For years, one of the tasks on the offseason to-do list for the Green Bay Packers was to upgrade their weapons offensively. This offseason, that was once again near the top of the list as even more defections occurred.
After losing wide receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the 2022 offseason, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb both left this year. They signed with the New York Jets, reuniting with Aaron Rodgers, who was traded there.
On top of the wide receiver losses, the Packers also lost a lot of tight end depth. Robert Tonyan signed a free agent deal with the Chicago Bears and veteran Marcedes Lewis remains a free agent.
That will open the door for some young players to get on the field early and often during the season. The Packers have some high-upside players they are hoping can develop into regular contributors.
One of those players is tight end, Luke Musgrave. Musgrave was selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Oregon State. He has made a strong first impression on Matt LaFluer and the Packers’ coaching staff, as they had some glowing remarks to share about the former Beaver.
The tools have always been there for Musgrave to succeed. He matches that athleticism with elite size, standing 6’6’ and weighing 252 pounds. The issue has been staying on the field.
Musgrave played in only 20 games in four seasons, dealing with a litany of injuries. In his collegiate career, he caught 47 passes for 633 yards and two touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, the Packers are going to have quite the player on their hands.
Musgrave has a chance to break into the starting lineup with his competition being third-round pick Tucker Kraft and holdover Josiah Deguara. At the very least, he will be a big part of their rotation at the position as Green Bay rebuilds the skill positions around their new starting quarterback, Jordan Love.