2026 Roster Thread - Semi-Live

[tynimiller]

Seattle must think there is a way they can do it. They wouldn't imo just dismantle their team for one player. He sure didn't win the super bowl but what a season he had. Not sure Watson is in the same league. Still, it's gonna be a lot of money.

In reality each organization knows about 1-4 players will eat a massive chunk of their money....however like Seattle does they backload a few of them heavy and try to keep them staggered...I mean JSN will only hit their cap for $10.3M in 2026 / $15.6M in 2027 then it gets higher at $32.9M in 2028 and then $36M in 2029 and $48M in 2030 and $49.8M in 2031.

BUT again like many know 2030 and 2031 ain't happening on the current deal so it's just a way to inflate the contract. Truly the deal is more like a $95M deal on four years...

Honestly tweek it slightly the same structure or style will play out with Watson as well IMO...either by us this year or someone else next offseason.

 

[tynimiller]

In reality each organization knows about 1-4 players will eat a massive chunk of their money....however like Seattle does they backload a few of them heavy and try to keep them staggered...I mean JSN will only hit their cap for $10.3M in 2026 / $15.6M in 2027 then it gets higher at $32.9M in 2028 and then $36M in 2029 and $48M in 2030 and $49.8M in 2031.

BUT again like many know 2030 and 2031 ain't happening on the current deal so it's just a way to inflate the contract. Truly the deal is more like a $95M deal on four years...

Honestly tweek it slightly the same structure or style will play out with Watson as well IMO...either by us this year or someone else next offseason.

THE only ISSUE for me in us likely having to hand Watson and Kraft extensions is it would be very much more palatable to not have them in mirrored situations or timing.

 

[gopkrs]

In reality each organization knows about 1-4 players will eat a massive chunk of their money....however like Seattle does they backload a few of them heavy and try to keep them staggered...I mean JSN will only hit their cap for $10.3M in 2026 / $15.6M in 2027 then it gets higher at $32.9M in 2028 and then $36M in 2029 and $48M in 2030 and $49.8M in 2031.

BUT again like many know 2030 and 2031 ain't happening on the current deal so it's just a way to inflate the contract. Truly the deal is more like a $95M deal on four years...

Honestly tweek it slightly the same structure or style will play out with Watson as well IMO...either by us this year or someone else next offseason.

Good explanation

 

[Pkrjones]

I was thinking about this after my last post and I agree with you on what numbers it will probably take to keep Watson in GB. Honestly, if that is the case, I would actually prefer the Packers shop him during the draft and see if they can get a first or 2nd round for him.

While I know that it is market escalation for WR's to command $30M-42M per season, I'd prefer the Packers spread that money out over 5 players than 1 WR.

This would be a bold, ballsy move by Gute but one that I'd understand. The O looked somewhat lackluster in '25 until Watson returned. Can the offense & WR's left excel without Watson and Doubs? Can Golden, Wicks, and Reed keep the D from consistently playing 8 in the box, especially until Kraft returns? Huge gamble, imho.

 

[gopkrs]

This would be a bold, ballsy move by Gute but one that I'd understand. The O looked somewhat lackluster in '25 until Watson returned. Can the offense & WR's left excel without Watson and Doubs? Can Golden, Wicks, and Reed keep the D from consistently playing 8 in the box, especially until Kraft returns? Huge gamble, imho.

Too much of a gamble imho

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

This would be a bold, ballsy move by Gute but one that I'd understand. The O looked somewhat lackluster in '25 until Watson returned. Can the offense & WR's left excel without Watson and Doubs? Can Golden, Wicks, and Reed keep the D from consistently playing 8 in the box, especially until Kraft returns? Huge gamble, imho.

I actually think it is more of a ballsy move to tie up the kind of money that we are talking about in Watson. Doing so would cost the Packers ability to use that money on several players.

Basically, as with any player, Gute will have 3 options. I am not sure which is the best, but I hope that he doesn't choose option 3, since Watson has more value to the Packers as a non-Free Agent. However, if Watson would get hurt before any decisions about him have been made, then I would say option 3, might be the best option.

1. Give Watson a new contract sometime between now and the end of the 2026.

2. Trade Watson between now and the trade deadline.

3. Let Watson walk in Free agency at the end of 2026 and pick up a Plus on the 2028 Compensatory pick calculation.

 

[DoURant]

I actually think it is more of a ballsy move to tie up the kind of money that we are talking about in Watson. Doing so would cost the Packers ability to use that money on several players.

Basically, as with any player, Gute will have 3 options. I am not sure which is the best, but I hope that he doesn't choose option 3, since Watson has more value to the Packers as a non-Free Agent. However, if Watson would get hurt before any decisions about him have been made, then I would say option 3, might be the best option.

1. Give Watson a new contract sometime between now and the end of the 2026.

2. Trade Watson between now and the trade deadline.

3. Let Watson walk in Free agency at the end of 2026 and pick up a Plus on the 2028 Compensatory pick calculation.

I take option #1

 

[OldSchool101]

Question for all of you - when do you expect Kraft and Parsons will return? (And does anyone have news of their recovery process?)

