The Packers got a welcome sight over the weekend when Tucker Kraft was back on the practice field while working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last season. That alone is a positive sign for Green Bay, and it leaves open the possibility that Kraft could be ready for Week 1.
There’s another layer to this, too: Kraft is eligible for a contract extension, and the timing of his return matters there as well. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, this is shaping up as more of a wait-and-see situation because the tight end market still hasn’t made the kind of leap that running backs have.
“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,” Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show.
Before the injury, Kraft was performing like one of the top tight ends in football, so the expectation is that he’ll eventually be paid like one. The only real mystery is what that number will look like.
For now, Green Bay’s biggest concern is getting him fully back on the field. His return to practice had people fired up, and he even scored a touchdown with teammates gathering around him afterward.
That’s the version of Kraft the Packers are counting on. When he’s healthy, he gives the offense a different gear.
"Tucker Kraft is healthy and he's a great player..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 17, 2026
It's gonna be interesting to see how far the tight end market jumps..
It's not really a question of does Tucker Kraft get a new contract it's just how high does it go"@RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/s0eFbHNlGw
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