Latest report confirms growing suspicions about the Packers’ biggest remaining offseason plan
Tight end Tucker Kraft is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the offensive weapon is the next in line to receive a contract extension.
The Green Bay Packers extended defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt on a three-year, $57 million contract on Monday, but the next name on the extension list might matter even more. NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Jordan Schultz both reported that tight end Tucker Kraft is the Packers’ top priority for a contract extension before the season begins, confirming what those who follow the organization have suspected.
Rapoport reported that the Packers “have tight end Tucker Kraft entering the final year of his deal and also hope to get something done with him,” adding that “Tucker Kraft looms as the largest” among players who could get extensions done in advance of training camp.
The reporting aligns with everything general manager Brian Gutekunst’s front office has done this offseason. Green Bay already locked up Sean Rhyan, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Wyatt, and Isaiah McDuffie. Kraft is the obvious next domino to fall, and the Packers clearly want to keep one of their most electric offensive weapons around for years to come.
The ACL factor creates a unique window
Kraft is entering the final year of his rookie deal, slated to make $3.624 million in base salary with a $3.93 million cap hit after triggering the proven performance escalator. That’s a bargain for a tight end of his caliber, and both sides know it.
He’s recovering from an ACL injury, which could serve as a slight negative in extension negotiations. But that dynamic cuts both ways. The injury creates a window for Green Bay to sign him at a more reasonable price than he would usually command. For Kraft, a deal now provides financial stability and security rather than gambling on a walk year coming off a significant knee injury. He is fully expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, so the long-term outlook remains positive.
Where Kraft fits in the tight end market
The tight end market has climbed considerably over the past two offseasons. San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle sits at the top, making $19.1 million per year. Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride signed for $19 million per year. Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts locked in an extension this offseason worth $17.666 million per year.
Kraft should land somewhere in that vicinity. His efficiency and playmaking ability over the past two seasons put him in that tier, and the question is whether he lands slightly above Kittle’s number or slightly below it.
Kraft has been one of the most productive tight ends in football relative to his usage. The argument for something slightly under Kittle’s deal is that Kraft’s volume numbers haven’t quite matched the elite tier, and the ACL recovery gives the Packers some leverage in negotiations.
Either way, the gap between those two outcomes is narrow. Whether the final number lands a touch above or below the current market ceiling, Kraft is about to become one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL.
Green Bay’s approach this offseason has been methodical, like it always is. Lock up the young core before contracts become problems, and do it while you still have leverage. With Kraft, the timeline now makes sense for both sides.