The Green Bay Packers received a significant boost in their pursuit of a long-term extension with tight end Tucker Kraft on Tuesday when the Atlanta Falcons signed Kyle Pitts to a three-year, $54 million deal. That contract, worth $18 million per year, could effectively cap what Kraft commands on his next deal and give general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice president Russ Ball a favorable framework to lock up one of the team’s most important offensive weapons.

Why Pitts’ deal helps Green Bay

Pitts was the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and has accumulated over 3,500 receiving yards throughout his career, including a 1,000-yard rookie season and more than 900 yards last season for Atlanta. He is a premier pass-catching tight end with elite production credentials.

Kraft, by contrast, profiles as more of an all-around tight end who works better as a blocker. He has logged just over 1,300 receiving yards across his career. That’s a massive gap in production (715 yards per season vs. 462), and it matters when establishing market value. If Pitts couldn’t break the top of the tight end market, where Trey McBride and George Kittle sit just around $19 million per year, Kraft is unlikely to surpass that threshold either. Even if Kraft is able to surpass what Pitts got.

The Packers can use Pitts’ deal as the ceiling or a baseline for negotiations. And because Kraft is coming off a torn ACL, Green Bay holds additional leverage to secure a team-friendly number.

Timing works in the Packers’ favor

Kraft just completed his third NFL season, making this his first offseason eligible for an extension. The timing is advantageous for the Packers in multiple ways.

Pitts was slated to play under the franchise tag before agreeing to the extension. That scenario would have given him even more leverage heading into unrestricted free agency the following offseason. Despite that leverage, the Falcons still locked him in at $18 million per year.

Kraft’s situation offers Green Bay even more room to negotiate. He still has one year remaining on his rookie contract, plus the potential for a franchise tag. The Packers are unlikely to use the tag, but its mere existence as an option limits Kraft’s ability to push the price upward. By extending Kraft now, while he recovers from his ACL injury, the Packers buy a season of risk and could realistically secure a deal below the Pitts benchmark.

Kraft is next in line

After extending wide receivers Jayden Reed and Christian Watson this offseason, Kraft is the next priority on Green Bay’s contract list. Before the ACL tear, Kraft was having one of the best seasons by a tight end in the NFL last year. His combination of blocking ability and receiving upside made him a rising star at the position, and a particularly perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offensive scheme.

If Kraft comes back healthy and the Packers finalize a long-term deal around or below the $18 million annual mark, Green Bay could end up with one of the best values for an offensive pass catcher in the league. For the Packers specifically, Pitts’ deal provides the roadmap to lock up Kraft at a price that keeps the roster flexible for years to come.