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The Green Bay Packers have built recent success on one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, but that approach is starting to come with real financial pressure. Now, the team is beginning to face the cost of retaining its rising young talent, with major decisions looming after the 2026 season.
They followed that move on Thursday by agreeing to a four-year, $110.5 million extension with wide receiver Christian Watson. The deal is a significant investment in a player who has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but also someone who has flashed the ability to be a true difference-maker when on the field.
With Watson’s new contract now finalized, focus inside Green Bay has started to turn toward the next key extension on the horizon.
On Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Ian Rapoport pointed to star tight end Tucker Kraft as a strong candidate to be the next Packers player in line for a new deal.
Oct 12, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
“Tucker Kraft is still out there, and I would consider him a big time priority for Green Bay,” commented the NFL insider.
Whenever he has been available, Kraft has consistently shown he belongs among the league’s top young tight ends. He contributes as a strong blocker and offers even more value as a receiver, regularly creating separation downfield and turning short gains into bigger plays as a matchup problem for defenses.
“It looks great as he’s coming back, looks excellent. I wouldn’t be surprised if contract talks waited until he’s fully cleared, but if you’re talking about a guy who will probably reset the tight end market that badly needs to be reset, that would probably be one of them and (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta would be the other.”
Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) walks off the field after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The main concern surrounding Kraft, as Rapoport noted, centers on his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained during the 2025 season. Even so, the fourth-year tight end has already returned to running and appears to be trending toward a full return in time for the 2026 campaign.
In 2025, he finished with 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns despite appearing in only eight games, production that would project to roughly 1,000 yards and double-digit scores over a full season.
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They followed that move on Thursday by agreeing to a four-year, $110.5 million extension with wide receiver Christian Watson. The deal is a significant investment in a player who has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but also someone who has flashed the ability to be a true difference-maker when on the field.
With Watson’s new contract now finalized, focus inside Green Bay has started to turn toward the next key extension on the horizon.
On Thursday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Ian Rapoport pointed to star tight end Tucker Kraft as a strong candidate to be the next Packers player in line for a new deal.
Should the Green Bay Packers pay Tucker Kraft?
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Oct 12, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
“Tucker Kraft is still out there, and I would consider him a big time priority for Green Bay,” commented the NFL insider.
Whenever he has been available, Kraft has consistently shown he belongs among the league’s top young tight ends. He contributes as a strong blocker and offers even more value as a receiver, regularly creating separation downfield and turning short gains into bigger plays as a matchup problem for defenses.
“It looks great as he’s coming back, looks excellent. I wouldn’t be surprised if contract talks waited until he’s fully cleared, but if you’re talking about a guy who will probably reset the tight end market that badly needs to be reset, that would probably be one of them and (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta would be the other.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) walks off the field after the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The main concern surrounding Kraft, as Rapoport noted, centers on his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained during the 2025 season. Even so, the fourth-year tight end has already returned to running and appears to be trending toward a full return in time for the 2026 campaign.
In 2025, he finished with 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns despite appearing in only eight games, production that would project to roughly 1,000 yards and double-digit scores over a full season.
Continue reading...
