In an NFL landscape where every team is looking to find their version of Travis Kelce or George Kittle, the Green Bay Packers believe they have a rising star at tight end in Luke Musgrave. A second-round pick in 2023, there’s no denying Musgrave flashed incredible potential as a rookie, but now the team needs him to take the next step.
First and foremost, Musgrave must stay fit. He missed six games last season with a lacerated kidney. The injury came at an unfortunate time for Musgrave as he was beginning to find his footing on offense. After missing valuable time, Musgrave returned to the lineup for the regular-season finale to cap a productive rookie campaign with 34 receptions for 352 yards and a touchdown in 11 games.
Despite not being fully fit, Musgrave showed flashes of what we saw before his injury, putting on a robust postseason performance in Green Bay’s 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. In just 15 plays, Musgrave caught three balls for 52 yards, including a beautifully timed 38-yard touchdown.
Although the Packers’ season ended prematurely the following week at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, they saw enough of Musgrave to be excited about what he could do on offense going forward. Green Bay hadn’t had a tight end with Musgrave’s size and speed since Jermichael Finely, a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses in his heyday.
Entering his second year, Musgrave’s role on offense is expected to expand. But on Thursday, when asked what he’s seen from Musgrave during this year’s training camp, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich gave a candid answer about his performance, acknowledging his progress and the work that still needs to be done.
“It’s been up and down,” Stenavich said Thursday. “I thought he made a lot of good strides in his passing game. There’s still some things I want him to work on, but I’m looking forward to watching him play. He’s shown some really special things out there at times. Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting out there and watching him compete.”
While Green Bay rested most of its starters in the preseason, Musgrave played in seven offensive snaps and didn’t record a single target. As a result, the workouts provided the best indicator of where Musgrave is in his development. While he certainly had his moments at Ray Nitschke Field this summer, the moments of brilliance were few and far between.
A serene camp and preseason may not mean much for Musgrave, who is a popular pick by the Packers as a potential breakout player. As Stenavich noted, he still has room to improve.
Loaded with talent at both the wide receiver and tight end positions, Green Bay is looking to become one of the NFL’s top offenses in 2024. Musgrave’s development could be a key factor in achieving that goal. If he hits the ground running this season, don’t be surprised if he eventually becomes one of the league’s top tight ends.