Obviously each player and injury is unique. However if we use Christian Watson as a starting area he was injured Jan 5 and returned in Week 8. Although he was practicing in September already.

Micah injured Dec 14 or roughly 3 weeks earlier than Watson. So it’s not inconceivable to see him around Week 4-6 area +-

Tucker Kraft injured his ACL on Nov 2, 2025. That’s over 8 weeks earlier than Watson. On that timeline he’d start Week1.

Now that said, I’m not proposing we rush anyone back. Yet I don’t think it would be unusual at all to see Kraft active sometime in September and Micah active sometime in October.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Although it looks like this season he has added a few 30ish players. I am thinking he could do that with a backup QB as well.

Yeah I think Gluten has seen the folly of using rookies or very young guys at backup QB. There should be plenty of veteran QBs who can be called on short term if Love gets hit.

I don't know where M Mariota is, a backup somewhere. Maybe Tua T but that would be a huge step down for him (although maybe a needed step down given his awful concussions).

The only veteran I'd pass on is Flacco, and if there is no one else, grab him for a year. He has a ton of heart and knows how to win, but at 41 going on 42, well that's a stretch.

 

[Schultz]

Is OL correct on page 1?

 

[tynimiller]

Is OL correct on page 1?

Sorry let me revisit quick.

 

[tynimiller]

Is OL correct on page 1?

Believe it might be now.

 

[Pkrjones]

In reality each organization knows about 1-4 players will eat a massive chunk of their money...

That's bad news for GB and re-signing Kraft & Watson.
Love - top 5 paid QB @ $55mil/yr
Parsons - highest paid Edge @ $46.5mil/yr
Tom - top 5 paid RT @ $22mil/yr
Banks - top 6 paid LG @ $19.25mil
McKinney - top 7 paid S @ $16.75mil
Jacobs - top 8 paid RB @ $12mil

Already using over 1/2 of the cap on those 6 players. Going to be VERY difficult adding Kraft & Watson to this highly-paid list AND keeping a competitive team over next few years.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

Yeah I think Gluten has seen the folly of using rookies or very young guys at backup QB. There should be plenty of veteran QBs who can be called on short term if Love gets hit.

I don't know where M Mariota is, a backup somewhere. Maybe Tua T but that would be a huge step down for him (although maybe a needed step down given his awful concussions).

The only veteran I'd pass on is Flacco, and if there is no one else, grab him for a year. He has a ton of heart and knows how to win, but at 41 going on 42, well that's a stretch.

I would think that's why he picked up Ridder.

 

[DoURant]

I would think that's why he picked up Ridder.

Plus they picked up Kyle McCord, a guy I was high on during last years draft. Because of Ridder and McCord, I don't think drafting a guy this year is a necessity.

 

[mradtke66]

That's bad news for GB and re-signing Kraft & Watson.
Love - top 5 paid QB @ $55mil/yr
Parsons - highest paid Edge @ $46.5mil/yr
Tom - top 5 paid RT @ $22mil/yr
Banks - top 6 paid LG @ $19.25mil
McKinney - top 7 paid S @ $16.75mil
Jacobs - top 8 paid RB @ $12mil

Already using over 1/2 of the cap on those 6 players. Going to be VERY difficult adding Kraft & Watson to this highly-paid list AND keeping a competitive team over next few years.

Not as hard as it seems at first glance.

Jacobs is likely done after this year. High milage and he's getting old.

Don't forget the cap keeps going up. AND Each of those numbers lie a little bit....

Love's contract number is on track for 36M (yay), 42M (yay), and then 74m (holy crap). He'll be extended after 2027. His cap hit won't actually be 55m.

Parson's contract also spikes in 2029 to ~73m. He'll be cut or extended after 2028. His cap won't hit 46M, but it will be close.

Tom's contact will actually climb to 30m by 2029.

Banks has a cap number of ~12m this year (yay) but he balloons to 25m (boo) in 2027. If he doesn't bounce back this year, he's also a cut candidate.

McKinney will also be cut or extended. His 2026 number is only ~9m, but he spikes to 24m in 2027.


Kraft and Watson should be prioritized anyway. Other than Tom, I think they're younger than everyone else.

 

[OldSchool101]

That's bad news for GB and re-signing Kraft & Watson.
Love - top 5 paid QB @ $55mil/yr
Parsons - highest paid Edge @ $46.5mil/yr
Tom - top 5 paid RT @ $22mil/yr
Banks - top 6 paid LG @ $19.25mil
McKinney - top 7 paid S @ $16.75mil
Jacobs - top 8 paid RB @ $12mil

Already using over 1/2 of the cap on those 6 players. Going to be VERY difficult adding Kraft & Watson to this highly-paid list AND keeping a competitive team over next few years.

