Final Grades for the 2025 Green Bay Packers Tight Ends: Injuries Play a Big Role

This is the next in a series of articles providing an in-depth analysis of each position group on the Green Bay Packers for 2025. Today we will analyze the tight ends. The grades will be for each unit as a whole, but we will give an analysis of each player, their strengths, and weaknesses and where they stand heading into the offseason. Here are the grades for the Packers tight ends in 2025. The marks are based on a combination of expectations and performance. The average grade is C+.

You can see our final grade for the quarterbacks here, for the defensive tackles here, the running backs here and the linebackers here.

Final Grades for the 2025 Packers Tight Ends: The Starter

Tucker Kraft continued his development and played at a Pro Bowl level before an injury ended his season after eight games. He caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns which tied for the team lead.

The Packers offense missed Kraft after he was injured. His ability to run after the catch and sure hands make him one of the best tight ends in the league. Quarterback Jordan Love knows he can rely on Kraft as a check down and that he can still pick up good yardage on a short pass.

The Packers have a gem in Kraft, and he should be a bigger part of the offense in 2026.

Primary Backup Tight Ends

Luke Musgrave took over as the starter after Kraft was hurt. He started 10 games and played all 17, catching 24 passes for 252 yards. He did not score a touchdown.

Musgrave has a different skill set than Kraft. He provides the team with more of a downfield threat. For a large part of the season, head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t seem to know how to best use Musgrave and just tried to have him do what Kraft was doing. That didn’t work too well.

Musgrave has difficulty staying on his feet after making catches. He has shown flashes but has yet to realize the potential he had as a second-round draft pick. The 2026 season will be critical for him as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Final Grades for the 2025 Packers Tight Ends: Depth Tight Ends

Ben Sims started the season with the Packers and played three games before the Vikings claimed him. He did not catch a pass in his three games with Green Bay but was a reliable special teams player and depth tight end.

John Fitzpatrick established himself as the third tight end this season. He played 15 games and started four. The former Georgia star caught 12 passes on 15 targets for 72 yards and one touchdown. FitzPatrick has good size and provides reliable hands as a check down receiver. He suffered a serious injury late in the season and may not be ready to play at the start of the 2026 campaign.

Josh Whyle appeared in eight games and started one. He caught five passes for 36 yards and one score. He also participated on special teams.

Drake Dabney played two games for the Packers after spending time on the practice squad. He caught one pass for three yards on two targets.

Messiah Swinson spent time on the practice squad but did not see any regular season action. The Packers signed him to a contract for 2026, so he’ll be back to compete for a roster spot.

Final Grade for the Packers 2025 Tight Ends

Injuries hurt this position. The tight ends were off to a great start until Kraft went down for the season. None of the backups were able to fill the void sufficiently. The Packers have good depth here, but the falloff if Kraft can’t play remains significant.

FINAL GRADE: B