From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, I’ll be profiling Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave.
#88 Luke Musgrave/TE Oregon State – 6057, 253 lbs. (Senior)
Senior Bowl/NFL Combine
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Luke Musgrave | 6057, 253 | 10 3/8 | 32 5/8 | N/A |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| 4.61 | 1.54 | DNP | DNP | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 10’5″ | 36 | DNP |
THE GOOD
— Big frame and has prototypical tight end size
— Shows burst out of his stance
— Fluid mover, athletic and capable of winning to all three levels of the field
— Tracks the ball well and plucks away from his frame
— Experience as an in-line Y tight end, aligning in the slot, or being the backside “nub” TE/WR to the formation
— Productive and was a core part of his offense in senior year before injury
— Willing blocker who gives effort in run game, plays with good motor overall
— Works hard to get open in scramble drills
— Tested well even coming off injury
— Good football bloodlines
The Bad
— Lacks ideal length for the position, especially given his frame
— Can be late out of stance when aligned wide in 12 personnel steps
— Falls off blocks in run game, struggles to sustain and plays with too much forward lean
— Leaves his feet too often on catches and limits/hurts YAC ability
— Struggles too much in contested situations and won’t always finish chances
— Doesn’t break many tackles in space and athleticism doesn’t always show up post-catch
— Coming off severe injury that shortened senior year
— Overall limited production
Bio
— 35 career games, 15 career starts
— Career: 47 receptions, 633 yards (13.5 YPC) 2 TDs
— 2022: Appeared in two games before injury, 11 receptions for 169 yards (15.4 YPC) 1 TD
— Suffered season-ending left MCL injury in 2022, required surgery
— Three-star recruit from Bend, Oregon, chose Oregon State over Cal, Oregon, UC Davis, and Utah State
— Father played QB at Oregon in the early 90s, threw two touchdowns for the Ducks
— Uncle is Bill Musgrave, who played QB in the NFL for eight years and has been a longtime NFL coach, currently offensive assistant with the Browns
— Letterwinner in lacrosse and skiing in high school while also part of track team
— Won Under-14 skiing competition in 2014, sweeping the super G, slalom, and giant slalom events
— Played TE and DE in high school
Tape Breakdown
Luke Musgrave will be one of my final pre-draft player profile of the year. A top name heading in 2022, his season got off to a good start his first two games. But it ended quickly with a season-ending MCL injury.
Still, going through his tape, Musgrave is a plus athlete. He’s fluid and an easy-mover who makes plays in the passing game. He can make plays to all three levels and that’s clear even in the couple of games that I watched. He’s a natural catcher of the ball and fires off the line as a receiver with burst and reaches top speed quickly.
I also like his effort as a blocker. Watch him throw the key final block as the receiver extends this play.
But Musgrave repeatedly leaves his feet when he catches the ball and didn’t always finish in contested situations. Guys won’t make every catch but there’s some plays he left on the table.
And I would like to see him fire out of his stance quicker in the run game. Some wider alignment may be at play where you can’t key the ball but if you’re slow off the snap in the NFL, it’s going to be a problem. His run blocking has effort but it’s not great.
Conclusion
Overall, Musgrave’s health is a factor but his testing at the Combine is encouraging. He’s a good athlete and refined route runner who plucks the ball outside his frame. But he needs to be more consistent downfield and his blocking will only ever be average, a Pat Freiermuth type of level. His name has been lost to a deep tight end class but he will present value on Day Two. The comp might be a little tall but there’s some T.J. Hockenson in his game.
Projection: Mid-Late Day 2
Depot Draft Grade: 8.0 – Potential Starter/Good Backup (Third Round)
Games Watched: at Oregon (2021), at Fresno State (2022), vs Boise State (2022), Senior Bowl
