The Packers have already made their big bet on 2026 by trading for Micah Parsons. Now the real question is whether Green Bay is willing to make another one, this time on Tucker Kraft.
Kraft is back on the practice field after last season’s ACL injury, and that alone changes the conversation. The tight end has been lighting it up in training camp, and the numbers from the past two seasons make the case even louder.
In 2024, Kraft posted 50 catches for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2025, he managed 32 receptions for 489 yards and six scores in only eight games.
Stretch that out over a full year, and he was tracking toward 68 catches, 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns.
That kind of production is exactly why Kraft wants a new deal in Green Bay. The injury slowed the process, but it hasn’t changed the fact that he’s become one of the most productive tight ends in the league.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that Kraft getting back to team drills was not a prerequisite for getting a contract done, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Gutekunst did not give any further updates on Kraft's contract status.
The Packers, though, can’t afford to let this drag on much longer. Kraft has already done enough to justify a major extension, and the longer Green Bay waits, the more expensive the market could become.
NFL Network's Rapoport said on Monday:
“It's gonna be interesting to see how far the tight end market jumps. We saw a pretty big jump from the running back market, where they're getting $22-$23 million.
The tight end market hasn't had that jump. It's not really a question of does Tucker Kraft get a new contract; it's just how high does it go.
You have a guy next year that plays for the Raiders named Brock Bowers who's probably going to take it to the stratosphere a little bit more,”
That’s the danger for Green Bay. If they wait, Kraft’s price tag could climb fast.
Spotrac pegs his market value at $17.7 million per season. A four-year deal worth $72 million would land him at $18 million annually, which would make him one of the highest-paid tight ends in football. That figure would sit below George Kittle at $19.1 million per season and Trey McBride at $19 million per season, while placing him just ahead of Falcons superstar Kyle Pitts at $17.67 million per season.
There’s no easy path here for the Packers. They are projected to have just practically no cap space already in the 2027 season, so a big extension would only tighten the squeeze. But if Green Bay keeps waiting, it may only wind up paying more later.
Maybe the Packers want to see Kraft prove it again before they commit. That would be a costly gamble heading into a pivotal 2026 season.
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For Green Bay, the takeaway is familiar but still notable. The Packers landed third behind the Bills and Chiefs, a reminder that their support remains among the leagues most recognizable and durable even as the ranking also reflects the different ways teams build their followings. The list is as much about tradition as it is about momentum, and Green Bays place near the top speaks to how consistently its fan base stays in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]