After Tucker Kraft’s collapse, Green Bay’s next move could shake San Francisco—and the entire NFC playoff race.QQ

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers’ faithful are still reeling from Sunday’s gut-wrenching 28-17 defeat to the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, a loss that exposed defensive lapses and offensive inconsistencies. But if that wasn’t painful enough, the real dagger came post-whistle: star tight end Tucker Kraft was carted off with a torn ACL, sidelining the 24-year-old phenom for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season. In a league where every snap counts toward Super Bowl LX glory, this injury could derail Green Bay’s championship aspirations—or force general manager Brian Gutekunst into uncharted territory with a blockbuster trade.

Kraft, the Packers’ breakout weapon since his 2023 draft-day arrival, had been the engine of quarterback Jordan Love’s aerial attack. Through nine games, the South Dakota State product was leading the entire NFL in yards after catch (YAC) with a blistering 412 yards—more than any receiver at the position, period. He wasn’t just a safety valve; he was Love’s go-to target in crunch time, hauling in 48 receptions for 612 yards and five touchdowns. His blend of physicality in the run game and explosiveness over the middle made him indispensable, turning routine checkdowns into chunk plays that kept defenses honest.

Now, with Kraft’s season cruelly cut short, the spotlight shifts to second-year tight end Luke Musgrave, the former Oregon State standout drafted just one pick ahead of Kraft in 2023. Musgrave entered the league with sky-high expectations as a polished pass-catcher with 4.6 speed, but injuries and inconsistency have kept him in the shadows. He’s logged just 22 catches for 248 yards this year, flashing potential but lacking the reliability to fully replace Kraft’s production. Can Musgrave step up as the reliable No. 1 option? It’s a tall order for a player who’s spent more time rehabbing than dominating.

Enter the trade deadline rumor mill, where whispers of a seismic swap are growing louder by the hour. With less than 48 hours until the 4 p.m. ET cutoff on Tuesday, November 5, the Packers are reportedly eyeing a plunder of the San Francisco 49ers’ depth chart: backup tight end Jake Tonges. The 26-year-old undrafted free agent out of California has quietly become a red-zone nightmare in the Bay Area, stepping up admirably during George Kittle’s nagging injuries earlier this season. Tonges has posted 18 receptions for 212 yards and three scores in limited action, but his real value lies in his blocking prowess—pancaking linebackers and sealing edges like a veteran—and his knack for contested catches in traffic.

Sources close to the negotiations (who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing) indicate Green Bay has floated a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as the asking price. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move for a Packers front office that’s historically shied away from splashy acquisitions. Remember, Gutekunst prefers building through the draft, but this year’s aggressive pivot—headlined by the midseason coup for Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons in September—has already paid dividends. Parsons, now terrorizing NFC North quarterbacks with 8.5 sacks, transformed Green Bay’s pass rush overnight. Why not double down? Tonges could slide seamlessly into Kraft’s role, providing Love with a red-zone titan who thrives on fades and seam routes while bolstering Matt LaFleur’s run-heavy schemes.

For the 49ers, it’s a no-brainer salary dump. Tonges is in the final year of his rookie deal, earning a modest $1.1 million, and with Kittle healthy and Brock Bowers thriving in Las Vegas (after his own controversial trade last offseason), San Francisco has little incentive to block a contender’s path. Kyle Shanahan’s staff has praised Tonges’ toughness behind the scenes, but the 49ers are all-in on a Lombardi repeat after falling short in Super Bowl LIX. Shipping him east for draft capital clears cap space and avoids a disgruntled backup scenario.

This isn’t just about plugging a hole; it’s about mindset. The Packers entered 2025 as NFC darlings, boasting a young, explosive core around Love: explosive wideouts Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, a bruising backfield led by Josh Jacobs, and a secondary that’s finally clicking under new coordinator Joe Barry. At 6-3, they’re tied for the division lead and just a field goal away from the conference’s top seed. But Sunday’s flop against Carolina—a team they were 10.5-point favorites against—exposed vulnerabilities, and Kraft’s absence amplifies them. Without a YAC monster, Love’s completion percentage dips under pressure, and the run game stalls without reliable lead blocking.

Yet, amid the catastrophe, there’s reason for optimism in Titletown. Depth at tight end includes veterans like Josiah Deguara and rookie convert Kraft replacement candidate Ben Sims, but neither screams “game-changer.” A Tonges acquisition would signal intent: We’re not rebuilding; we’re reloading. In a 2025 season defined by chaos—injuries to stars like Patrick Mahomes’ backup and surprise trades like the Jets flipping Aaron Rodgers mid-campaign—Green Bay can’t afford complacency. The schedule toughens with divisional tilts against Detroit and Minnesota, plus a Thursday night primetime clash with Philadelphia that could swing the playoff picture.

Betting markets agree: Despite the loss, the Packers remain +800 favorites to win Super Bowl LX, trailing only the Eagles and Chiefs. Oddsmakers have adjusted Kraft’s injury into the line, bumping Green Bay’s over/under win total from 11.5 to 10.5, but the NFC North remains a gauntlet ripe for the taking. If Gutekunst pulls the trigger on Tonges, it won’t just heal a wound—it’ll ignite a fire. The window is wide open, and in the NFL’s unforgiving grind, hesitation is the real season-ender.