Daily News 19

Tag: NFL Contract Extension

  • Sources: Packers, TE Tucker Kraft Agree to 4-Year Extension

    Sources: Packers, TE Tucker Kraft Agree to 4-Year Extension

    Packers Secure Tucker Kraft with Four-Year, $75 Million Extension Before Season Opener

    The Green Bay Packers and star tight end Tucker Kraft have agreed to a four-year contract extension with a base value of $75 million, finalizing the deal one day before the regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, sources told ESPN. The agreement could reach up to $92 million and includes a $26.5 million signing bonus, sources said.

    Contract Details Elevate Kraft Among NFL’s Highest-Paid Tight Ends

    Kraft’s extension carries an average annual salary of $18.75 million, making him the third-highest-paid tight end in the league. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he will receive $31.5 million in the first year of the deal. Only George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals, both at $19 million per season, rank higher in average annual value among tight ends.

    Remarkable Recovery from Torn ACL Fuels Confidence

    The 25-year-old Kraft is coming off a torn ACL in his right knee that prematurely ended what had the potential to be a record-breaking season for a Packers tight end. Through the first nine weeks of the 2025 season, he caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns. At the time of his injury, only one tight end had more touchdowns and only two had more receiving yards.

    Kraft’s rehabilitation progressed ahead of schedule. He remained in Green Bay for most of the offseason to rehab, and at his nine-month checkup, doctors told him his knee showed healing comparable to someone more than a year post-surgery. Although he began training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, he returned to individual drills by Day 3, participated in 11-on-11 periods by August 16, and was taking hits in a joint practice with the Cardinals by August 26.

    “He doesn’t shy away from the work,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said at the time.

    Kraft Rejects Holdout Strategy, Prioritizes Team Success

    Despite returning to full contact without a new contract, Kraft maintained that holding out was never an option.

    “I’m not someone to orchestrate a holdout, mostly because they can fine me but mostly because I know the value I bring to this team,” Kraft said. “And I think best odds of us playing in the postseason are with me early on in the season, and I’m just going to continue to attack everything the same way I attacked my rehab. I want to be out on the field, and I want to play every play that I can play.”

    Kraft’s stated goal throughout the process was to be ready for the season opener without limitations, though he acknowledged the possibility of a snap count early in the year.

    “They’re gonna take into account my rep range probably until halfway through the season,” Kraft said. “Then they’re just gonna pat me on the ass and send me out there, send me to the wolves. How this offense is, I’m gonna get as comfortable as I can playing those reps in those games that I was playing previously, those games when I was 50-60 reps, 85 reps against the Cowboys in overtime. It’s just the more you can do, all the hats I can wear on the offense, I want to bring everything to the table.”

    Extension Completes Busy Offseason for Packers’ Core

    The Kraft deal continues a series of contract extensions by Green Bay this offseason. In the past four months, the Packers have signed long-term deals with wide receivers Jayden Reed and Christian Watson plus defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. With Kraft now locked in, Green Bay has every offensive starter under contract through at least the 2028 season, with several signed beyond that.

    Negotiations Reflect Mutual Commitment

    General manager Brian Gutekunst made no secret of his desire to retain Kraft long term, and Kraft repeatedly expressed his wish to remain with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2023. Still, the process took longer than some anticipated.

    “It’s in the best interest to try to get something done, but these things take time,” Gutekunst said at the start of training camp. “We’ve gone through a bunch of extensions this summer, kind of knowing this was going to be the one right about now. We have a little bit of time because he’s just not there yet, but I would expect hopefully that would get done, but you never know how they’re going to go.”

    With the extension finalized, the Packers enter the 2026 season with their offensive core intact and their emerging star tight end secured for the foreseeable future.

  • Byron Murphy II Could Be Seahawks’ Next Big Payday

    Byron Murphy II Could Be Seahawks’ Next Big Payday

    Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II enters the 2026 NFL season with a clear objective: translate elite production into the league-wide recognition he believes he has earned. Despite posting numbers in his second campaign that rivaled Pro Bowl selections, Murphy remains a relative unknown outside the Pacific Northwest—a reality he intends to change.

    Murphy Targets Elite Benchmarks for Breakout Year

    The 2025 season saw Murphy take a significant leap forward. After a rookie year in 2024 that yielded 36 total tackles and two tackles for loss as a rotational piece, he emerged as a full-time disruptor. He finished the campaign with 62 total tackles, 13 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Notably, he achieved this while primarily aligning at the one-technique position, where he consistently absorbed double teams.

    For 2026, Murphy has set specific, ambitious targets: a Pro Bowl nod, an All-Pro selection, and double-digit sacks. He acknowledges the perception that he is undervalued, attributing it partly to playing on the West Coast and avoiding off-field controversy.

    Murphy states he wants to be a more aggressive pass rusher from the interior. The Seahawks’ defensive scheme offers a pathway to that goal, with packages designed to move him to the three-technique alignment. That shift would create more one-on-one matchups against offensive linemen, allowing him to utilize the improved speed, athleticism, and separation moves he has refined this offseason rather than relying solely on power.

    National Media Takes Note of Extension Potential

    The conversation surrounding Murphy’s future compensation has migrated from local circles to the national stage. ESPN reporter Dan Graziano believes Murphy could be the first and biggest candidate for a lucrative extension following a third-year breakout. This projection follows a Seahawks offseason that already rewarded young core pieces: wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, edge rusher Derick Hall, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, and offensive tackle Charles Cross all signed long-term deals.

    Those extensions established a framework for retaining homegrown talent. While Murphy is not eligible for a new contract until the 2027 offseason, a dominant 2026 season would position him at the front of the queue.

    Championship Defense Fueled by Perceived Disrespect

    The backdrop for Murphy’s individual pursuit is a unit that finished the regular season as the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense. Dubbed the “Dark Side Defense,” the group propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Despite the championship, players and coaches feel the organization lacks proper acknowledgement across the league.

    That collective chip on the shoulder aligns with Murphy’s personal motivation. As the anchor of the interior line, his development is central to sustaining the defense’s elite status. A more determined, versatile Murphy elevates a unit that has no intention of relinquishing its standard.

    This article was originally published on Sports Illustrated as “Byron Murphy II Could Be the Seahawks’ Next Big Payday Waiting to Happen.”