Tucker Kraft, TE South Dakota State: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Kraft was a recruit from Timber Lake High School in S.D. in the class of 2019

South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s received evaluations everywhere from the second to the fourth round. The redshirt junior has the size and play strength to be an impact player as a rookie.

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Tucker Kraft, TE South Dakota State: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior tight end from Timber Lake, S.D.

Background: Kraft was a recruit from Timber Lake High School in S.D. in the class of 2019. He was not ranked by 247Sports, Rivals, On3.com, or ESPN. In high school, Kraft played running back, middle linebacker, and punter. As a senior, he rushed for 1,405 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 132 yards through the air. Kraft also finished that season with 56 tackles on defense, earning a spot on the Sioux Falls Argus Leader Elite 45. During his four seasons as a starter, Kraft amassed 3,130 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on offense and 142 tackles and eight sacks on defense. He also threw five touchdown passes. Kraft also participated in basketball and earned Second-Team All-State honors after averaging 14.2 points, eight rebounds, and two steals per game.

2021 Production: 15 games, 65 receptions, 773 yards, 6 touchdowns

2020 Production: 7 games, 7 receptions, 90 yards

2019 Production: 1 game (Redshirt Year)

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed five games in 2022 with an ankle injury

Awards: 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Honor Roll, 2021 First-Team All- MVFC, 2021 Second-Team FCS All-American (Associated Press)

Pros: Experience lining up in-line, the slot, and out wide, excellent size and density, carries his weight with ease, long strider covers ground quickly, breaks arm and shoulder tackles, room to add mass to his lower body, stiff arm, high points and rises to the ball, significant upside in contested catch situations, gets down for low passes, strong clamp in pass pro, play strength to seal edge defenders and open rush lanes, frequently used to seal rush lanes, usually correctly identifies threats and his blocking assignments, aggressive and willing blocker, plays angles well when blocking, threatens the seam vertically, quick off the line, good acceleration for his size, strength to play through contact early in the route

Cons: Limited special teams experience, nine penalties in the past two years, nine drops in the past two years, lower level of competition, lumbering mover who lacks high-end burst, very limited experience in pass protection, feet stop moving and hands deploy late in pass pro, lunges into blocks and his feet are all over the place, doesn’t block with a consistent base, struggles to land and sustain blocks in space, pad level is high in all stages of the game, arm length appears below average, limited route tree, handful of body catches, routes are rounded more than crisp, not sudden or twitchy, doesn’t generate consistent separation downfield, needs to break more tackles, doesn’t sink at the top of routes

Overview: Kraft is unofficially listed at 6'5", 255 lbs. He has experience lining up in-line, the slot, and out wide. The South Dakota native carries his weight with ease and possesses excellent size and density. Kraft still has room to add mass to his lower body, but he’s already strong enough to break arm tackles and shrug off shoulder tackles. He is a long strider who covers ground quickly. Kraft has the strength to play through contact early in the route and frequently physically overpowers defensive backs. His stiff arm is lethal for smaller defenders. Kraft high points and rises to the ball and offers significant upside in contested catch situations. The Timber Lake High School product also adjusts and drops down for low passes. He’s quick off the line and threatens the seam vertically. Kraft displays a strong clamp as a blocker. He usually correctly identifies potential threats and understands his blocking assignments. Kraft is an aggressive and willing blocker who plays angles well. He has the play strength to seal edge defenders and open rush lanes. The former FCS All-American drew nine penalties and dropped nine passes in the past two years. While he covers ground quickly with his strides, Kraft appears to lumber at times. He lacks high-end burst and isn’t sudden or twitchy. Kraft appears to have below-average arm length. He runs a limited route tree, and his routes are more rounded than crisp. There are instances of body catches on his tape. Kraft doesn’t generate consistent separation downfield and doesn’t sink his hips at the top of routes. He’s highly inexperienced in pass protection. His feet stop moving, and his hands deploy late while protecting the quarterback. The redshirt junior lunges into blocks, and his feet are all over the place. Kraft doesn’t block with a consistent base and struggles to land and sustain blocks in space. His pad level is high in all stages of the game.

Overall, Kraft lacks elite speed and burst, but his large frame, upside as a blocker, and ability to win contested catches suggest he’ll contribute to a team in several ways early in his career. NFL coaching will play a huge role in Kraft’s development as his blocking technique and route running are still works in progress.

Role & Scheme Fit: Frequent 12-personnel formations with slot/in-line versatility

Round Projection: Mid Third to Early Fourth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 01-04-23