Yes. I think we’d all agree our priority needs to be Kraft. Watson could easily price himself out of GB. A possible
Method is to get in earlier on a medium term deal around Doubs $$ +-
Another thought is to draft his replacement now. We wouldn’t be pressured to get immediate production and a new WR wouid have a year to develop. Also if they show positive earlier signs, as someone mentioned we could trade Watson before deadline. I’m not sure what he’d bring, but my guess is over Rasul range. Maybe their RD2 for our RD4 swap? Something like that. In that scenario we could have a good amount of 2027
Draft firepower:
RD2, RD2
RD3, RD3
RD4, RD4
RD5, RD5
RD6, RD6

 

[OldSchool101]

My apologies if this has been asked and answered. I just found this now 10-page thread.

Question for all of you - when do you expect Kraft and Parsons will return? (And does anyone have news of their recovery process?)

Kraft went down on Nov 2, 2025. I expect he'll be back a month early, give or take - so last week in September to first week in October.

Parsons went down on Dec 14, 2025. I expect he'll be back early November, first week or two.

(It seemed like Watson was back within 10 months. He came back like he was never injured. Hope Kraft and Parsons follow that recovery path.)

Thoughts? Thanks all!

Joe

Just saw this article that could shed light on Parsons (for now)

A proposed NFL rule change could alter the Micah Parsons return timeline

Micah Parsons might be able to return to practice in Week 3, not Week 5, if this rule goes through.

www.acmepackingcompany.com

 

[milani]

Yeah I think Gluten has seen the folly of using rookies or very young guys at backup QB. There should be plenty of veteran QBs who can be called on short term if Love gets hit.

I don't know where M Mariota is, a backup somewhere. Maybe Tua T but that would be a huge step down for him (although maybe a needed step down given his awful concussions).

The only veteran I'd pass on is Flacco, and if there is no one else, grab him for a year. He has a ton of heart and knows how to win, but at 41 going on 42, well that's a stretch.

I give Flacco credit. I saw him at Lambeau last year. Gets traded to Cincy and has to start right away. How much of the offense could he pick up in a few days. He is a gamer.

 

[OldSchool101]

I give Flacco credit. I saw him at Lambeau last year. Gets traded to Cincy and has to start right away. How much of the offense could he pick up in a few days. He is a gamer.

Flacco as a backup wouldn’t bother me one bit. He’s got maybe 1 or 2 years left, probably wants a better chance to fight for Starter than he’d have in GB would be my guess.

 

[tynimiller]

Diggs working out with Micah today and wearing Packer gear….I personally feel like GB and Diggs have discussed and it is just a matter of him weighing options if he can get better offer elsewhere.

In truth St Juste and Diggs with Nixon and Carrington is enough to not have to force a CB early in draft.

 

[gopkrs]

Just wanted to put my 2 cents in about Watson. He imho is what makes our receiver room go. Especially without Doubs. I'm hopeful that Golden contributes hugely this year but right now we need Watson. Trading him would be giving up on the season. A huge contract is scary but we can wait on it a bit I think.

 

[OldSchool101]

Just wanted to put my 2 cents in about Watson. He imho is what makes our receiver room go. Especially without Doubs. I'm hopeful that Golden contributes hugely this year but right now we need Watson. Trading him would be giving up on the season. A huge contract is scary but we can wait on it a bit I think.

Sure. It always comes down to $$ for me. If Watson is $5 Dollars per year .50 cents guaranteed (for dramatic illustration) sign him to a 10yr deal.

If Watson is $40Mil yearly with 3yrs $80Mil guaranteed. No thank you

Before Christian Watson entered the league there have been players in every draft that were successful.
Many even more than him. Some drafted after him. There is not 1 person on our Roster that is irreplaceable and that includes Jordan Love. I recall many in here claiming the Packers would go take 2 steps back into nowhere land before Love got drafted. Heck some said we were absolutely doomed after he got drafted! True Story.. I about got run off the rails defending Love and trust me I distinctly recall all back n forth.
Fear of the unknown has ruined more potential than can be calculated by modern mainframe technology.
I would even say we fear fear itself!

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Just wanted to put my 2 cents in about Watson. He imho is what makes our receiver room go. Especially without Doubs. I'm hopeful that Golden contributes hugely this year but right now we need Watson. Trading him would be giving up on the season. A huge contract is scary but we can wait on it a bit I think.

Yeah I wouldn't rush to trade or resign him. They have him under contract for another season. Now what would make me want to trade him is if come draft day, Gute gets a call from the Steelers and they will trade their #21 pick for him and there is a guy on the board that Gute really likes, then I would love the trade. Second scenario, Packers season isn't going as planned and Gute gets a trade offer for him before the trade deadline.

Even if the Packer just let Watson walk after 2026, they will get a full season of play from him, barring injuries and a potential 3rd or 4th round 2028 comp pick.

Trading him now, just because they don't want to pay him $35M after this season, wouldn't be smart, unless the trade deal was just too good to pass up.

 

[milani]

Flacco as a backup wouldn’t bother me one bit. He’s got maybe 1 or 2 years left, probably wants a better chance to fight for Starter than he’d have in GB would be my guess.

Picture a scenario, and we should not, in late December and Love goes down. You need a win to get in. Malik was good. Flacco would have trouble dealing with playoff team pass rushers. However, he has been there before and he plays in control.