The Green Bay Packers franchise has been in the NFL for more than 100 years now. The Pack has seen many great athletes wear the green and gold and created so many team records and memorable moments.
Some franchise records are relatively safe like Paul Hornung’s 176 points scored in a single season or Ahman Green’s 1,883 yards rushing in one season.
But there is one Packers franchise record that could be broken this season and that is most catches in a season by a rookie tight end.
The Current Packers Franchise Record:
Former first round pick Bubba Franks set the existing record for most catches by a rookie receiver in 2000 when he snagged 34 passes for 363 yards and one touchdown. He started 13 games as a rookie and played in all 16 contests.
The former University of Miami (Florida) alum’s most productive game came in Week 5 against the Bears when he caught five passes for 54 yards.
His only touchdown of the season came in Week 10 against Tampa Bay when he snagged 27-yard scoring toss from backup Matt Hasselbeck after Brett Favre had left the game due to injury.
Franks spent eight seasons in Green Bay catching 256 passes for 2300 yards and 32 touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl honors three times in a row in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
The Challengers to the Record:
Neither of the Packers top two tight ends from 2022 are back with the team this season. Robert Tonyan, who led the team in catches among tight ends with 53 catches, is now with the Chicago Bears. Marcedes Lewis was the team’s best blocking tight end, but he is still a free agent.
The Packers spent two draft picks on day two of the 2023 NFL Draft on tight ends. In the second round, GM Brian Gutekunst added Luke Musgrave out of Oregon State. One round later, he selected Tucker Kraft out of South Dakota State.
Both players are outstanding athletes who have the talent to be dangerous weapons in Matt LaFleur’s offense which tends to place a greater emphasis on tight ends than was seen in recent seasons.
The Obstacles to the Record:
The greatest obstacle to the record is that tight end is one of the more difficult positions for a rookie to excel at. Because tight ends need to run pass patterns and learn how to block on running plays and passing plays, most of them require some time before acclimating themselves to the NFL game.
In the case of Kraft, he is making an even bigger jump going from a small school like South Dakota State to the NFL.
But without an experienced starter ahead of them (Josiah Deguara mostly lines up as a fullback or H-back), both Kraft and Musgrave should have ample opportunities to see the field and possible break Franks’ record.
If they can learn the offense and adjust to the NFL quickly, one or both could easily top 34 catches in their first season. A solid season from Jordan Love would certainly help the cause as well.
While tight ends often need time to play well in the NFL, Kraft and Musgrave have a great chance to put their names in the Packers franchise record books right away.
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