100 Days of Mocks: The Dreaded Third-Round Tight End

The Green Bay Packers addressed key needs at outside linebacker, safety and tight end in one draft. Plus, the latest from Mel Kiper.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers addressed arguably their three biggest needs in a new three-round mock draft by Luke Easterling of USA Today’s Draft Wire.

In the first round, it was the same pick that he made in late January.

Moving onto Day 2, Easterling went with Alabama safety Jordan Battle and South Dakota State tight end Tucker Kraft. Yes, the dreaded third-round tight end.

Battle was a three-year starter who earned All-American honors as a junior and senior. In four seasons, he intercepted six passes and registered 251 tackles. Three of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. As a senior, he tallied 71 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.

Alabama coach Nick Saban raved about Battle’s leadership and communication – two key parts of the position.

“Jordan’s first of all a very bright guy,” Saban said last season. “He’s got really good work ethic, he loves the game, he loves to play, he loves to practice. He sets a good example, he’s a good leader. He’s got a really really good understanding of everything that we’re doing in the secondary. Of course, he’s got a lot of experience but he’s a bright guy and because he’s very conscientious to go with really good ability. He’s got really good size, he’s improved his ability to cover people.”

That was high praise considering Battle crashed one of the coach’s jet skis.

The third-round pick was Kraft, who would be following in a long line of failed third-round picks, in general, and dubious third-round tight ends, in particular.

In 2014, Green Bay selected tight end Richard Rodgers in the third round. He at least had one good season with his 58 receptions and eight touchdowns in 2015.

In 2019, Green Bay selected tight end Jace Sternberger in the third round. He caught zero passes as a rookie, 12 in 2020 and never played another game.

In 2020, Green Bay selected tight end Josiah Deguara in the third round. He has 39 receptions in three seasons, including 13 in 17 games in 2022. He’s been a reliable blocker as the team’s unofficial fullback.

Playing for a team that won the FCS National Championship, Kraft caught 25 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. That came on the heels of his 65 catches for 780 yards in 2021, a breakout season that had bigger schools trying to lure with him with giant bags of NIL money.

“It was tough, the money and everything involved with the NIL aspect," Kraft said. “I chose to pretend that money wasn’t on the table. Would I want to go to that university? Would I want to have to start from scratch essentially again? My answer was, no.”

Instead, he stuck around and has a chance to be the next Dallas Goedert, the former South Dakota State star who has blossomed into a standout for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“There’s a lot of lessons and stories that will be shared from Tucker’s situation,” said coach John Stiegelmeier. “Tucker’s a small-town kid who’s had a great career at South Dakota State, had an opportunity to go on and make a lot of money with other schools and he chose to be loyal and stay committed to South Dakota State football.

"When those things come up in the future we’ll point to Tucker and say, ‘Look what he did and still had an opportunity in the NFL.’ He’s a great teammate and has a great future in football.”

Kraft is an all-around threat and not just an overgrown receiver. He’s got experience in-line and from the slot.

“He’s probably one of the best blockers on our team, even though he is not a lineman," Jackrabbits quarterback Mark Gronowski said before the FCS title game. "He adds a different type of aggression to the run game. He’s just such a special player in the pass game as well. ... If you get him the ball, he’s going to get you another 5, 15 yards.”

Bonus Mock

Mel Kiper’s second mock was dropped while reporters were talking to Packers GM Brian Gutekunst a couple days ago. In case you missed it, the ESPN draft pundit went with Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer.

Noting the upcoming free agencies of Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis, Kiper wrote: “Mayer is an all-around tight end who had 180 catches for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons for the Fighting Irish. He's not afraid to block, but his value comes in stretching the seams and going up for and coming down with tough catches. Depending on how the rest of Green Bay's offseason goes, I could also see general manager Brian Gutekunst trying to upgrade at offensive tackle or along the defensive line.”

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100 Days of Mocks

Starting Jan. 17, when there were 100 days until the start of the NFL Draft, we started our mock-worthy goal of 100 mock drafts in 100 days. Here’s the 100-day-countdown series.

#Packers GM Brian Gutekunst likes the tight end class. The mocksters like Notre Dame's Michael Mayer.https://t.co/rLvg0aiw4X

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) March 1, 2023

57 days: Three mocks, same tight end

58 days: Going the extra Myles

59 days: Safety, tight end, receiver in three-rounder

60 days: Two three-round mocks

61 days: Playing the slots

62 days: Three mocks, three receivers

63 days: A massive haul for Rodgers

64 days: Three team-issued mock drafts

Packers take tight end in Daniel Jeremiah’s second mock

65 days: Pass-rushing defensive lineman in two-rounder

66 days: A slot/safety?

67 days: Three-rounder starts with receiver

68 days: Grandson of Glory Years legend

69 days: Mayer to Packers in SI mock

70 days: Football Outsiders picks pass rusher

71 days: 33rd Team trades Rodgers in two-rounder

71 days (bonus): Todd McShay 2.0

72 days: Packers take receiver to start NFL.com three-rounder

73 days: Packers fill big need with big man

74 days: Rodgers traded, take two pass-catchers in first round

75 days: Two NFL.com mocks, two different tight ends

76 days: Tight end and pass rusher in two-rounder by NFL Draft Bible

77 days: Rodgers traded to Raiders for No. 7 pick

78 days: A seven-round mock includes Big Ten playmakers

79 days: Rodgers traded in two-round mock

80 days: Packers take safety in ESPN mock

81 days: Aaron Rodgers traded in three-round mock

82 days: Seven mocks, including NFL.com

83 days: Two pass-catchers in first-round mocks

84 days: Aaron Rodgers traded for extra first-round pick

85 days: PFF picks a pass rusher

86 days: Tight end in NFL Draft Bible Mock

87 days: Packers trade back, get extra second-rounder

88 days: Sorry, vacation day.

89 days: A “Eureka!” moment in two-round mock

90 days: Playmaking cornerback at PFF

91 days: Three defensive backs in seven-round mock

92 days: Kiper takes a tight end

93 days: Safety first for Bucky Brooks in NFL.com mock

94 days: College Football News mocks Mayer

95 days: Two firsts if Rodgers is traded

96 days: NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah goes back to Georgia

97 days: This pick would break a long drought

98 days: Stud tight end

99 days: Trading for outside linebacker

100 days: First-round quarterback?