Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Packers Poised to Extend Tucker Kraft as He Eyes Week 1 Return

Rapid rehab and strong 2025 on-field value make Kraft a likely candidate for a top tight-end payday under a multi-year deal that spreads cap hits

Overview

  • Kraft told reporters in mid-June that he expects to be ready for the regular-season opener with no planned snap count.
  • He tore his ACL on Nov. 2, 2025, has had surgery and is progressing through rehab while the team plans to place him on the PUP list before training camp with an eye toward practicing in August.
  • Packers coverage and team reporters frame an extension as a question of timing not if, with some expecting negotiations to take place this summer rather than using the one-year franchise tag.
  • Analyst projections for Kraft’s next deal vary widely, with estimates from about $15.5 million to roughly $20.6 million in average annual value, any of which would place him among the top-paid tight ends.
  • Financial models show Green Bay can likely structure a multi-year contract to limit the first-year cap hit—OverTheCap estimates about $18.5 million in cap space for 2027—though the team may need roster moves to create breathing room.