Tucker Kraft

Last updated

Tucker Kraft
No. 85  Green Bay Packers
Position Tight end
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2000-11-03) November 3, 2000 (age 24)
Timber Lake, South Dakota, U.S.
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight259 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High schoolTimber Lake
College South Dakota State (2019–2022)
NFL draft 2023: 3rd round, 78th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2025
Receptions 89
Receiving yards1,202
Receiving touchdowns 11
Rushing yards9
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tucker John Kraft (born November 3, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and was selected by the Packers in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Kraft was born on November 3, 2000, in Timber Lake, South Dakota. [1] His father, Doug Kraft, died in 2013. He has two brothers named Cody and Tanner Kraft. [2]

Kraft grew up along the northern border of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation and in April 2024 he was named an honorary tribal member for his acts of service to the community. Kraft wears a Cheyenne River Sioux tribal flag on his football helmet alongside the American flag. [3]

He later attended Timber Lake High School, where he played running back, middle linebacker, and punter on the football team. [4] As a senior, Kraft rushed for 1,405 yards and 24 touchdowns and was named first team All-State. [5] He committed to play college football at South Dakota State over a late offer from Wyoming. [6]

College career

Kraft redshirted his true freshman season. [7] He caught seven passes for 90 yards during the spring 2021 season, which was delayed from the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] As a redshirt sophomore, Kraft started all 15 of South Dakota State's games and had 65 receptions for 780 yards and six touchdowns. [9] He was named consensus FCS All-American and All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). [10] [11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+34 in
(1.95 m)
254 lb
(115 kg)
32+34 in
(0.83 m)
10 in
(0.25 m)
4.63 s1.64 s2.60 s4.29 s7.08 s36.5 in
(0.93 m)
10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)
23 reps
Sources: [12] [13]

Kraft was selected in the third round, 78th overall, by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL draft. [14] He signed his rookie contract on May 17. [15] In Week 11, against the Lions, he scored his first NFL touchdown. [16] In Week 14 against the New York Giants, Kraft had a career-high game in yardage with 64 yards in four receptions. [17] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and made eight starts. He finished with 31 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns. [18] In the Divisional Round loss to the 49ers, Kraft scored his first playoff touchdown. [19]

In May 2024, Kraft suffered a torn pectoral muscle, causing him to miss part of Green Bay's offseason training program. [20]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumbLost
2023 GB 1783135511.5432000.00000
2024 GB 17175070714.1677362.02011
2025 GB 22814017.5572133.03000
Career 3627891,20213.56711492.33011

Postseason

YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumbLost
2023 GB 225244.8101000.00000
2024 GB 115265.01202105.08000
Career 3310505.01212105.08000

Personal life

Kraft is a Christian. [21] He married Baylee Jandahl, a graphic designer, on May 18, 2024. [22]

References

  1. The NFL Draft Bible. "NFL Draft Profile: Tucker Kraft, Tight End, South Dakota State Jackrabbits". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  2. Ranjan, Rashmi (July 4, 2023). "Tucker Kraft Net worth, Girlfriend, Age, Family & More [2023]". Celebrities InfoSeeMedia. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. Lind, Andrew (September 30, 2024). "'He's one of us': South Dakotan, NFL's Tucker Kraft honors local tribe". www.kotatv.com. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  4. "Receiver Tucker Kraft is latest South Dakota State tight end star". Argus Leader . November 4, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  5. Deal, Ryan (November 20, 2018). "Five area players named to Class 9A All-State football team". Watertown Public Opinion . Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  6. "Jackrabbits unveil 2019 football recruiting class". The Brookings Register . December 19, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. Castora, Tanner (November 1, 2021). "Tucker Kraft and Zach Heins, two South Dakota natives playing big roles in South Dakota State's offense". KELOland . Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. Holtan, Andrew (August 6, 2021). "South Dakota State opens fall camp". The Brookings Register . Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  9. Remien, Bert (June 30, 2022). "Two SDSU Jackrabbits Land in Top 5 of Returning FCS Tight Ends". ESPNSiouxFalls.com . Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  10. Flatland, Jon (December 1, 2021). "Tucker Kraft earns All-MVFC honors". Timber Lake Topic. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  11. Russo, Ralph D. (December 14, 2021). "SDSU's Strong, Kraft named All-Americans". Rapid City Journal . Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  12. "Tucker Kraft Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  13. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Tucker Kraft College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  14. "2023 NFL Draft: Packers select South Dakota State TE Tucker Kraft in third round, No. 78 overall". packers.com. April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  15. "Packers sign TE Tucker Kraft, P Daniel Whelan". packers.com. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  16. "Packers' Tucker Kraft: Tallies first career touchdown". CBSSports.com. November 24, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  17. "Packers' Tucker Kraft: Career-high yardage total in loss". CBS Sports. December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  18. "Tucker Kraft 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  19. "Divisional Round - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - January 20th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  20. Kruse, Zach (May 21, 2024). "Packers TE Tucker Kraft, OL Zach Tom out until training camp with pectoral injuries". Packers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  21. Gaydos, Ryan (January 23, 2024). "Packers' Tucker Kraft hopes to bring fans 'closer to our Lord and Savior' as he backs CJ Stroud". Fox News . Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  22. Clack, Erin (May 21, 2024). "Green Bay Packers Tight End Tucker Kraft Marries Baylee Jandahl in Outdoor Wedding in South Dakota". People.com. Retrieved January 2, 2025.