The Green Bay Packers added three players on the second day of the 2023 NFL Draft and traded back twice to accumulate more picks on day three.
GM Brian Gutekunst used all three picks to add new targets for quarterback Jordan Love adding tight end Luke Musgrave of Oregon State and wide receiver Jayden Reed from Michigan State in the second round and then selected tight end Tucker Kraft of South Dakota State in the third round.
Here are ten things we learned from day two of the Packers 2023 NFL Draft:
- Luke Musgrave Is an Elite Athlete
As per usual, the Packers went for an elite athlete with potential upside when they added Musgrave with their first pick in the second round. Musgrave has a relative athletic score of 9.71 and was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.61 at the combine which are impressive numbers for a tight end.
At 6’6” and 250 pounds, he provides a big target and has big hands. He is also dangerous with the ball after the catch.
- Musgrave’s Uncle Played in the NFL
Musgrave’s uncle, Bill Musgrave, played quarterback for the 49ers and Broncos from 1991 through 1996. He only started one game in his NFL career, and it was ironically against the Packers in Week 15 of the 1996 season. The Packers won the game 41-6 on their way to winning Super Bowl XXXI.
Bill Musgrave also coached in the NFL starting in 1997 and rose as high as offensive coordinator. In 2022, he served as a senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns.
- Musgrave Has Limited Experience
An injury cost Musgrave playing time last season and he only played in two games before his season ended although he was able to participate in the Senior Bowl. He also played in a run-heavy offense, so he didn’t see as many passes thrown his way as most of the other highly regarded tight ends in this draft. He does have experience run blocking though which Matt LaFleur will certainly appreciate.
- Jayden Reed Has Elite Speed
Reed is a speedster plain and simple. He ran a 4.45 at the combine and was a dangerous weapon in college with 46 plays of 20 yards or more in his final two seasons at Michigan State.
He was healthier and more productive in 2021 when he gained 1,026 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on 59 catches. Nagging injuries and the poor play of the Spartans offense overall hindered his production a bit but he still caught 55 passes for 636 yards and five scores.
He does not have the size the Packers generally prefer in receivers at 5’11” and 187 pounds but his speed can more than make up for it.
- Reed Can Return Punts
Reed was a dangerous punt returner in college and took three punts to the house while averaging 14.9-yards per return. He also ran back kicks but was less effective, averaging just 17.5-yards per runback.
He could give the team another option as a return specialist if anything happens to Keisean Nixon and could contribute elsewhere on special teams as well.
- Reed Transferred After One Season of College Football
Reed’s father passed away when he was a sophomore in high school and his grades went down as he dealt with the tragedy. That limited the interest of some bigger football schools, so he started his college career at Western Michigan where he dominated and was named a freshman All-American before transferring to Michigan State.
By the way, Western Michigan is the alma mater of former Packers Pro Bowl receiver, Greg Jennings.
- Tucker Kraft Has Speed and Size
Kraft is fast for a tight end and ran a 4.62 40-yard dash on his pro day. He stands 6’5” and weighs 255 and clearly has the size and athleticism for the role of tight end.
He played at a smaller school, so his technique is a bit raw when it comes to route running and blocking, but the skills are there, and he has the upside to develop into a dangerous pass catcher in the NFL.
- Kraft Is Loyal
Kraft was a versatile athlete in high school and played both basketball and football. He played quarterback, defensive end, linebacker and even punted in high school before settling in as a tight end.
While Kraft was not heavily recruited by big college football programs out of high school, several major programs were interested in having him transfer including Alabama.
While he considered the move, Kraft decided to remain loyal to his coaches and teammates at South Dakota State where he played for three years after being redshirted in 2019.
- Injuries Slowed Kraft Down in 2022
Kraft made 65 catches in 2021 for 780 yards and six touchdowns while being named a First Team All-American and First Team All-Conference.
An ankle injury caused him to miss six games in 2022 but he still had 27 catches for 348 yards and three scores and was again named First Team All-Conference.
- The Packers Added Weapons for Jordan Love
All three day-two selections were weapons for the team’s new starting quarterback. With the addition of two new tight ends, it becomes extremely unlikely that the Packers bring back Marcedes Lewis in 2023.
All three players selected have good speed for their respective positions and as is typical of the Packers draft philosophy, they went with elite athleticism over college production in many cases.
Looking ahead, the Packers still need to address safety, offensive tackle and the defensive line in this draft and they may still add a kicker.
By adding two additional picks on day three with trades, Gutekunst will have more opportunities to add talent to the roster.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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