2026 Roster Thread - Semi-Live

[mradtke66]

I'm starting to think waiting is a better idea.
The reasoning is, we have-

-Reed contracted through 2029
-Watson contracted through 2030.
-Golden contracted through 2029 with 2030 5th year option.

Now I know the goal is to put as much talent on the field as possible. But honestly. Is it worth having three #1 WRs if we can't get them more than 5 touches a game each on average? GB is notorious for spreading the ball around. But that's usually because we have 5 wrs all at different stages of development, who haven't commanded the #1 spot, or been able to stay healthy. Seems like right now we have 3x. #1s and all they need is touches. We will dominate defenses.

Dont get me wrong, I love Kraft. He is pure bred corn fed. But... That ACL. And the fact we don't really need him as a target. In fact his targets will be taking away the #1s targets. And I'm honestly not sure that's a good idea at this point.

My original thought was to offer him a year extension for $12mil. Give him a year more to prove he is back 100% and able to continue his trajectory. If after next year he is the tucker Kraft we all hope he is. Then we can give him the $20m/yr on a 4 year extension.

Another reason for that is to offset the turn over when all those #1 WRs contracts are up in 2029/30. Kraft being contracted for 5 years after this year(1 year prove it extension, and 4 year big extension) will end in 2032, and he could be our stabilizer during the transition of replacing the WRs who don't get resigned.

If he doesn't take it. Let him walk. Honestly, we have only had that star TE 8 games. I know for fact we can live without him if things don't go our way.

Your structure is more for Waston, who missed the first half of his final year. This was mutually beneficial as it took away pressure to hurry back from the injury.

Kraft is apparently on track to be ready by week 1. The Packers will know if he’s ready before the end of the pre-season.

He has no incentive to sign this hypothetical 1 year deal. It only hurts his long term earnings potential.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Your structure is more for Waston, who missed the first half of his final year. This was mutually beneficial as it took away pressure to hurry back from the injury.

Kraft is apparently on track to be ready by week 1. The Packers will know if he’s ready before the end of the pre-season.

He has no incentive to sign this hypothetical 1 year deal. It only hurts his long term earnings potential.

I understand that. But he has to understand one tweak on a healing knee makes a long term deal, near the top of the leagues $ at that position. Risky. To say the least.

Watson is a success story. There’s a lot of guys who never come back like that.

I seen Kraft a couple months ago jump up off the ground and sprint , in a training video. Very impressive. Still risky.

I’ll respect the packers brass on their decision, one way or another. But to me, our WR corps allows us to thrive without krafts production. That takes away a lot of his leverage.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Your structure is more for Waston, who missed the first half of his final year. This was mutually beneficial as it took away pressure to hurry back from the injury.

Kraft is apparently on track to be ready by week 1. The Packers will know if he’s ready before the end of the pre-season.

He has no incentive to sign this hypothetical 1 year deal. It only hurts his long term earnings potential.

I shouldn't say it takes away from krafts leverage. It's more GB adjusting the inherit need... I'm not sure $20/mil TE is a need.

Maybe near the top? If he wants long term now? Maybe incentives to the $20? But not as much guaranteed. Let's share in the risk. If he wants to be a packer his whole career as he states.

Imo, see if he takes 4 years, 10/ yr guaranteed. $15/ yr deal. +5/yr incentives... Gives him his life changing payday. And gives packers enough incentive to keep him on the roster for his whole deal, even if he doesn't produce like a 1st team all pro.

I don't know. Just seems like a risky move to put the ACL, and combined 8 games at all pro level play, as a non issue. When deciding if he should be paid as a established top 3 TE in the league.

 

[gopkrs]

It's a tough situation because of the injury and how productive he suddenly became before it. There is no doubt that his receiving ability is going to help out our receivers and put defenses on their heels a bit. And I guess he blocks well. I can see a bit of Travis Kelce in him the way he can find an open area. It's going to be interesting to see what we do.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Watson is a success story. There’s a lot of guys who never come back like that.

