Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft stands next in line for a lucrative contract extension after returning from a torn ACL, and a top NFL insider believes the deal could reset the market for the position.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, speaking on ESPN Milwaukee, offered a clear prediction on the average annual value Kraft is likely to command.
“That number will start with a TWO, the average number on the deal, and that will help RESET the tight-end market.”
Schefter elaborated on his forecast, saying, “My prediction is that that number will start with a 2, the average number on the deal.”
That points to at least $20 million per year, surpassing the current top salaries at the position.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle currently leads the group with an average of $19.1 million annually on his extension. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride sits just behind at $19 million per year. Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts signed a deal this offseason averaging about $17.76 million.
Kraft’s production before the injury supports the elevated expectations. In eight games during the 2025 season, he recorded 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked among the league leaders at the position in yards after the catch and scored in five of those contests.
The 2023 third-round pick out of South Dakota State has compiled 113 receptions for 1,551 yards and 15 touchdowns over his first three NFL seasons, according to available career figures. He started all eight games he played last year before the ACL tear against the Carolina Panthers in early November.
Schefter also addressed the timing of a potential agreement.
“I think when the calendar hits September, it starts to get a little bit real there,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me before the opener.”
Packers fans and observers have grown accustomed to the team locking up key young contributors ahead of free agency. Kraft enters the final year of his four-year rookie contract that carries a base salary of roughly $3.6 million this season.
Discussions are expected to intensify once training camp concludes and players demonstrate their health heading into the regular season. Neither side typically prefers negotiations to stretch deep into the year once games begin.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is another prominent name due for a new contract around the same window. The order in which those deals get completed could influence the final numbers, as each agreement may set a new benchmark.
Kraft has progressed steadily in his recovery. He was activated off the physically unable to perform list and has participated in practice sessions, expressing confidence he can contribute fully by the season opener at Minnesota on Sept. 13.
At 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds, Kraft has shown the ability to stretch the field and create after the catch. His 15.6 yards per reception last season ranked high among tight ends who saw consistent targets.
The Packers have already extended other skill-position players in recent months, creating room in the salary structure to address Kraft’s situation. General manager Brian Gutekunst has emphasized retaining core talent built through the draft.
While no official offer details have been publicly confirmed, Schefter’s track record and sources give weight to the projection of a deal starting with a two in average annual value. Such a contract would mark a notable jump for the tight end market that has hovered just under the $20 million threshold for years.
Kraft has repeatedly stated his desire to remain with the Packers for the long term. He has described the organization as the only NFL home he has known since being selected in the third round.
As September approaches, attention will turn to whether Green Bay and Kraft’s representatives can finalize terms before the opener. The outcome will provide clarity for both the Packers’ salary-cap planning and the broader market for young, productive tight ends across the league.
