Which Contract Extension Should Packers Prioritize Between Pass Catchers?

Green Bay, WI—With the NFL’s legal-tampering window only days away, the Green Bay Packers’ front office is already juggling a crowded off-season ledger: re-sign internal free agents, scan the open market, and—perhaps most importantly—decide which core pieces merit early extensions before the 2027 class reaches its walk year. Inside Lambeau’s football offices, one debate is growing louder than the rest: should GM Brian Gutekunst move first on tight end Tucker Kraft or wide receiver Christian Watson?

Both pass catchers have flashed elite traits when healthy, yet both are also rehabbing torn ACLs suffered within a calendar year. Their simultaneous absences last fall prevented the offense from ever fielding its full complement of playmakers; the lone glimpse came in Week 4 against Pittsburgh when Watson, fresh off injured reserve, and a still-healthy Kraft helped Jordan Love string together 20 straight completions, equaling a franchise record. One week later Kraft’s knee buckled in Carolina, and the “what-if” vanished.

The case for Kraft

At 6-5, 260 pounds, Kraft has become Matt LaFleur’s ultimate easy button. According to team data, he finished second among all NFL tight ends in yards per route and eighth in yards-after-catch despite missing nine games. His 290 receiving yards after the injury still outpaced Green Bay’s other tight ends by 126. Coaches love his demeanor—rarely brought down on initial contact—and teammates voted him a 2025 captain, an honor that underscores his rapid ascent in the locker room.

The depth chart behind him is murky. Luke Musgrave, a 2023 second-round pick, failed to seize the No. 1 role once Kraft went down, and the rest of the room is unproven. Gutekunst conceded he has already opened negotiations with Kraft’s camp, praising the 23-year-old’s on-field impact and leadership. Market comps are easy to find: Arizona’s Trey McBride reset the position in April with a four-year, $77 million extension. A similar pact—front-loaded but injury-protected—could satisfy both sides and lock in one of Love’s most reliable middle-field targets through his prime.

The case for Watson

If Kraft is the chain-mover, Watson is the detonator. The 6-4, 208-pound wideout owns the best drop rate (2.8 percent) on the roster and stretches defenses vertically, clearing space for both the run game and underneath crossers. In 2024 the Packers gained an extra 0.11 yards per rush and 0.80 yards per pass when Watson was on the field, per coaching analytics. His November return coincided with the offense’s mid-season surge, and staffers rave about his professionalism; passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable calls Watson “a living energy boost.”

Durability questions once clouded his future—he missed chunks of 2022 and 2023 with hamstring issues and tore an ACL in the 2024 regular-season finale—but Watson answered by suiting up for every game after his comeback. With the receiver market exploding, waiting could cost Green Bay dearly. Upcoming free agents Alec Pierce, George Pickens and even teammate Romeo Doubs are expected to sign deals north of $20 million per year, pushing Watson’s price tag higher the longer negotiations linger.

The verdict inside the building

Privately, club officials concede the ideal outcome is extending both before training camp. Yet the realities of cap management and rehab timetables force prioritization. Kraft’s recovery timeline could spill into August, and while his physical style ages well, the Packers would prefer medical clearance before guaranteeing upwards of $75 million. Conversely, Watson’s clean bill of health and the inflating receiver market create urgency; every week without a contract invites competitors to reset the ceiling.

Gutekunst, then, faces a strategic fork: secure the explosive outside threat now and risk paying a premium for the tight end later, or bet on Kraft’s grit, save short-term cash, and hope Watson’s price doesn’t leap out of reach once the dominoes of the 2025 receiver class begin to fall. Sources familiar with the GM’s thinking say talks with Watson’s representatives have intensified in recent days, while Kraft’s camp has been assured the team will not let him play out his rookie deal without a serious offer on the table.

Green Bay’s 2025 playoff push may depend on which pass catcher signs first; the offense already knows how lethal it can be when both are on the field together. The front office’s next move will determine whether that pairing remains a tease of October past—or a cornerstone of the Packers’ foreseeable future.