Packers and TE Tucker Kraft finalize $92M extension

The Green Bay Packers and tight end Tucker Kraft agreed to a four-year contract extension with a base value of $75 million, one day before the season opener, sources told ESPN. The deal could be worth up to $92 million and includes a signing bonus of $26.5 million. Kraft's contract carries an average annual salary of $18.75 million, making him the third-highest-paid tight end in the league. He will receive $31.5 million in the first year of the contract, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Kraft, who is 25 years old, returned from a torn ACL suffered in his right knee, which had cut short what was anticipated to be a record-breaking season for a Packers tight end. Before the injury, he had caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns through the first nine weeks of the season, ranking high among tight ends in both categories.

After undergoing mid-November surgery, Kraft managed a smooth recovery, remaining in Green Bay for most of the offseason for rehabilitation. His nine-month checkup indicated he looked like someone who had undergone more than a year of postsurgical healing. Although he started training camp on the physically unable to perform list, he was back on the field doing individual drills by Day 3. By August 16, he was participating in 11-on-11 drills during practice, and by August 26, he was taking hits in a joint practice with the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite the risks of returning to full contact without a contract extension, Kraft indicated that he never considered waiting for a new deal before practicing. "He doesn't shy away from the work," noted Packers coach Matt LaFleur. Kraft previously stated that he would not hold out or miss regular-season games if a deal didn't materialize, emphasizing his commitment to the team and his belief in his own value.

Kraft aimed to be ready for the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings without limitations, although he acknowledged the possibility of being monitored on his snap count. He also mentioned that the coaching staff would likely adjust his reps until midway through the season.

The extension follows a series of contract renewals for Packers players this offseason, including long-term deals for wide receivers Jayden Reed and Christian Watson, as well as defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. With Kraft now signed, the Packers have their offensive starters under contract through at least the 2028 season, solidifying their roster for the future. General manager Brian Gutekunst had expressed a clear desire to retain Kraft long-term, and Kraft was equally eager to remain with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2023. "It's in the best interest to try to get something done, but these things take time," Gutekunst said at the beginning of training camp.