The not-as-obvious: Luke Musgrave, tight end
One player who could really shine in the absence of someone like Christian Watson is Luke Musgrave. When your WR1 goes down, it can force you to adjust your gameplan entirely. It doesn't automatically mean that the next wide receiver on the depth chart is immediately going to get 12 targets.
For the Packers, it could mean an added emphasis on the running game as well as perhaps a heightened focus on the tight end position in the passing game. It could mean we get to see star rookie Luke Musgrave start cooking early on in his NFL career.
"I don't know if I've ever been this excited for football." 🏈
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) September 7, 2023
Offseason reps have rookie TE Luke Musgrave ready to hit the ground running.#GoPackGo https://t.co/tUxuYFSkK5
Musgrave truly does appear to have hit the ground running for the Packers, and although you don't expect a rookie tight end to lead the team in targets in Week 1, you also never know. Musgrave wasn't a high-volume receiver at Oregon State, but he absolutely has the skills for it.
There's been a lot made about how much rookie TE's struggle, but since 1992 there have been 55 tight ends with at least 50 targets as rookies. #Packers rookie record holder for receptions Bubba Franks was one of them.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) September 5, 2023
If Luke Musgrave is healthy, he's breaking the record
Musgrave is poised to have a tremendous rookie year and vastly outplay his draft status, and it starts in Week 1. The Packers have placed all of their chips in the middle on Musgrave, making him their TE1 before the season with very little in the way of veteran experience behind him.
Staying healthy will be crucial, but Musgrave is healthy and ready for Week 1 against the Bears. In the absence of Christian Watson, he could establish himself as the top rookie tight end in a loaded class rather quickly.