Which Team Could Pick Luke Musgrave in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Which team could pick TE Luke Musgrave in the 2023 NFL Draft? Which teams need a TE the most? Read the draft outlook.

Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave has been rising up the boards ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5-inch pass catcher was regarded as only the fourth-best tight end by PFF analysts on the “Stock Exchange Show” in early January, but now he is being regarded as a late first-round prospect who could be the second or even first tight end taken.

His showing at the Senior Bowl practice is helping him even more. “I think he could be one of the guys that could move up into the first round coming out of the week,” Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, said to the Washington Post. 

So which teams are targeting Musgrave?

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Luke Musgrave’s Impressive Senior Bowl Practice

While the Senior Bowl Game isn’t until February 4, the week leading into the game features practices and individual sessions attended by NFL coaches. 

Observers are praising Musgrave for his size, speed, athleticism, and killer determination. At the Day 3 practice, the 255-pounder was clocked at 20.5 miles per hour, the same speed as some wide receivers much smaller than him. 

Musgrave said, “I have this goal to be the best tight end I can be. Ultimately be the best that’s ever played.” He’s looking to beat defenders and make catches in one-on-one and seven-on-seven scrimmages after coming back from a season-ending knee injury.

Luke Musgrave’s College Career

Musgrave was the No. 2 tight end on his team in his junior season. He caught 19 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown in 2021. 

He went into 2022 as the starter, and he did pretty well in his first two games. He caught six passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the opening game against Boise State, and he followed that up with a five-catch, 80-yard performance against Fresno State. Unfortunately, he went down with a knee injury in the final minute of that game.

But in just two games, he put some impressive plays on film:

Musgrave is a tight end who plays like a wide receiver. He ran routes on 83.3% of the passing plays he was involved in his senior year and lined up in the slot or wide 48.3% of the time. His 3.38 yards per route run ranks 10th among FBS tight ends. His blocking form needs improvement, but he could be an exciting fantasy prospect if he ends up with the right team.

Which Teams Could Pick Luke Musgrave in the 2023 NFL Draft?

The Packers, Texans, Panthers, Lions, Bengals, Commanders, and Dolphins all need a tight end. The Bengals are in the best spot to take him in the late first round at No. 28, but if he continues to wow scouts, he could go as high as No. 18 (Detroit), No. 16 (Washington), or No. 15 (Green Bay).

The Texans or Panthers could wait until the second round and hope to snag him at No. 34 or No. 40, but he’s unlikely to fall all the way to the Dolphins, whose first pick is No. 52.

From a fantasy perspective, it could be fun to see Musgrave on the Bengals or Lions. Both have productive passing offenses. The Bengals have not had an elite tight end during Joe Burrow’s career, and they may soon need a new weapon in the passing game if they can’t keep Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd together with Ja’Marr Chase. T.J. Hockenson showed flashes of what an elite tight end could do on the Lions’ offense.

Musgrave did not get the chance to show what he could do in college. He's hoping the Senior Bowl is his showcase. There is a lot of projection involved in evaluating him as a first-round talent. But he does have an elite upside if he hits.

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