Packers enter a critical decision window, as several impactful roster pieces become eligible for new contract extensions
Tucker Kraft is the biggest name on the list.
The regular season has come to an end. And with that, players drafted in 2023 are now eligible for contract extensions. Under the CBA, players under the rookie contract can reach their first extensions after three regular seasons — and while it’s not necessarily common, players may sign their new deals during the playoffs. The same goes for undrafted players after two years under their original contracts.
The Green Bay Packers have eight players from the 2023 draft class who have become extension eligible, and at least two of them have a real shot at soon getting a new deal. All of them, though, are already under contract for 2026.
Packers players now eligible for extensions
- EDGE Lukas Van Ness
- TE Luke Musgrave
- WR Jayden Reed
- TE Tucker Kraft
- DT Colby Wooden
- WR Dontayvion Wicks
- DT Karl Brooks
- CB Carrington Valentine
Quarterback Sean Clifford, kicker Anders Carlson, running back Lew Nichols, defensive back Anthony Johnson, and wide receiver Grant DuBose are not on the roster anymore.
Undrafted players are eligible for extensions after two seasons, but the only Packers’ player from the 2023 undrafted class still on the roster is guard Donovan Jennings, and he’s not on his original contract anymore.
Extension candidates
The primary candidate for a new contract is tight end Tucker Kraft. His ACL injury may complicate things a little bit, but at the same time, the Packers can buy the risk right now and get some type of discount for a long-term extension — they made a similar move with wide receiver Christian Watson, even though it was a short-term, one-year, $11 million extension.
The top tight ends in yearly average are San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle ($19.1 million), Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride ($19 million), and Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce ($17.125 million). Tucker Kraft was having a promising season, but the lack of realized production would likely drop his market value.
The other extension candidate, even though it’s less likely that anything will get done soon, is wide receiver Jayden Reed. With Romeo Doubs probably hitting free agency in March, it would be important for the Packers to keep Reed, but he is already under contract for 2026, and Watson might be the priority at the position.
Less likely to get a new deal
With Lukas Van Ness, the conversation will be different. As a first-round pick, the Packers have to decide whether to exercise the $14.95 million fifth-year option, and an extension under these circumstances now wouldn’t make sense.
The other third-year players will likely go to their fourth seasons without a new deal, and what they do in 2026 will determine their future in Green Bay — or somewhere else.
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