With the early phase of free agency basically done, the Packers will soon be shifting their attention to the draft. However, with a chunk of money remaining, the front office will also pursue extensions with some of their current players. When asked to identify the team’s top extension candidates, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic pointed to three players: tight end Tucker Kraft, wide receiver Christian Watson, and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.
We heard back in February that the Packers and Kraft were likely to engage in extension talks, and Schneidman believes the tight end will be prioritized. That’s because the player is currently working his way back from a torn ACL, and there’s an opportunity for the front office to secure a relative bargain. Of course, it takes two to tango, and Kraft may understand that his best opportunity to approach the top of the TE market is by proving he’s fully recovered.
The former third-round pick is set to enter the final season of his rookie contract. He had a breakout campaign in 2024, finishing with 50 catches for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. He took his production to another level in 2025, upping his yards-per-game mark from 41.6 in 2024 to 61.1 yards in 2025. He was also on pace for double-digit touchdowns, as he hauled in six scores through eight games. Unfortunately, that ACL tear ended his season early, but the Packers are still counting on Kraft to be a foundational part of their offense moving forward.
Last September, Watson inked a one-year extension that would keep him in Green Bay through the 2026 campaign. At the time, the wideout was recovering from his own ACL tear, and that deal bought the organization some time as they evaluated his comeback. Watson more than picked up where he left off, as he compiled some of the best numbers of his career, finishing with 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games.
The Packers did lose Romeo Doubs to the Patriots this offseason, but they are also still rostering a pair of rookie-contract contributors in Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. While the front office would naturally like to surround Jordan Love with as much talent as possible, they may not feel the same urgency to break the bank to keep Watson long-term.
Wyatt, a former first-round pick, is set to play the 2026 season on his fifth-year option. After appearing in less than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through his first three NFL seasons, the defensive lineman took on a larger role in 2025. He started each of his 10 games last season, collecting 27 tackles and four sacks while appearing in more than 60 percent of Green Bay’s defensive snaps.
He suffered a fibula fracture and ankle ligament tear that ended his season prematurely, although he’s optimistic that he’ll be ready to go for training camp. The Packers may also want to get a longer look at Wyatt’s recovery before paying big, but they could find themselves priced out of the equation if the defender continues his upward trajectory.