiefs played at Lambeau Field.
Like Kraft, Kelce started as a third-round pick in 2013. The 34-year-old has since become an industry legend, achieving seven straight seasons of at least 80 receptions and 1,000 yards. This season, he's leading Kansas City with 70 catches for 732 yards and five touchdowns. As Kraft embarks on his NFL journey, he draws inspiration from Kelce's game – his ability to find openings and leverage his experience against defenders. "He's eventually going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer," Kraft said of Kelce.
While most tight ends take a full year to start making an impact, Kraft was quickly thrown into the action in Green Bay. Kraft's workload has recently increased, but he has risen to the challenge, even scoring his first NFL touchdown during a win over Detroit on Thanksgiving.
Despite the absence of fourth-year veteran Josiah Deguara due to a hip injury, Kraft and fellow rookie Ben Sims were the only listed tight ends for the game against the Lions. The duo was expected to play crucial roles the match against the Chiefs.
Despite respecting stars like Kelce and two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his loyalty is to helping his quarterback, Jordan Love, navigate the Packers' offense was all that mattered. Kraft helped lead his team to a victory over the Chiefs.