Definitely a concern for me with both Kraft and Parsons. I think a lot of folks think that with todays modern medicine, players come back stronger and better. That just isn't the case for many. So while I love Kraft and hope he comes back as strong as Watson has (so far), I sure as heck hope Gute and the Packers don't tie up too much guaranteed money in him.

 

[OldSchool101]

I understand that. But he has to understand one tweak on a healing knee makes a long term deal, near the top of the leagues $ at that position. Risky. To say the least.

Watson is a success story. There’s a lot of guys who never come back like that.

I seen Kraft a couple months ago jump up off the ground and sprint , in a training video. Very impressive. Still risky.

I’ll respect the packers brass on their decision, one way or another. But to me, our WR corps allows us to thrive without krafts production. That takes away a lot of his leverage.

Yes it’s about injury healing timelines What’s amazing is after some research I learned in the bulk of cases (once initially healed up) after a modern day ACL surgery, it can actually be initially stronger than pre injury.

Now medium to long term maybe not as good as the original. Also flexibility can potentially take a small step backwards or be a negative side affect.

I’m not suggesting it’s good to have a surgery by any means either. Only that if properly given over 9 months, it’s not unusual to make a complete initial recovery with a low incidence of reinjury. The studies I saw gave a slightly greater increase in reinjury after year 1-2 though. I know that sounds counterintuitive that’s why I remembered that.

 

[mradtke66]

I shouldn't say it takes away from krafts leverage. It's more GB adjusting the inherit need... I'm not sure $20/mil TE is a need.

Maybe near the top? If he wants long term now? Maybe incentives to the $20? But not as much guaranteed. Let's share in the risk. If he wants to be a packer his whole career as he states.

Imo, see if he takes 4 years, 10/ yr guaranteed. $15/ yr deal. +5/yr incentives... Gives him his life changing payday. And gives packers enough incentive to keep him on the roster for his whole deal, even if he doesn't produce like a 1st team all pro.

I don't know. Just seems like a risky move to put the ACL, and combined 8 games at all pro level play, as a non issue. When deciding if he should be paid as a established top 3 TE in the league.

The issue is he still has one year left on his deal. He doesn’t have to sign an extension at all. Extending him is an effort to keep cost down and maintain good will.

We cannot eliminate the risk. We can only mitigate what we can.

First, your contract is low to the point of insulting. 10m is guarantees ranks about 30th in the league right now (I say approximately because I have to count it off and when we get that far down, it tend to lose count.)

We can chose to not extend him this pre season. If we do and he solidifies himself as the number 1 TE in the league, we’d wish he only wants 20m per year. And there is the risk that he’s miffed and just refuses to re-sign with us. What then?

As far as need, grouping him with WRs is a mistake. His value is being a dual threat to block or go out in a pattern. He’s brings a threat that our WRs don’t yet offer with their YAC.

And then Reed and Watson are on cheap contracts. Golden is on a rookie deal. And all 4 of them are probably your preferred starters.

I still bet my nickel that the contract is either agreed to in principle pending passing a physical OR being healthy week 1.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

We can chose to not extend him this pre season. If we do and he solidifies himself as the number 1 TE in the league, we’d wish he only wants 20m per year. And there is the risk that he’s miffed and just refuses to re-sign with us. What then?

It wouldn't be popular and I think George Pickens is the only current NFL player on one, but the Packers could always place the franchise tag on Kraft after this season. Probably a cost of about $15M while you try to work on a new deal for 2027 and beyond.

 

[mradtke66]

It wouldn't be popular and I think George Pickens is the only current NFL player on one, but the Packers could always place the franchise tag on Kraft after this season. Probably a cost of about $15M while you try to work on a new deal for 2027 and beyond.

They could, but that’s intended to be a negotiation step. If they tag him, it tends not to make the player happy. And you take the full cap hit right now. It’s not a positive.

And I think it’ll be closer to 16m (it’s top five average, right?)