GREEN BAY — Tucker Kraft is blossoming into one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
It's been a quick but strange journey.
A third round draft pick of the Packers in 2023, he was one of two tight ends Green Bay took that year, following Oregon State product Luke Musgrave, whom the Pack took in the second round.
That being the case, Musgrave spent pretty much all of last season ahead of Kraft on the depth chart.
Musgrave caught 34 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, while Kraft played all 17 games and caught 31 passes for 351 yards and two scores.
To the surprise of no one from South Dakota (and with nothing against Musgrave), Kraft has overtaken the former Beaver as the Packers' TE1 this year, and Sunday against the Rams he had his biggest game as a pro. Kraft scored a pair of touchdowns, the first coming on a 66-yard play where he took a pass over the middle, made a move and then raced for the end zone, reaching a speed of 19.7 miles per hour on the sprint, the fastest recorded speed by a tight end in the NFL this year.
Kraft joins Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski as the only tight ends 23 or younger to record 140 yards and three touchdowns over a two-game stretch (Gronkowski did it 12 times if you needed any reminder how good he was).
It feels like the Packers are starting to realize how good Kraft really is. The rest of the NFL had better look out.
Kraft wasn't the only man on this list to have a big weekend. CJ Ham scored a crucial touchdown in the Vikings' win, the sixth of his career, while Tip Reiman made his first NFL catch and Mason McCormick got a second-straight start at guard for the Steelers.
Here's how the rest of the NFL's South Dakotans did in Week 5.
Jack Cochrane, LB, Kansas City, USD
Had one tackle in the Chiefs' win the Saints.
Isaiah Davis, RB, New York Jets, SDSU
Returned two kickoffs for 50 yards in the Jets' loss to the Vikings in London.
Dennis Gardeck, LB, Arizona, USF
Played 30 defensive snaps and seven on special teams but recorded no stats.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia, SDSU/Britton-Hecla
Philadelphia was idle.
CJ Ham, FB, Minnesota, Augustana
Had two carries for 10 yards and a touchdown while also making a tackle on special teams as the Vikings improved to 5-0.
Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay, SDSU/Timber Lake
Had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers' win over the Rams.
Mason McCormick, G, Pittsburgh, SDSU/SF Roosevelt
Started at right guard and played all 58 offensive snaps in the Steelers' loss to Dallas on Sunday night.
Trey Pipkins, G, LA Chargers, USF
The Chargers were idle.
Tip Reiman, TE, Arizona, SF O'Gorman
Played 26 offensive snaps and made his first NFL reception, going for five yards, in the Cardinals win over the 49ers.
Christian Rozeboom, LB, LA Rams, SDSU
Had eight tackles in the Rams' loss to the Packers.
Isaiah Stalbird, LB, New Orleans, SDSU
Had one tackle in the Saints loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.
Pierre Strong, RB, Cleveland, SDSU
Played five offensive snaps and had one carry for two yards in the Browns loss to Washington.
On injured reserve
Myles Harden, CB, Cleveland, USD
On practice squads
Kameron Cline, DL, Buffalo, USD
Blake Larson, OL, LA Rams, Augsutana/Brandon Valley
Brock Mogensen, LB, Dallas, USD
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