5 draft prospects the Jacksonville Jaguars must keep an eye on in the 2023 NFL Combine

3. prospect the Jacksonville Jaguars should watch: Tucker Kraft, TE

Tight end Evan Engram sign a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason and went on to post career numbers and set several team records. He’s scheduled to hit the open market once again but there’s mutual interest in getting a deal done and negotiations are seemingly headed in the right direction.

Having said that, contract talks could break off at any time and if Engram leaves, tight end would then become a position of need for the Jaguars. Fortunately for the Jags, this is a deep tight end class and they would be in a position to take one of the top 3 prospects at the position with the 24th overall pick.

But even if Engram returns, which is likely, the Jaguars should still consider adding a tight end in the draft, maybe South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft. An ankle injury limited him to 27 catches for 348 yards in 2022 but he hauled in 65 receptions for 773 yards with six touchdowns the year before.

Kraft is a solid receiver and has the athletic skills to become a well-rounded tight end in the NFL. Brent Weissman of The Draft Network argues that Kraft still has to work to do to become a complete player but “his skill set is easy to project at the next level“, which is why he has a third-round grade on him.

While tight end might not be a need for the Jags if Engram returns, Kraft might be too good to pass up in the third round.