ESPN gives an update on a Tucker Kraft extension

Posted by Admin September 10, 2026 NFL

Jeremy Fowler dropped a long Week 1 buzz article for ESPN on Thursday morning, and it included some nuggets on where the Green Bay Packers and tight end Tucker Kraft stand on an extension. In the past, general manager Brian Gutekunst stated that he wanted a Kraft deal done going into the regular season, but there is no deal in place yet.

Here’s what Fowler had to say about the situation:

This summer has featured complete market resets at cornerback and defensive tackle, and tight end could be next. It’s the only offensive or defensive position without a player making $20 million or more per season, but the Packers’ Tucker Kraft is hoping to change that. He remains in discussions about a new contract, but it has been a bit of a standoff so far. Green Bay hopes to get something done by the end of Week 1, so perhaps urgency prevails here. If Kraft can get a deal above that $20 million threshold, that sets the stage for Detroit‘s Sam LaPorta. The Lions have interest in extending him, but his situation might carry into the season.

$20 million per year might sound like a lot for a tight end, but it’s really not that big of a jump from where the position is at right now. As we wrote after the Kyle Pitts extension, here are the four highest-paid tight ends in the league from an average-per-year perspective:

Once Pitts signed for $18 million per year, it was assumed that Kraft would receive more than him. The only question was whether he was going to get paid in line with George Kittle and Trey McBride or truly become the highest-paid tight end in the league, despite him coming off an ACL tear. At least according to Fowler, Kraft’s camp is eyeing to “reset” the tight end market, even if the ceiling at the position rises by only about a million dollars per year.

Fowler is also correct in that Sam LaPorta is the other tight end situation to pay attention to, as he’s the only other significant tight end going into a contract year in 2026. With Pitts off the table, it’s the Kraft and LaPorta show, as far as tight end extensions go. A big question is who will be first to sign, and whether or not the second player’s number will rise to try to beat the first’s benchmark.