With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview, the Green Bay Packers can focus on perfecting their roster.
They could still add some outside free agents to shore up certain positions. Before they do that, however, the Packers need to look at the long-term vision of their roster, deciding who will be the cornerstone pieces of it.
We already know players such as quarterback Jordan Love, edge rusher Micah Parsons, and offensive tackle Zach Tom are among them, but there are more needed to keep Green Bay’s nucleus strong.
Contract Extensions for Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson Named Priorities for Green Bay Packers
GettyPackers TE Tucker Kraft
The Packers have handed out contract extensions to general manager Brian Gutekunst, coach Matt LaFleur, center Sean Rhyan, and wide receiver Jayden Reed during the 2026 offseason. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports believes that Kraft and Watson should be the next two priorities to get long-term deals done with.
“The Packers recently signed receiver Jayden Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension, and that may not be the only deal Green Bay executes before we get to Week 1. There are a couple of notable pieces to the offense entering the final year of their deals, so their statuses will be worth monitoring over the next few months. Namely, tight end Tucker Kraft and receiver Christian Watson are two skill-position players currently in the final year of their contracts. Despite Kraft recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 last season, he should remain in Green Bay’s long-term plans. When healthy, he has been the straw that stirs the drink to their offense and was on pace for a career year in 2025 before going down. Watson is another figure with a checkered injury history, but he is a dynamic weapon when on the field, so he should be someone the Packers look to lock down as well.”
Kraft was looking like the best tight end in the NFL before tearing his ACL, on pace to catch 68 passes for 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns had he remained healthy. 13 touchdown catches would have led the league. The Packers’ passing attack wasn’t the same without him, which contributed to them going 4-7 (including the playoffs) to close out the season.
Watson will enter the 2026 season with the opportunity to prove he can be a legitimate WR1. That starts with remaining healthy, which he has struggled to do throughout his four-year NFL career. If not for injuries, Watson would have had a good shot to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark in 2023 and 2025.
Should Packers Extend DL Devonte Wyatt, Edge Rusher Lukas Van Ness?
GettyPackers edge rusher Lukas Van Ness
Another pair of players who are eligible to receive contract extensions are Wyatt and Van Ness. Wyatt is entering 2026 on the final year of his rookie deal, and is returning from a significant ankle injury. That is just one of many injuries throughout his career, but he has been very disruptive when healthy.
2023 first-round draft pick Van Ness has not lived up to expectations thus far. Despite that, Green Bay picked up his fifth-year options earlier this offseason, giving Van Ness two more years to put it all together. He has recorded just 8.5 sacks during his three-year career. The Packers are banking on him to step up in 2026 now that Rashan Gary is gone.
Packers’ Front Office Still Faced With Big Post-Draft Decisions