The Green Bay Packers have several players performing in 2026 with a potential contract extension in mind, either during the season or in the 2027 offseason. Most of them are on defense, and some are among the best players on the roster. The interesting aspect is how many of those candidates play in the secondary, which complicates the math for general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball.

Here are the players who could get a new deal soon in Green Bay.

The young defensive backs

The first one is defensive back Javon Bullard. The Packers took him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he started his career at deep safety. Since the middle of his rookie season, however, he has been the starting slot corner. This year, Bullard has taken a massive step forward and has allowed a 76.9 passer rating when targeted.

The 2027 offseason is the first one in which he will be eligible for a contract extension. The slot corner market isn’t as strong as the boundary corner market, but it’s rising too, and Bullard deserves a big deal.

Safety Evan Williams, a 2024 fourth-round pick, is in a similar spot. He was already a strong player for Green Bay after taking over as the starting safety early in his rookie season, and he never looked back. Williams is excellent in pass coverage and as a run fitter, which makes him a big part of the defensive structure.

This season, he has allowed a 61.5 passer rating when targeted, with six stops and five pressures, which shows his versatility. Williams has All-Pro potential, and just like Bullard, he will be eligible for an extension in the offseason.

Van Ness and McKinney are more nuanced cases

Edge defender Lukas Van Ness is already under contract for 2027 after the Packers picked up his fifth-year option, which will pay him $13.75 million. Still, an extension could make sense for several reasons.

First, he has played well, especially in Micah Parsons’ absence. Through his first five games, Van Ness generated 16 pressures and 2.5 sacks. That’s the step forward Green Bay was expecting. An extension could also create cap space in 2027, and it’s smart business to avoid having him enter the final year of his deal without a new contract. He probably won’t be a top-of-the-market edge defender, but a deal around the middle of the market could work for both sides.

Veteran safety Xavier McKinney is a more complicated case. He signed with the Packers in free agency in 2024 and is already 28 years old. McKinney is under contract for 2027, but because of a restructure, his cap hit next year will be $24.8 million.

A short-term extension of two or three years could keep McKinney, who is still playing at a high level, under contract while lowering that 2027 hit. He has three interceptions this season and earned All-Pro honors in each of his first two years in Green Bay, First Team in 2024 and Second Team in 2025.

The big question is whether the Packers want to pay three safeties at the same time if Bullard and Williams also get new deals. All three deserve it, because they are potentially three of the best defensive players on the roster.

Veterans in contract years

Cornerback Keisean Nixon is on his third contract with the Packers since signing in 2022. He played on two one-year deals before a three-year extension, and 2026 is the final year of that contract. Now 29, Nixon is making $7.166 million this season.

After heavy criticism late in 2025 and throughout the offseason, Nixon has bounced back. Through five games, he has allowed a 77.2 passer rating when targeted, with two pass breakups, one interception, and nine stops. Green Bay has Brandon Cisse for the long term and signed Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year deal, but Carrington Valentine is also set for free agency. A short-term deal for Nixon could make sense, though it’s not a given. The rest of the veteran’s season will likely decide it.

Defensive tackle Karl Brooks is in the final year of his rookie deal as well. The former sixth-round pick is making $3.7 million thanks to the proven performance escalator. He has been at his best as a run defender, which wasn’t his strength coming into the NFL, and has five pressures and four stops in a rotational role.

The Packers have Devonte Wyatt under contract for multiple years and drafted Chris McClellan in the third round. But Javon Hargrave tore his Achilles and could be a release candidate in the offseason because of his age and financial situation. A short-term, team-friendly deal for Brooks is possible, but not certain.

The final player is wide receiver and kick returner Skyy Moore, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal. He suffered an ankle injury against the Chicago Bears. He might miss a little time, but the injury doesn’t appear to be long-term. Moore has been fantastic on special teams, averaging 16.0 yards per punt return and 27.5 yards per kickoff return, and he offers depth at receiver. Special teamers don’t tend to make a lot of money, but Moore could land a reasonable raise. At only 26 years old, he could be part of the plan for years to come.

Honorable mention

Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is a star, and the Packers should want to keep him around. The problem is that he ruptured his Achilles and will be out for the remainder of the season, so he won’t be able to show anything more on the field before the offseason.

Still, a deal remains realistic because of how important he is. Cooper is only 24, and the 2024 second-rounder will be eligible for an extension for the first time next offseason. He has done enough in his first three seasons to earn a new contract. The question is how much it will cost, and whether Green Bay will get it done before the 2027 season or wait until he returns from the injury.