The Green Bay Packers just extended wide receiver Christian Watson, and soon they'll need to do the same with tight end Tucker Kraft. If fans thought Watson's deal was expensive, relative to position, they should anticipate even greater sticker shock whenever that breaking-news notification hits for Kraft. At least, that's what NFL insider Ian Rapoport expects to happen.Â
The snippet of Rapoport's reporting that everyone is focusing on is particularly eye-catching at the end.Â
"I would consider Tucker Kraft a big-time priority for the Green Bay Packers. ... you’re talking about a guy who will probably reset the TE market," the NFL Network mainstay predicted.
Resetting the market would mean exceeding the contracts of George Kittle and Miles McBride, among others atop the tight-end earning chain. In other words, it won't be cheap.
Tucker Kraft could be in for a record extension
It's not that Kraft isn't worth the money. He is. If he picks up where he left off last season before tearing his ACL, he has a real case as the best tight end in the league. It's only fair that the Packers pay him like it.Â
Deserved or not, though, it's going to be a lot. Kittle makes $19.1 million per year. No tight end has made more in the history of the NFL. McBride, who handily paced the position in receiving yards last season, makes $19 million even. Both signed four-year deals with at least $32.5 million guaranteed and inked their extensions last April. Another year has passed. As the salary cap inflates, so do contracts.Â
What will it look like if Kraft 'resets the market'? $20 million? $22 million? More?
On the heels of Watson's four-year, $110.5 million extension, handing Kraft a record-setting deal might feel more concerning than it should. There's no way Green Bay can cheap out on a guy who is, if not the most impactful playmaker on the offense, then at least the most dominant.Â
It is legitimate to point out, of course, that the Packers will likely extend Kraft before he has played a snap this season, leaving questions about his post-injury performance unanswered. Thus far, his progress has been encouraging, but offseason training and practices cannot match real, live action. Writing a huge check without rock-solid evidence that Kraft will be just fine is sure to leave some fans a little queasy.
There's no reason to doubt that the Packers' franchise cornerstone won't be ready to roll whenever he does retake the field. A Week 1 return is looking more plausible by the day. Just be prepared. Green Bay has already distributed nearly $161 million to Watson and Jayden Reed this offseason. Added to that, the new dollar sign next to Kraft's name may take a while to look at without wincing.
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