GREEN BAY, Wis. — The ink is barely dry on the contract extensions for head coach Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst, but the celebration in Titletown is already over. The focus has shifted violently to roster construction, and while the brass is safe, one former high-profile draft pick is finding himself squarely on the chopping block. After a 2025 season defined by missed opportunities and an offense that sputtered when it needed a spark, tight end Luke Musgrave looks like the odd man out.
The Writing on the Wall
The NFL stands for “Not For Long,” and for Musgrave, that acronym is flashing in neon lights. Despite being a second-round pick just three years ago in the 2023 NFL Draft, Musgrave has failed to cement himself as the primary weapon the Packers envisioned. With Tucker Kraft locking down the TE1 role before his mid-season injury in 2025, Musgrave’s window to impress was wide open—and he didn’t walk through it.
When Kraft went down, the expectation was that Musgrave would reclaim the throne. Instead, his production flatlined. Finishing the 2025 campaign with just 24 catches for 252 yards and zero touchdowns, Musgrave couldn’t replicate the explosive vertical threat ability he teased as a rookie. In contrast, Kraft has become the complete package: a mauler in the run game and a reliable safety valve for Jordan Love.
“This league is about seizing moments. When the door opens, you have to kick it down. We have a lot of talent in that room, but we need consistency every single Sunday.”
— Matt LaFleur, Packers Head Coach (Post-Season Press Conference)
The Denver Connection: A Deal That Almost Happened
The smoke around a Musgrave trade isn’t coming from nowhere—there was a fire here just a few months ago. Insider reports confirm the Packers were inching closer to dealing Musgrave to the Denver Broncos at the 2025 trade deadline. The logic was sound: Sean Payton loved Musgrave during the 2023 pre-draft process, and Denver’s offense was desperate for a seam-stretcher.
That deal collapsed only because of bad luck. The moment Tucker Kraft suffered his injury—compounded by the loss of Ben Sims on waivers—Green Bay had to pull Musgrave off the market out of pure necessity. They needed a body. But now? The urgency is gone. Kraft is on track for Week 1 of 2026, and the Packers are free to reset the depth chart.
Why a Trade Makes Sense Now
Holding onto a backup tight end with second-round pedigree is a luxury Green Bay doesn’t need. Musgrave still carries name value and athletic upside that teams (like Denver) will covet. He’s a 6’6″ athlete who runs like a deer; plenty of offensive coordinators will convince themselves they can “fix” him.
For GM Brian Gutekunst, moving Musgrave is a chance to recoup draft capital—likely a Day 3 pick—to reinvest in a defense that needs fresh legs. It’s a classic “better a year too early than a year too late” Belichick-style move. The Packers can draft a developmental tight end in the later rounds of the 2026 Draft to sit behind Kraft, saving cap space and roster headaches in the process.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Expect the chatter to heat up at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month. If the Broncos—or other tight-end-needy teams like the Chargers or Colts—start sniffing around, Green Bay won’t hesitate to pull the trigger. The emergence of Kraft has made Musgrave a luxury asset on a team that needs foundational bricks. The 2026 offseason is about trimming the fat, and unfortunately for Musgrave, his lean production makes him an easy cut.
