MOBILE, Ala. — Sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, Luke Musgrave consciously avoided further damage to his NFL dreams. Four months later, one of the top tight end prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft confidently explained how he checked that box.
Participants in the Senior Bowl arrived at the Mobile Convention Center as the morning sun began its daily climb on Wednesday. They were shuttled into a large, blue-carpeted room with orange signage promoting the annual week-long pre-draft showcase and a major candy sponsor. A half-dozen small tables with a single chair dotted the back wall.
That’s where higher profile 2023 draft prospects held court with inquisitive media members and others armed with recording devices. The middle slot occupied by Musgrave indicated a hierarchy within this subset. From there, the 6-foot-4 target with desired size and speed expressed his audacious football aspirations.
“I have this goal to be the best tight end I can be. Ultimately be the best that’s ever played,” said the confident nephew of former NFL quarterback and longtime assistant Bill Musgrave. “That’s my goal. Whether I attain it or not … I will minimize the hole I dug myself into with this injury.”
TE watch: Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave. Expected in the late first-round mix. Absolutely looks the part with size, YAC potential. Coming off a knee injury.pic.twitter.com/fx1MBJfs7O
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) February 1, 2023
On Sept. 11, two games into his senior campaign, Musgrave suffered a season-ending knee injury in the final minute of the Beavers’ win over Fresno State. The Bend, Ore., native had not missed a game due to injury since his Pop Warner days. After assessing his physical, mental and professional situation, Musgrave took a mature approach to his recovery.
The Washington Commanders and 31 other teams began their evaluations months, if not years, ago among scouts. Now coaches enter the process, whether looking for quarterbacks, edge rushers or pass-catching tight ends with dazzling speed at 255 pounds.
On the surface, the Commanders could use one of those. Along with offensive line, cornerback, and linebacker, tight end is among their top needs this offseason.
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Washington’s tight ends ranked 28th with a mere 60 receptions in 2022, and starter Logan Thomas is an obvious salary-cap cut candidate. Yet Washington has ample intrigue at the position in rising 2022 rookies Armani Rogers — an undrafted college quarterback who flashed significant potential during his rookie season — and Cole Turner, a fifth-round pick with receiving upside.
The 6-foot-5 Rogers is an athletic freak who could develop, and Turner’s length lends well to being an effective pass-catcher.
Factor in blocking tight end John Bates, and Washington doesn’t lack for youth. Finding a veteran presence would be the ideal addition, but there’s no overlooking a deep crop of newbies, including several potential Day 1 candidates.
Notre Dame junior Michael Mayer is typically viewed as the top tight end in the class after compiling 180 receptions and 18 touchdowns over three seasons. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy thinks Musgrave should close the gap, if not pass Mayer by the time April’s draft rolls around. The Athletic’s draft analyst Dane Brugler ranks Mayer and Musgrave 1-2 among tight ends. One scout, who was granted anonymity for competitive reasons, told The Athletic that Musgrave is probably a Day 1 starter.
After hauling in 36 receptions during his first three seasons with the Pac-12 program, Musgrave had 11 grabs for 169 yards in 2022 before the injury. His arduous rehab included upper-body work, therapy exercises and, eventually, stints catching passes from the Jugs machine while stationary. Determined to avoid the frustration of taking the wheel, Musgrave used his time exercising his mental game.
He took advantage of the unwanted downtime by learning more about other positions that are pertinent to his. Musgrave “bounced around” various team meetings, namely quarterbacks, offensive line and inside linebackers, trying to “expand my football knowledge to the best I can.”
This week, American Team head coach Luke Getsy recognized Musgrave’s mental dexterity during meetings and the athletic capabilities he showed in practice.
“I thought he was asking really good questions,” said Getsy, the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator. “The one-on-ones showed how dynamic he can be. He’s an impressive young man.”
Musgrave, a preseason member of the watch list for the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, considers himself adept technically and “very smart” for the position. He preferred angled, man-beating routes at Oregon State with options to go deep against a high safety or break across the defender’s face.
While blocking wasn’t an initial strength with the Beavers, Musgrave now “loves” tangling with linebackers and linemen, whether in outside zone or duo schemes.
Despite such convictions — and borderline 4.4 speed, in Nagy’s estimation — Musgrave isn’t naive with where his game is nearly three months before the draft.
“I feel 100 percent, but I haven’t played football obviously in five months,’ Musgrave said. “There’s only one way to get into football shape. (Tuesday) I kind of walked off practice thinking, man, I thought I felt really slow. I haven’t seen tape, but I expect I looked pretty slow.”
New teammate Cameron Latu, a standout at Alabama, didn’t sense any limitations with his fellow tight end.
Max Duggan with a great throw to Luke Musgrave during 2-minute drills at the Senior Bowl! pic.twitter.com/GwhMgk0V3S
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) February 1, 2023
“I just met him this week, and I like how he moves,” Latu said. “There’s a great solid player. I gotta go watch his highlights.”
Scouts are deep into Musgrave’s film, but more data never hurts. Teams conduct speed-dating interviews at 15-minute intervals in Mobile. Musgrave wouldn’t mind speeding up that repetitive, get-to-know-you process.
“They’re all about the same questions. You kind of wish you could just fill out a sheet and give it to them,” Musgrave joked. “No, it’s been really good. … They’re fun to talk to. It’s honestly just good to have a conversation with those guys. And maybe ask them questions.”
Georgia’s Darnell Washington and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, neither of whom is here this week, have earned mention in that elite mix at the position.
Targets in later rounds among prospects in Mobile include Purdue’s Durham Payne and Latu, Brugler’s eighth-ranked tight end. The 6-foot-5 Latu caught 30 passes for the Crimson Tide last season while displaying a physical edge and an “ability to read defenses.” He’s also ecstatic to compete against this deep group.
“I like seeing that I could be competitive,” Latu said of his first practice. “That’s your (competition). … Yeah, don’t let me get started.”
The Commanders have begun their roster-planning considerations. The presence of Rogers along with Turner might have Washington veering away from drafting a tight end early — unless Musgrave’s abilities and attitude become intoxicating.
“I’m a good guy,” Musgrave said of what he’s showing teams in meetings. “They like talking to me. I have a high football IQ and am a personable guy, and then I go out there and give it my all, even though I’m just coming off of injury. I’m going to go out there. I love the game. That’s why I’m here. And I’m going to go out there … and let it rip.”
(Photo of Luke Musgrave: Vasha Hunt / USA Today)
