GREEN BAY, WI (The Daily Republic, Matt Zimmer) – Tucker Kraft is getting paid.

The Timber Lake native and former South Dakota State tight end has signed a 4-year, $5.54 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, who selected Kraft in the third round of the NFL Draft last month. As part of the deal, Kraft receives a signing bonus of just over $1.27 million.

Kraft’s base salary will start at $750,000 as a rookie, bumping up to $951K in year two, $1.2 million in year three and $1.455 million in his fourth season. The only guaranteed money is in the signing bonus, which makes the rest of the contract contingent on Kraft making the team. That isn’t likely to be an issue, as the former FCS All-American has already turned heads in Green Bay with his performance in rookie camp.

Kraft is competing with fellow rookie tight end Luke Musgrave, a 2nd round pick out of Oregon State, for the starting job in Green Bay. Kraft caught 27 passes in nine games for South Dakota State in 2022, helping the Jackrabbits to the FCS national championship. He caught 65 passes for 773 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.