Luke Musgrave - TE - Oregon State
Welcome to the rookie profile for Luke Musgrave.
Luke Musgrave is a giant measuring 6’6” and 225 lbs. If you are looking for an underrated size/speed monster than look no further. Musgrave’s unique blend of size and speed could make him a very productive tight end similar to Vernon Davis who was physically dominant for his healthy years in the pros. Musgrave will be a matchup nightmare, especially in the red zone, and will likely require double teams from the opposing defense. I anticipate Musgrave posting excellent testing numbers at the combine and he should go as a top-50 pick. Despite never producing at an elite level in college, Musgrave should be viewed as an elite prospect with limitless potential.
Measurables
Height: 6′ 5″
Weight: 255 lbs
Age: 23
40-yard dash: 4.61s
3-cone drill: DNP
20-yard shuttle: DNP
Vertical Jump: 36″
Broad Jump: 10-5
Bench Press: DNP
College Stats
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2019 | Oregon State | Pac-12 | FR | TE | 2 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | Oregon State | Pac-12 | SO | TE | 6 | 12 | 142 | 11.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 142 | 11.8 | 0 | |
| *2021 | Oregon State | Pac-12 | SO | TE | 10 | 22 | 304 | 13.8 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 23 | 303 | 13.2 | 1 |
| *2022 | Oregon State | Pac-12 | JR | TE | 2 | 11 | 169 | 15.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 169 | 15.4 | 1 | |
| Career | Oregon State | 47 | 633 | 13.5 | 2 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 | 48 | 632 | 13.2 | 2 | ||||
Notable Headlines
Musgrave was a 3-star recruit out of Fort Bend High School before joining Oregon State in 2019.
As a freshman in 2019, he played in 8 games but recorded only 2 catches for 18 yards in rare action.
Musgrave’s sophomore season of 2020 saw him play in only 6 games where he caught only 12 passes for 142 yards, once again in primarily a backup role.
In his junior season with Oregon State, Musgrave played in 10 games. He caught 22 passes for a modest 304 yards and his first career touchdown. All three of those numbers would go down as his career highs, which is concerning to say the least.
Musgrave’s 2022 senior season was plagued by injury and was cut short before it really ever got started. He played in just 2 games and caught 11 balls for 169 yards and the only other touchdown of his college career.
A 4-year player with under 1,000 career receiving yards and only 2 touchdowns is not a welcome site. He will need to explode at the combine to find his name being called in the NFL Draft.
Scouting Report
Positives
Musgrave is the definition of a prototypical receiving tight end. He’s got speed, size, and athleticism. And sometimes that’s all that matters when projecting tight ends for fantasy.
He has great quickness and athleticism as a short-area target and will be a check-down machine for any quarterback under pressure.
Musgrave failed to have any significant production at the college level and is instead just a projection tight end. Had it not been for covid and injuries, Musgrave likely would have had a breakout season to show for his career and would be more likely to cement his status as a top-50 pick.
In addition to his size and speed, Musgrave is also a threat after the catch. He has great vision, power, and elusiveness and frequently gains more yards than he should on a play.
Negatives
Musgrave is a 6’6” tight end who blocks like a 5’6” running back. To say he lacks skill and technique as a blocker would be a gross understatement, to say the least. Considering his size and strength it’s shocking to see how often he gets overpowered while blocking, which is a true testament to just how bad his technique really is. He is the rawest blocker in the class and will need to take many master classes at Tight End U to have any chance of adding that skill to his game.
He also had limited game experience in his time in college due to injuries and covid as well as being a backup. It remains a mystery if his skillset and physical attributes will translate in any substantial way to the NFL level. Musgrave could turn into George Kittle or Brandon Pettigrew, both outcomes seem equally likely… and if you had to Google who Brandon Pettigrew was, that should tell you just how low his floor is as a prospect.
Pre Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital- Early Round 2
Ideal Landing Spot- Detroit Lions
The Lions opted to trade their young stud tight end TJ Hockenson to their division rivals midseason, why…. I’m not sure. What I do know is that it leaves a glaring hole at the tight end for the Lions. Musgrave could be exactly what they need to fill that hole. Musgrave is much more of a raw talent than Hockenson was and Hockenson was certainly a better blocker than Musgrave (so am I). But you can’t deny that Musgrave’s talent as a receiver fits perfectly into what projects to be a high-flying Lions offence. The only question will be can he work hard enough to become a competent blocker? If he can’t then current knee-biting Lions head coach and former tight end, Dan Campbell will surely leave him sitting on the bench. Musgrave could be the next stud tight end for fantasy if he works out the kinks in his game and refines his raw mechanics.
Post Draft Analysis
Green Bay Packers – Round 2, Pick 42
Landing Spot
This would appear to be the best landing spot of all the tight ends in the draft. Green Bay is in desperate need of a pass-catching tight end and they drafted Musgrave with early day two capital which would signify that he is their solution, the only problem is they also drafted Tucker Kraft.
Both Musgrave and Kraft are young, talented pass catchers and have potential, one would assume this is Musgrave’s job to lose based on draft capital but the selection of an additional tight end is concerning, to say the least. He is certainly worth a pick in rookie drafts but, he isn’t someone you are going to want to put all your money on when you factor in they also drafted wide receiver Jayden Reed.
Fantasy Impact
As stated above, Musgrave certainly warrants a second or third-round selection in rookie dynasty drafts as he has a path to fantasy relevance in front of him. He probably settles in comfortably at TE4 in this class behind Mayer, Kincaid and LaPorta but based on his decreased cost he is worth a shot for those who don’t want to burn an early pick on a tight end.
Redraft on the other hand is a more vexing situation. LaPorta certainly has a path to being a potentially relevant fantasy tight end but between the collection of young receivers, another rookie tight end and essentially a rookie quarterback, Musgrave is not the one I would place my bet on to break out as a rookie, rookie tight ends often take several years to develop and he is likely going to follow a similar path. He may not be worth drafting in seasonal leagues but, he is worth keeping an eye on in case the stars align for him.
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Image Credit: Soobum Im – USA TODAY Sports
