Tucker Kraft is one of the rising tight ends in the NFL, known for his blend of size, athleticism, and versatility. In this article, we dive deep into his height & weight, career stats, injury history, his 40-yard dash performance, his jersey number, and what makes him a player to watch. Whether you’re a Packers fan, fantasy player, or just curious about up-and-comings, this overview covers everything you need to know.
Early Life and Background
-
Birthdate & Hometown: Tucker Kraft was born on November 3, 2000, in Timber Lake, South Dakota.
-
College: He played his college football at South Dakota State, where he developed into a standout tight end for the Jackrabbits.
-
Draft: Kraft was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round, 78th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Height & Weight
One of the first things people notice about Kraft is his size.
-
Height: 6 feet 5 inches (6′5″) — that’s 196 cm approx.
-
Weight: Around 259 lbs (≈ 117-118 kg) in his current NFL listing. In earlier measurables (college/ draft profile), 254 lbs is also cited.
His frame gives him a physical edge: tall enough to reach over defenders, solid build to block and hold up in contact, but still mobile enough to be used in passing situations.
Jersey Number & Position
-
Position: Tight End (TE).
-
Jersey Number: #85 for the Green Bay Packers.
40-Yard Dash & Combine Measurables
One metric many fans and scouts care about is the 40-yard dash time, plus other combine / pro day measures. These give insight into athletic potential.
From his pre-draft profile:
-
40-Yard Dash: ~ 4.69 seconds.
-
Shuttle / 20-yard short shuttle: ~ 4.29 seconds.
-
3-Cone Drill: ~ 7.08 seconds.
-
Vertical Jump: ~ 34.0 inches. NFL Draft Buzz
-
Broad Jump: ~ 122 inches (≈ 10-feet, 2-inches).
-
Bench Press (number of reps): ~ 23.
These numbers are solid for a tight end: good explosiveness and agility, not elite “burner speed,” but more than adequate to separate in intermediate zones and make plays after the catch.
Career Stats (NFL)
Since entering the league in 2023, Kraft’s numbers have steadily improved. Below is a summary of his NFL regular season performance up to 2025 (StatWeek 2, 2025) and other relevant contributions.
| Season | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Average/Yards per Reception | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 31 | 355 | ~11.5 yds | 2 Pro Football Reference+3RotoWire+3Wikipedia+3 |
| 2024 | 17 | 50 | 707 | ~14.1 yds | 7 RotoWire+2ESPN.com+2 |
| 2025† | (through 2 games) | 2 | 16 | ~8.0 yds | 1 ESPN.com+1 |
† Data as of early in the 2025 season.
Other overall career totals by that point:
-
Games: 35
-
Receptions: 83
-
Receiving yards: 1,078
-
Receiving touchdowns: 10
Injury History
Like many physical players, Kraft has had injuries that impacted his availability. Understanding his health is crucial for projecting future performance.
-
Pectoral Muscle Tear: In May 2024, Kraft suffered a torn pectoral muscle that caused him to miss part of the Packers’ offseason training program.
-
Other minor injuries: Reports suggest occasional groin, shoulder, or back strain issues, though none (apart from the pectoral) appear to have caused long-term absence as of mid-2025.
So far, despite some injury concerns, he’s been relatively durable in terms of missing regular season games. The pectoral injury mostly affected offseason or training camp time.
Playing Style & Strengths
To understand why Kraft is seen as promising, here are his key skills and what sets him apart:
-
Catch Radius & Height
His 6′5″ frame gives him an advantage over many linebackers or defensive backs when going up for contested catches or red zone targets. Combined with good hands, he often can out-leap or reach over defenders. -
Versatility
Kraft can line up as an inline tight end, move outside, or be used in the slot. He has been used both as a blocker in the run game and as a receiver in passing schemes. -
After Catch Ability
His yards after catch (YAC) metrics have been good; he’s able to generate extra yards once he has the ball. In 2024 he had a strong YAC average relative to many tight ends. -
Athleticism vs Body Size
While not a blazing sprinter, his measured speed (40-yard dash ~4.69s), agility drills, and jumping metrics show he has enough athleticism to be effective in open space. -
Work Ethic & Growth
He has shown steady improvement from 2023 to 2024 in terms of receptions, yards, and role in the offense. With experience, coaching, and health, there’s potential for further growth.
Areas for Improvement
No player is perfect, and for Kraft to reach his full potential, certain things will need attention:
-
Speed / Explosiveness: While his 40-yard dash is decent, Kraft is not going to beat top cornerbacks deep just with pure speed. So route running, separation, and quickness in short areas are critical.
-
Consistency in Blocking: Tight ends are expected to block as well. His technique in run blocking and pass protection needs to maintain or improve so he can stay on the field in all packages.
-
Durability & Injury Prevention: The torn pectoral was a major injury; staying healthy through offseason programs and training camp is important. Minor injuries need to be managed so they don’t cumulate.
-
Route Tree Expansion: As he faces more complex NFL defenses, having a varied, crisp route tree (short, intermediate, deep) helps. Sharper cuts and timing will matter.
What Number Is He?
As noted above, Tucker Kraft wears number 85 for the Green Bay Packers.
Offseason & 2025 Outlook
Looking ahead, here are some projections / expectations for Kraft:
-
In the 2025 season, Kraft is expected to continue as a key target in the Packers’ offense, especially in intermediate passing and red-zone situations. His chemistry with the quarterback and route usage will likely rise.
-
If healthy, he should aim to surpass his 2024 stats (50 catches, 707 yards, 7 TDs) and push into more touchdown catches and possibly more explosive plays downfield.
-
Minimizing missed time due to injury (especially offseason / camp injuries) will be crucial.
-
For fantasy football players, increased target share and yardage will make him a more reliable tight end pick.
Comparison with Other Tight Ends
Putting him in context among his peers:
-
His 40-yard dash time (~4.69 s) puts him ahead of many tight ends who are bigger but slower; but behind very faster, more “receiver-type” TEs.
-
His receiving average yards per catch (~14.1 in 2024) is strong. Compared to many tight ends who have shorter averages due to heavy involvement in short passing, that shows he’s making intermediate to deeper contributions.
-
Touchdown production in 2024 (7) was good; elite tight ends get into double digits but Kraft is trending upward.
Summary
Tucker Kraft is a tight end with the physical tools, statistical growth, and role in a promising offense. To sum up:
-
Height & Weight: 6′5″, ~259 lbs — offers size and physical presence.
-
Jersey Number: #85 for the Green Bay Packers.
-
40-Time & Measurables: ~4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash, with solid agility, jump, and strength metrics.
-
Stats: Rookie season in 2023 showed promise; 2024 was a breakout in terms of production; early 2025 looks positive.
-
Injuries: Key injury was torn pectoral in offseason 2024; otherwise relatively consistent.
-
Strengths: Catch radius, versatility, after-catch yards, growth trajectory.
-
Areas to watch: Health, route refinement, speed vs elite defenders.