Tucker Kraft 2023 NFL Draft Profile
South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft and his draft stock puzzles me. On the one hand, I could see the hype around him. This is touted as a loaded tight-end class, and some think that Kraft is on the upper echelon of the group. His tape showed flashes of that. However, on the other hand, I see a tight end that I don’t think I would spend a fifth-round pick on. Who are you getting? What does his ceiling look like? We try to answer some of those questions in his draft profile. Let’s talk about it.
Kraft was a baller in high school, playing running back, middle linebacker, and even punter. In his senior year, he rushed for over 1,400 yards and an insane 24 touchdowns. Kraft saw action in only seven games in freshman year, but in 2021, he played in 15 games, catching 65 passes for 770 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, he suffered a knee injury, only playing in six games. In those games, he had 19 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Trey did not have good things to say about his performance at the combine. I’ll let you look for yourself here.
What stands out first and foremost with Kraft is his blocking ability — both in the run and pass game. He can move people. When he does get out and run routes, he has soft hands, letting the ball get to him (which is also a bit of a knock). Does he have better burst than his 40-time showed at the combine? At times, it shows. But parts of his tape aren’t kind for that. I do like that he has lined up inside and even in the slot.
I don’t know, there’s just something that tells my brain not to buy in. The route tree is so small. The routes he does run are not crisp by any means. Could that be cleaned up? Absolutely. But as a prospect, it isn’t ideal. He lacks the pure speed to get by linebackers. What is he going to look like in a system that isn’t primarily running play-action?
I have no clue where to project Tucker Kraft. He is not someone you can take in the first three rounds. You just can’t. Lance Zierlein has his comp at Pat Freiermuth, which is laughable. I have a late fifth-round grade on Kraft, viewing him as someone you only take if you have one of those compensatory picks. I don’t see any other way.
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