Throughout this offseason, the Packers and Tucker Kraft have been working towards a long term extension. This extension will be a life changing financial raise for Kraft. It is unknown of when the two sides expect to complete the deal. However, all signs are pointing to an agreement taking place at some point in the near future. Kraft and the Packers gained some market insight with the Kyle Pitts and Brenton Strange extensions that were announced this week.
The Atlanta Falcons and TE Kyle Pitts agreed to a three-year, $54 million dollar contract extension with $36 million guaranteed on Tuesday. The Jacksonville Jaguars and their young TE Brenton Strange followed up the Pitts deal with a three-year, $48 million dollar extension with $25 million guaranteed on Wednesday. The specific numbers of these two contracts have yet to be released but Green Bay should be relieved to see these two contracts hit the market.
Tucker Kraft is a better tight end with a higher ceiling than both Kyle Pitts and Brenton Strange. Pitts, the former 4th overall draft pick, has had a peculiar career. Last season, seemed to be the first year where Falcons fan finally saw the type of player they hoped Pitts be when Atlanta drafted him. At the moment, Pitts extension has annual average of $18 million dollars. That would put Pitts just behind George Kittle and Trey McBride for the highest paid tight end.
What Can the Packers Expect With a Kraft Extension?
George Kittle’s contract annual average is $19.1 million while Trey McBride’s annual average if $19 million. With the recent Pitts extension, it is likely that the Packers and Tucker Kraft land between Pitts’ $18 million and McBride’s $19 million annual average. There is a chance that Kraft could become the highest paid tight end but knowing the Green Bay Packers, it is more likely Kraft will not top the Kittle and McBride numbers.
The Packers will have to factor in Kraft’s health. That might be a reason as to why the contract extension has not been done yet. The Packers might be slow playing this deal to see how Kraft continues to progress through his ACL recovery. With a little over a month until the Packers take the field for the first training camp practice, Kraft and the Packers might have this deal done. The Packers have already extended Christian Watson and Jayden Reed so they seem determined to keep their key core of players.
Once the Kraft extension is done, the Packers will have their top offensive players, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Tucker Kraft locked in for the next three to four seasons. Things can certainly change but that has to make Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur, and the overall chemistry on the offensive side of the ball feel confident. Hopefully, the Packers and Tucker Kraft finalize this extension sooner rather than later!
