Last week, I looked at the top four rookie running back trade targets for Dynasty rebuilders. This week, I will be looking at tight tends. These are players you want to have on your roster for the rest of this year and definitely for the beginning of next season because they are not making a major impact now, but they will be next season.
Instead, these are the players that were drafted in the late rounds of rookie drafts in Dynasty leagues that I am hoping will make a major impact for the rest of this season or next season. I have a process for all my Dynasty leagues where, if I am out of playoff contention when we turn the calendar to November, I will start to trade or cut older players and take fliers on younger players at all the skill positions. Here are the top four rookie tight ends that I am looking to trade for in my Dynasty leagues so I have them on my roster to start the 2024 season.
1. Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
Musgrave was drafted in one of the best situations in the entire NFL Draft as the Green Bay Packers were very thin at the tight end position, allowing him to step right in and earn the starting job in training camp. The Packers selected two tight ends in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. They selected Musgrave in the second round and they selected Tucker Kraft in the third, but it is clear that Musgrave is the better player right now, and he did make an impact on the field this season. He is very athletic and he quickly became a favorite target for quarterback Jordan Love this year. Musgrave currently ranks as the TE24 in PPR scoring on the season despite having played just 10 games. Right now, the only question with Musgrave is whether he can stay healthy, as he is currently on injured reserve, so his numbers and ranking could be even better if he could stay on the field. I believe that Musgrave can be a top-12 tight end next season if he can stay healthy.
2. Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
Mayer was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in Round 2 in the 2023 NFL Draft, which was before Musgrave and one pick after rookie standout Sam LaPorta. This just goes to show you that going to the right situation makes all the difference in the NFL most times. Mayer was stuck in a tight end committee to start the season. He had to split playing time with Austin Hooper and Jesper Horsted, but the Raiders’ coaching staff has figured out over the last seven weeks that Mayer is a playmaker and they need to get him the ball more often. He has 27 receptions on 40 targets for 304 receiving yards and two touchdowns, with most of that production coming over the last few weeks. I believe Mayer will be a top-12 tight end next season, so I would go get him before we get to the start of 2024.
3. Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas Cowboys
Schoonmaker was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft. I really thought that the Cowboys did not need to select a tight end that high in the draft as they already had a player at the position that they liked in Jake Ferguson on their roster, but I guess they felt he was a value that they could not pass on in. Unfortunately, the Cowboys are not using Schoonmaker at all in the passing game to start this career. He is primarily the second tight end behind Ferguson, and he has been used more for blocking this season. He has made his biggest impact this season as a blocker, as he has just seven receptions on 14 targets for 61 receiving yards and two touchdowns so far this season. Still, I am ranking him at number three based on his talent and second-round draft capital. I still believe in Schoonmaker’s talent, so I would trade for him before the start of next season in any Dynasty league.
4. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Kraft was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Kraft was stuck behind Musgrave to start the season, but Musgrave cannot seem to stay healthy, so that gives Kraft a chance to show what he can do as the starting tight end. Kraft has talent, and I am glad we are getting to see that talent while Musgrave is out right now. He has 14 receptions on 19 targets for 159 receiving yards and one touchdown. He will be behind Musgrave when he comes back from injury, but Kraft will have value next season. I believe Kraft will be a top-20 tight end next season, with upside for much more if Musgrave is injured again or he can pass him on the depth chart, so I would go get him in any Dynasty league before we get to the start of next season.
